• Condition
• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Epilepsy

Publication date: March 2003          Last updated: February 2012.

Review date: February 2014.

 

Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent seizures (fits). We interviewed 41 people about their experiences of this condition. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

 

You may also be interested in young people with epilepsy, which can be found on youthhealthtalk.org.

• >> Epilepsy >> Epilepsy

Publication date: March 2003          Last updated: February 2012.

Review date: February 2014.

 

Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent seizures (fits). We interviewed 41 people about their experiences of this condition. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

 

You may also be interested in young people with epilepsy, which can be found on youthhealthtalk.org.

• Clip
• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP19 >> Reports that he feels slightly dizzy if he forgets to take his medication.

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 30-49 >> Interview EP21 >> Explains how missing one tablet led to a status epilepticus episode.

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 50-69 >> Interview EP34 >> Discusses how he remembers to take his medications.

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 30-49 >> Interview EP30 >> Comments that taking medication regularly can be a problem when her routine changes.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1985. Has tried several different drug treatments, and had 4 years free of seizures. Seizures restarted in 1996 and epilepsy is currently not completely controlled. Current medication: carbamazepine (Tegretol) daily and clobazam (Frisium) when needed.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP21 >> Explains why he is wary of coming off medication.

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 EP21 >> Explains why he is wary of coming off medication.

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 EP22 >> Discusses coming off anti-epileptic drugs after having neurosurgery for epilepsy.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1988. Tried various drugs, and had neurosurgery in 2000. Has been seizure free since surgery, and stopped taking medications (lamotrigine and carbamazepine) a few months after neurosurgery.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP09 >> Explains that she became seizure free two years after surgery and why she does not want to stop taking medication.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1990. Tried various drugs which did not control seizures. Had neurosurgery in 1998 in the USA. Experienced having seizures for 2 years after the surgery, but has been seizure free since November 2000. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard).

• Topic
• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Taking and stopping medication >> Taking and stopping medication

Taking and stopping medication

• >> Epilepsy >> Taking and stopping medication >> Taking and stopping medication

Taking and stopping medication

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 70 and over >> Interview EP38 >> Explains that he presented with epilepsy at the age of 74.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1996, which is not controlled. Was prescribed phenytoin (Epanutin) and sodium valproate (Epilim) in the past. Current medication: lamotrigine (Lamictal) daily, and clobazam when needed.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP16 >> Discusses the problems that arose from stopping her 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 EP06 >> Explains why he stopped taking anti-epileptic drugs suddenly and advises against it.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1989, which was caused by a brain tumour. Had radiotherapy and chemotherapy to treat the tumour, and seizures were reduced considerably. Felt better without medication and decided to stop taking anti-epileptic drugs. Current medication: none.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP01 >> Explains why she slowly came off all medication.

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 30-49 >> Interview EP39 >> Explains why he wants to come off medications.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1980 at age of 13 but had symptoms since around the age of 6. Current medication: phenytoin (Epanutin) and levetiracetam (Keppra).

• >> Epilepsy >> Taking and stopping medication >> Taking and stopping medication

Taking and stopping medication

• 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).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Taking and stopping medication >> Taking and stopping medication

Taking and stopping medication