Vimpat and Depression: What Users Say

• Joa...
• November 9, 2020

For Seizures "Vimpat is a horrible drug, very toxic! I had many side effects: headaches, nausea, tiredness, constipation, flatulence, stomach discomfort, shaking of hands, depression, heart palpitations, memory problems, muscle pains (legs and back). I felt terribly tired and could not cope with my daily activities. I had problems with speaking, my memory and my concentration got a lot worse. My sleep was badly affected. I had to quit my job and my social life. Every day was a struggle and I felt as if I had lost control of my own life!!! This drug had a terrible impact on my life and DID NOT eliminate my seizures. I now see that I am not the only one to have experienced those side effects, though my previous doctor denied many of them. I still ask myself why my previous doctor is so fond of this drug???? Partnership with pharma UCB? As he was resistant to change this drug, I have decided to change doctors."

• ngp...
• May 24, 2013

For Seizures "I have been on Keppra for a year and just started Vimpat 6 wks ago. The Vimpat seems to have controlled my simple partial seizures. However, I have noticed the side effects are troublesome. Some of the side effects are shakes, depression, anxiety, mood swings, dizziness, but the most troublesome is the effect it has on my memory. It feels like I can't find my words or I've forgotten information I should know. I'm 50 years of age and have tried many different types of medication in the past 43 years for seizure control, and Vimpat is working. However, the side effects on memory are affecting my job performance."

• Epy...
• February 26, 2014

For Seizures "Have been on Vimpat for about 4 months now and am now starting to understand the side effects thanks primarily to these reviews. Previously on Dilantin for >10 years for complex-partial seizures. The positive of using this medicine is I have a marked improvement in my gums. The negative side effects are as follows: Poor memory, word recall, and digging. Short-term memory impairment, can't remember what just doing and wanted to do next. Loss of the ability to focus and concentrate, easily distracted. Might not be entirely Vimpat related. Depression, emptiness, out-of-options feeling. Burning feet, MD suggested it could be Vimpat related. Some loss of taste, impaired ejaculation. Hope this helps. Might consider going back to Dilantin. Good first-time medicine."

• Anonymous
• December 29, 2011

For Seizures "I have been taking Dilantin for almost 20 years. Tried all sorts of anti-seizure drugs. You name it, I have it. Started Vimpat about 4 or 5 months ago along with Dilantin. 200 mg/day. I felt initially that it is better than others. I did have a short seizure (usually don't get frequently). With increased dose along with Dilantin, I am confused, memory loss, dizziness, sort of depressive mood at times. The big thing is the memory loss. I forget what I did at work the other day, things like that. I feel very stressed and have become more sensitive. The major one is memory."

• Bet...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 21, 2022

For Epilepsy "By far, this was the worst medication I have ever been on. What it has done to my life over the past 7 months is indescribable. Up until 3 weeks ago, I had multiple panic attacks on a daily basis, severe nausea to the point that I could not eat and lost close to 10 pounds, agitated, irritable and angry, depressed, fogginess, poor concentration, restless, explosive diarrhea multiple times a day. The list goes on and on. My neurologist insisted it was not the medication and never offered to take me off the medication until my husband and I insisted on it 3 weeks ago. She’s weaning me off of it, and I’m now in week three. Starting at week two, my symptoms disappeared. I got rid of my neurologist and will be starting with my new neurologist in several months."

• Sil...
• August 31, 2013

For Seizures "I take Tegretol, and I have been on Vimpat now for over a year. At first, I still had seizures, but they were completely different from the ones I had before. I used to jump and scream, now I become an ironing board, then kick my legs. After a few months, they stopped completely. I had never felt better, it was the first time in 25 years I had been free. But the last couple of months, they have returned, and I have never felt worse. Side effects: extremely emotional [which is at the other end of the scale from Vigabatrin, which made me a nutter], depression, memory loss, stuttering, and significant weight gain. I am much better on them than without, but as far as stopping my seizures, it was short-lived."

