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Drug treatment

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Drug treatment

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• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP32 >> Explains that his epilepsy was controlled with one drug right from the start.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 2001. Was put on gabapentin straight away and epilepsy has been well controlled since then. Current medication: gabapentin (Neurontin).

• 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 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 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 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 30-49 >> Interview EP19 >> Recalls his feelings of tiredness when first using anti-epileptic drugs.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1985. Seizures have been controlled since 1992. Current drug treatment is carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard) and sodium valproate (Epilim).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP36 >> Explains how weight gain and other side-effects affected her.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1998. Has tried sodium valproate (Epilim) and is currently taking lamotrigine (Lamictal), which has reduced the frequency and intensity of seizures but epilepsy is not controlled. Current medication: lamotrigine (Lamictal).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP26 >> Discusses the impacts of different anti-epileptic drugs.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1966. Has poorly controlled epilepsy and has tried various drug treatments over the years. Current medication: Slow-release carbamazepine (Tegretol Retard), gabapentin (Neurontin) and levetiracetam (Keppra).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP01 >> Explains why she came off all anti-epileptic drugs.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1964. Tried various drugs but these did not control seizures. In an attempt to have an acceptable quality of life, decided to stop taking anti-epileptic drugs in 2001 and is on a Chinese/macrobiotic diet. Current medication: diazepam (Valium) when needed.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 50-69 >> Interview EP11 >> Describes the severe side effects she had with various anti-epileptic drugs.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 2000. Tried various drugs which did not control seizures and caused severe side effects. At the time of interview, participant had stopped taking all medication. Current medication: none.

• 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 30-49 >> Interview EP27 >> Recalls the hand tremors she had with one drug and poor concentration with another.

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 >> Carers of >> Interview EP29 >> Discusses the drug changes her son experienced over the years, and diets.

Carer (aged 44), of her son aged 22, who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1982, at 16 months of age. Severe uncontrolled epilepsy and autism, symptoms of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, diagnosed in 1997. Has tried several different drugs, and ketogenic diet as a child. Currently on a gluten free and dairy free diet. Current medication: levetiracetam (Keppra) and carbamazepine (Tegretol).