Yes, the meds kick do my butt. One of the very first things my epileptologist ordered was a sleep study. My first neurologist somehow missed that one... anyway, after a lifetime of fighting fatigue the sleep study showed that I have obstructive sleep apnea, waking constantly, up to 45 times per hour, and rarely reaching deep sleep. I now use CPAP and the difference is remarkable. The improved quality of my sleep is definitely offsetting the sleep-affecting side effects of the meds. That first couple hours after my morning dose are a little rough, and naps are still helpful, but overall, the fatigue is no worse than I'd experienced before epilepsy. I was also advised to take B complex supplements, and additionally a B-12 supplement, both for memory and energy.

Fatigue can negatively affect your frame of mind, just another delightful part of living with the trappings of this condition. The neurology department from which my epileptologist works has a dedicated staff psychologist. Because of the propensity for depression among folks with neurological conditions, managing the mental health of his patients his priority. He wasted no time with me, as I arrived in his clinic grossly overmedicated on Keppra and Dilantin, and he recognized that I'd dangerously hit bottom. His intervention was JUST on time, and ultimately the game changer for me.

So now, instead of me floundering around aimlessly trying to navigate this new landscape, I've been pointed to helpful supportive resources, I have a place to vent my concerns and ask questions, a crisis number to call, and a direction toward factual and reliable educational information, along with personalized attention from someone whose career has been epilepsy support. I strongly suggest considering a psychologist (as opposed to a psychiatrist, who in my experience, tends to be too quick to medicate). I don't need to mask the symptoms of my depression pharmaceutically; it only delays the inevitable. Been there, done that. I'm learning to face it, and I'm no longer at the bottom. There are resources available at various states' Epilepsy Foundation websites, including mental health support. Michigan's is outstanding. It's important to be your own advocate and to explore what's out there to find what's right for you.

I never considered myself a strong person. That was an underlying and lifelong self-esteem issue. Their mental health support has addressed all of it, not just the body-slam of the epilepsy diagnosis, and it has given me an entirely new perspective about myself and my strengths. I guess I'm stronger than I thought. There is hope for a better tomorrow. In order to enjoy that tomorrow, I have to take care of myself today.

You can do this.

That's a hard one brother. Its up to you on what to take and how to control it. I made a terrible mistake trusting my meds and drs. at the moment,,, so, once again it destroyed my relationship 😥

Amen!🙏🏽

Craig, You're not going nuts. I've run into this multiple times over the years and there could be multiple issues involved. For me it primarily starts with an increase in anxiety caused by worrying about things out of my control. Whether it's real worries or dreams it doesn't matter. The anxiety by thinking about my cousin and friends health or the guy snoring in the apartment next to me, both can wake me up in the night both are issues out of my control. Once I wakeup my mind starts spinning again. When my cousin came into town, that stress / anxiety went down.
I take trazodone to get me to sleep but I may wakeup again a couple hours later. So, in the past when the issue was long lasting my MD's prescribed trazodone to get me to sleep and alprazolam to address the anxiety which allowed me to sleep through the night. Complex partials and sudden mood swings subsided. Fogginess went away and I was much clearer.
I'm not saying that's it, but what I had/have experienced is quite similar to yours.
Ask your MD what he thinks. If you go that route, you'll know within a few days if it's working.

A "normal" person might not think right and/or have mood swings (angry, depressed, anxious, etc) w/ extended lack of sleep.

Craig: Your comfort and happiness is all that matters and you're the only one that is going to understand that. I just told my daughter who I love and miss deeply that I simply can't commit to coming to FL for Christmas because I don't know day to day how I'm going to feel and making plans is something that has been taking away by this disease. The stress and eventual anger if or when things go wrong isn't worth it and people just don't understand it. Some days I need 3 naps other days no naps but I go to bed at 7 pm on a no nap day. Whatever it takes to keep me in my comfy zone. The meds control my slowed down brain.