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Dear Pharmacist:
Thank you for providing me with the valuable service of filling my needed prescriptions. The purpose of this letter is to let you know that I have epilepsy and it is vital that I receive the same medication from the same manufacturer monthly in order to maintain the expected level of seizure control and side effects. Please ensure that no changes are made to my medications, including a change in manufacturer, without prior consent from my physician and myself. Please note this request in my file. To assist you, I have listed below the name, manufacturer, and dosage of the medications I am currently taking.
Thank you very much,
Your Signature________________________________________
Today's Date______________________
Your Printed Name_____________________________________
Phone Number____________________
Physician's Name______________________________________
Phone Number____________________
Brand Name__________________________________________
Generic Name_________________________________________
Manufacturer _________________________________________
Dosage ______________________________________________
Epilepsy Foundation of America Not another moment lost to seizures
Phylis Feiner Johnson
www.epilepsytalk.com
View Thread
Watson has begun shipping the product today. Keppra XR® is indicated to treat partial onset seizures in people 16 years of age and older with epilepsy.
For further information, click on: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Watson-Launches-Generic-prnews-2763217451.html?x=0&.v=1
Phylis Feiner Johnson
www.epilepsytalk.comView Thread
talk to your Dr about being tested for NPH your symptoms indicate it is a possibilityy not LamictalView Thread
http://epilepsytalk.com/2011/08/11/secrets-to-winning-your-social-security-claim/
I found this out when I filed for Disability last yr.
1. If you have a child, the cut-off for filing for Them is age 19. They will not be compensated for Prior Seizures if They File after they are 19.
2. For SS, you must have a certain number of work credits. (If not enough, You Will have to have a Statement from your DRS about WHY!)
3. If married, getting your benefits for Disability will depend on Spouses Income/Insurance Status & Assets. 1 House & 1 car are Not considered Assets. Anything Over that Is.
Income must be Less than $2000 a Mth.Love Phylis & CandiView Thread
http://epilepsytalk.com.2010/06/30/how-music-soothes-seizures-2/
Comments/Opinions Welcome.

Love Phylis & CandiView Thread
It features an interactive map where you can look for a group, a search engine to find a support group near you and a list of the largest meetup groups. Family and friends are welcome.
For more information, go to: http://epilepsy.meetup.com/
Phylis Feiner Johnson
www.epilepsytalk.com
For more information, go toView Thread
I just finished reading it and as the reviews say: "Hauntingly accurate descriptions written from the patient perspective capture the true emotions evoked by epilesy. Conveying frustration, fear, strength, hope and courage, this is a must read for anyone touched by epilepsy, whether patient, family, friend or health care professional. After working with epilepsy patients for years, I see how these poems will launch our perspective and understanding into a new light. Brilliant and insightful. A must read!"
Steven H. Schechter, MD -- Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology,
Wayne State University, Detroil, MI and William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
Available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, etc.
Phylis Feiner Johnson
www.epilepsytalk.comView Thread
Folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of some birth defects by 60% to 70%.
But here's an interesting factoid: Magnesium sulfate has been shown to prevent additional seizures in pregnant women.
In recent years, doctors have disagreed about whether magnesium sulfate or more traditional anti-seizure medications (diazepam, phenytoin) should be preferred.
Obstetricians favored magnesium, while neurologists favored the more traditional approach.
However, a large amount of clinical evidence now conclusively supports the use of magnesium sulfate as the safest and most effective drug for preventing seizures in pregnant women.
Overall, the data shows that magnesium sulfate can reduce the risk of having ongoing seizures by up to 66%.
When compared to other anti-seizure medications, magnesium sulfate has been shown to be more effective and to reduce the risk of other possible complications in pregnant women.
Phylis Feiner Johnson
www.epilepsytalk.comView Thread
This list is based on personal recommendations and, of course is purely subjective. But I thought it might be helpful for anyone looking for a good Neurologist…Epileptologist…Neurosurgeon…or Pediatric Doctor.
NOTE: The National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) provides a directory of specialized epilepsy centers in the U.S. along with other useful information about epilepsy. http://www.naeclocator.org/find.htm
For a full list of these recommended doctors, click on:
http://epilepsytalk.com/2011/05/03/newly-updated-comprehensive-list-of-good-neurologists%e2%80%a6epileptologists%e2%80%a6neurosurgeons%e20%80%pediatric-doctors-2/
Phylis Feiner Johnson
www.epilepsytalk.com
View Thread
So, I went to Amazon, rolled the dice and ended up spending needless money on a lot of duds.
Don't get me wrong, some were of value, but most were a waste of time.
So, to save you from my disappointing experience, I've combed the web, epilepsy foundations, blogs and wherever else I could think of to find books that would actually inform, explain and even sometimes, entertain.
I hope you'll find something of use on this list, which is truly a labor of love…
To read about these wonderful books, click on: http://epilepsytalk.com/2011/04/30/25-best-epilepsy-books-for-people-of-all-ages/
Phylis Feiner Johnson
www.epilepsytalk.com
View Thread
This means YOU or a loved one. Do you take Advil or Motrin or Aleve? Well, the researchers found that people taking these NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) were significantly less likely to get results from their SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressants.
The key word here is "significantly." It's not like Advil turned Prozac totally off. Plus, a lot more research is needed. But, if I get a pounding headache, I'm personally going to pop an NSAID, because Tylenol is a whole lot scarier.
However, if I had major arthritis plus depression, I'd take this research seriously…
According to a new report published April 25, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the effectiveness of SSRI antidepressants is reduced by 15% when taken alongside anti-inflammatory drugs.
Since inflammation is thought to worsen or cause depression in some people, researchers were justifiably surprised. Because, logically, they expected that combining an anti-inflammatory with an antidepressant would improve, not reduce, depressive symptoms.
Makes sense, don't you think?
But, researcher and co-author of the study Dr. Jennifer Warner-Schmidt said: "It appears there's a very strong antagonistic relationship between NSAIDs and SSRIs. This may be one reason why the response rate (in patients of SSRIs) is so low."
What seems to be at work here, is a matter of imbalance. (You know, what works for some doesn't work for all.)
SSRI antidepressants work by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in our brains. And by balancing these natural chemicals, they affect our moods and emotions. But it appears that if this delicate balance is upset by a foreign agent — like an anti-inflammatory — all bets are off. Especially if someone is in chronic pain and uses an anti-inflammatory regularly for relief.
But the resolution remains in question. And more clinical trials will be needed to assess the strength and quality of the anti-inflammatory, together with the treatment and chemical imbalances being addressed by the antidepressant.
Meanwhile, Paul Greengard, the study's senior author and Vincent Astor Professor of the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience at Rockefeller University, advises, "physicians should consider the advantages and disadvantages of giving an anti-inflammatory with the antidepressant depending on how severe the pain is and how depressed they are."
That isn't to say: "Throw away your pain killers!" But it might make you (and me) think twice before popping some more ibuprofen…
At least, it's certainly worth checking out with your doctor.
Phylis Feiner Johnson
www.epilepsytalk.comView Thread
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