• Clip
• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 50-69 >> Interview EP11 >> Recalls that she had symptoms of epilepsy a long time before she was actually diagnosed.

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 30-49 >> Interview EP12 >> Recalls having an absence seizure on a bus and missing her stop.

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 >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP02 >> Describes what happens when she has an absence.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1996. Seizures have been controlled since 2000. Current medication: Epilim ( sodium valproate), and Lamictal (lamotrigine).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP15 >> Explains that she occasionally has atonic seizures.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1974. Epilepsy is not controlled and the possibility of neurosurgery was being considered at time of interview. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP36 >> Describes her experiences of having complex partial seizures.

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 >> Explains what happens during her complex partial seizures.

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 EP39 >> Realises that accepting he has epilepsy is an important step to dealing and living with it.

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).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP12 >> Describes what happens when she has nocturnal seizures.

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 >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP33 >> Explains that an aura might develop into a tonic-clonic seizure.

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 EP15 >> Explains that some scar tissue caused her epilepsy.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1974. Epilepsy is not controlled and the possibility of neurosurgery was being considered at time of interview. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP26 >> Describes what happens before she has a tonic-clonic seizure.

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 >> Discusses some of the difficulties with having tonic clonic seizures.

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 EP26 >> Describes what happens before she has a tonic-clonic seizure.

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 >> Discusses some of the difficulties with having tonic clonic seizures.

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 EP15 >> Explains that some scar tissue caused her epilepsy.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1974. Epilepsy is not controlled and the possibility of neurosurgery was being considered at time of interview. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP33 >> Explains that an aura might develop into a tonic-clonic seizure.

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 EP12 >> Describes what happens when she has nocturnal seizures.

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 >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP12 >> Describes what happens when she has nocturnal seizures.

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 >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP02 >> Describes what happens when she has an absence.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1996. Seizures have been controlled since 2000. Current medication: Epilim ( sodium valproate), and Lamictal (lamotrigine).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 50-69 >> Interview EP11 >> Recalls that she had symptoms of epilepsy a long time before she was actually diagnosed.

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 30-49 >> Interview EP01 >> Discusses some of the difficulties with having tonic clonic seizures.

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 EP26 >> Describes what happens before she has a tonic-clonic seizure.

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 EP15 >> Explains that she occasionally has atonic seizures.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1974. Epilepsy is not controlled and the possibility of neurosurgery was being considered at time of interview. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Carers of >> Interview EP29 >> Discusses the different types of seizures that her son has.

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).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP39 >> Discusses recovering after a seizure.

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).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP12 >> Describes what happens when she has nocturnal seizures.

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 >> Aged under 30 >> Interview EP36 >> Describes her experiences of having complex partial seizures.

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 >> Explains what happens during her complex partial seizures.

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 under 30 >> Interview EP33 >> Explains that an aura might develop into a tonic-clonic seizure.

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 EP27 >> Describes what happens during and after a seizure.

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 >> Explains that her son's seizures are a symptom of a more serious condition.

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).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP19 >> Describes his experience of simple partial seizures.

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 EP02 >> Describes what happens when she has an absence.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1996. Seizures have been controlled since 2000. Current medication: Epilim ( sodium valproate), and Lamictal (lamotrigine).

• 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.

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP19 >> Describes his experience of simple partial seizures.

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 EP22 >> Explains that stress played an important part in the onset of her 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 EP21 >> Explains that his epilepsy might have been caused by febrile convulsions but that this has never been confirmed.

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 under 30 >> Interview EP33 >> Explains that an aura might develop into a tonic-clonic seizure.

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 EP15 >> Explains that she occasionally has atonic seizures.

Diagnosed with epilepsy in 1974. Epilepsy is not controlled and the possibility of neurosurgery was being considered at time of interview. Current medication: carbamazepine retard (Tegretol Retard).

• Nerves & brain >> Epilepsy >> Aged 30-49 >> Interview EP26 >> Describes what happens before she has a tonic-clonic seizure.

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).