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• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Carers of >> Interview EP17 >> Explains how she monitored her husband's drugs, and discusses being involved in making treatment decisions with doctors.

Carer (aged 48), for her husband (aged 54), who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1989, aged 42. Tried several different drug treatments. Epilepsy is poorly controlled. Current medication: carbamazepine (Tegretol), sodium valproate (Epilim) and levetiracetam (Keppra).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP16 >> Explains that she wants to be on the lowest effective drug dose well before she is ready to conceive.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1992. Has tried sodium valproate (Epilim), lamotrigine (Lamictal) and topirimate (Topamax), though epilepsy is not controlled. Current medication: sodium valproate (Epilim) and topirimate (Topamax).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP27 >> Discusses her concerns about pregnancy and the possible risks to the baby.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1995. Tried a number of different drug treatments, and on average has about one seizure per year. Current medication: lamotrigine (Lamictal).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP21 >> Discusses the drug treatments that led to control of his seizures.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1984, although had the condition throughout childhood as well. Has been seizure free since 1986, though had a status epilepticus episode in 1999 when medication was missed. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard) and clobazam (Frisium).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP23 >> Recalls that her seizures were controlled as soon as drug treatment was started.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1971, which has been well controlled from the beginning. Was diagnosed with meningitis in 1994 and had a number of seizures as a result. Has been seizure free since then, and is currently taking phenobarbitone (Gardenal) and carbamazepine (Tegretol).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 50-69 >> Interview EP35 >> Discusses waiting patiently whilst trying various anti-epileptic drugs.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1954. Has tried several different drug treatments, and epilepsy is not completely controlled. Current medication: lamotrigine (Lamictal) and gabapentin (Neurontin).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 50-69 >> Interview EP34 >> Discusses being monitored by doctors whilst finding the right drugs.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1965. Has tried several different drug treatments, and had 14 years free of seizures. Epilepsy has been controlled again since 1997. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard), phenytoin (Epanutin) and diazepam (Valium).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP33 >> Discusses her feelings of frustration whilst trying different drug treatments.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 2001. Has tried various drug treatments though seizures have not been controlled. Current medication: levetiracetam (Keppra) and clobazam (Frisium).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 50-69 >> Interview EP28 >> Wonders whether she gains a tolerance to anti-epileptic drugs.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1951. Has tried several different drugs, and been involved in various clinical trials. Had neurosurgery at the age of 20. Although respondent had 14 years without seizures, seizures returned and epilepsy is not controlled. Current medication: levetiracetam (Keppra), phenytoin (Epanutin) and clobazam (Frisium).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP12 >> Describes having a change of medication when her seizures worsened.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1965 at age of 15 but had symptoms since around 3-4 years of age. Had neurosurgery at age of 14 though epilepsy is not well controlled. Current medication: carbamazepine (Tegretol) and levetiracetam (Keppra).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Carers of >> Interview EP17 >> Describes how different anti-epileptic drugs were affecting her husband.

Carer (aged 48), for her husband (aged 54), who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1989, aged 42. Tried several different drug treatments. Epilepsy is poorly controlled. Current medication: carbamazepine (Tegretol), sodium valproate (Epilim) and levetiracetam (Keppra).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP10 >> Explains that his consultant plans to slowly reduce drug dosages.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1982. Tried various drugs which did not control seizures. Had neurosurgery in 1984 at the age of 13 and in 1998 at the age of 28. Although there was some improvement in the seizures, epilepsy is poorly controlled. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard), vigabatrin (Sabril) and lamotrigine (Lamictal) daily, and clobazam (Frisium) when needed.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP16 >> Discusses the muscle jerks and speech problems she had with anti-epileptic drugs.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1992. Has tried sodium valproate (Epilim), lamotrigine (Lamictal) and topirimate (Topamax), though epilepsy is not controlled. Current medication: sodium valproate (Epilim) and topirimate (Topamax).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP33 >> Discusses how she lowered the dosages of her drugs herself.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 2001. Has tried various drug treatments though seizures have not been controlled. Current medication: levetiracetam (Keppra) and clobazam (Frisium).