• Con...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 31, 2015

For Seizures "Does Vimpat seem to make anyone very, very forgetful? I tend to explode verbally occasionally, in a negative way, and totally depressed. Sound any bit familiar? I'm on other meds, but just seeing if anyone possibly noticed this from Vimpat. One other thing. I was working a lot of overtime both day and night and confused the amount of meds I was taking, although I had them separated. Not good. Had a terrible accident, was told the car rolled over 6 or 7 times. Thank God it didn't involve any other cars or persons. Just drove off the road. PLEASE take your meds as told to do so. Spine operation went well. GOD BLESS YOU, seat belt and airbags!!!"

• unk...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 3, 2013

For Seizures "I drank all kinds of medications like Trileptal and Lamictal. Now I am on 3000 mg of Keppra and still had seizures, but my doctor said, "Don't do surgery, I will give you Vimpat." Ten percent out of 100 people took this, and it helped. He was right, I still had episodes even with 200 mg of Vimpat, but it simply went away for about six months now. It does give you loss of hair and feeling depressed, but also an important thing to do is watch what you eat."

• Who...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2013

For Seizures "Vimpat introduced 4 days ago at 50 mg on top of Topamax (to be phased out) and Tegretol. So far, awful. Side effects are depression, lower back pain, mood is low, irritable, sad, daydreamy, tired, anxious. I don't feel like me anymore."

• Who...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2013

For Seizures "Vimpat introduced 4 days ago at 50 mg on top of Topamax (to be phased out) and Tegretol. So far, awful. Side effects are depression, lower back pain, mood is low, irritable, sad, daydreamy, tired, anxious. I don't feel like me anymore."

• Mik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 10, 2021

For Seizures "Vimpat 200 mg x2. I am allergic to Keppra. I'm stuck with a drug pusher... these 'neurologists' might as well sell cocaine too. Vimpat numbs my face, blurs my vision, dehydrates me. I'm sure it's helped recede my gums. Can't remember anything, anger, then I get withdrawal if I get screwed with my prescription. Thank goodness my insurance is straightened out, you don't get held hostage for some ungodly out-of-pocket cost. Depression, suicidal thoughts, can't drive sometimes. I don't think my mind has a choice about having a seizure or not, but I do know this: there's more than three drugs to treat seizures, and they certainly didn't go past three. You couldn't wish this drug on your worst enemy... later, shakers."

• Sco...
• August 16, 2017

For Seizures "Vimpat saved me! After years of off-and-on seizures (petit mal), I struggled with Epival as a lone source of control. A few years ago, my neurologist combined Keppra into my medical regimen. It worked fairly well for about a year or two in controlling my seizures. One of the major problems was that my emotions went wild. When I was happy, I was ecstatic, when I was sad, I was depressed, and when I was perturbed, well, I was furious and not fun to be around! Sadly, my seizures returned, and then my neurologist placed me on Vimpat (together with Epival). Since the change, life has become MUCH better. I am back to my normal self, the person I was many years ago, and I am ever so grateful!"

• Dee...
• August 9, 2016

For Seizures "I have been taking Vimpat with Topamax for over 6 months, and it's terrible. It makes me nauseous, I feel high after taking it, I have double vision, and it hasn't even touched my seizures. It's been causing severe depression as well. My doctor just keeps increasing the Topamax."

• Whi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 17, 2021

For Epilepsy "I have been epileptic for 20 years now. It does not work for me. It changed my seizures so I don't go walkabout, but with the side effects. I have become violent, can't sleep, depressed, lost weight, burning urine constantly, blurry vision, lost memory, but the neurologist won't change meds. I have tried Keppra, Lamictal, Epilim, etc."

• Anonymous
• July 1, 2011

For Seizures "On a minimum dose, had significant memory problems and depression (lost 16 pounds)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 18, 2015

For Seizures "Partial seizures, simple and complex, addition of Vimpat combined with Lamictal eliminated all episodes. But, Vimpat is making me crazy. Sad. Emotional wreck, easily agitated, but hey. No seizures."

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2010

For Seizures "I have found that this helps not only control the epilepsy but also lowers the amount of depression I tend to feel from the other medications I am taking."