Can Epilim (Sodium Valproate) Cause Visual Snow?

Does anyone know if Epilim (Sodium Valproate) could cause visual snow?

My elderly aunt has a background of tinnitus and hearing loss (not bothered by it at all)

Her epilim was increased recently (for epilepsy), which has resulted in visual snow.

 

Hi @DebInAustralia,
My son takes it for Epilepsy, my other son Tegratol and hubby Mysoline.
They don't have tinnitus or visual snow.
love glynis

 

Hi lovely,

thanks for responding.

I think my aunty's tinnitus is likely due to her age related hearing loss.

The visual snow didn't appear till we increased the dose of her epilim (as her epilepsy has 'woken' up again)

She's not overly bothered by it, but it is making life a bit harder than it needs to be since she already has severe myopia and macular degeneration to contend with.

 

Is there other anticonvulsants that she could take for seizures instead of increasing the Epilim dose? For example, is it is possible she could keep her old dose but take Lamictal or Trileptal or some other anticonvulsant drug? I know that is certainly something you would have to ask a doctor about but I figured I would mention it.

 

Hi Jason,

I wanted to establish if epilim, at higher doses, can cause visual snow first before switching. (since it has stabilised her epilepsy)

The VS seemed to coincide with the increased dose, but she has started Aricept (memory) and Lexapro (antidepressant) for her dementia also a few months ago. I don't want to rick the boat as, aside from the VS, her health has stabilised. (unless I have to)

I am thinking of taking her to see a leading specialist in VS (Australia) to get his opinion before I allow her gp to fiddle around with her drugs. I have also enrolled her in an Australian study that is aimed at looking at ways to filter out the VS. Don't know much more than that if anyone quizzes me.

I think she would be open to changing her regime if it were to make it better, not worse.

 

Addit: Aunty no longer qualifies for the study for VS at Monash Melbourne (Australia) because of her epilepsy. Dammit.

 

Hey Deb, I’m in Melbourne too. Is there a VS specialist here? I also very occasionally experience migraine with aura and have read these can be linked.

 

Serotonin antidepressants can make visual snow worse.