Can anyone suggest any other medication besides Keppra for seizures?

@santosha
Hi Chris,
I'm curious if you ever wandered during your seizures?
Jake

Hi Jake, very good morning to you
Not that I know, Jake.
When I was around my late twenties, my mother found me on the floor in the morning. I had pi and was lying on it. I remember she has asked me to go to the doctor again to do some exams, but nothing has been diagnosed at that time again. As I have already mentioned in other posts, I have lived up to my 49 years of age without knowing I had epilepsy. As I know today, a perfect EEG does not mean that you are 100% free of epilepsy. The best diagnosis is done by a good doctor through questions. A good EEG also requires good preparation. I stay awake almost all night, otherwise, the results will show nothing. Today, knowing that I have epilepsy, I suppose that I had a seizure during that night in my twenties, explaining why my mother found me on the floor in the morning.
I know of someone with temporal lobe epilepsy like me (but he has no lesion on his brain as I do) that has wandered in one seizure, driving to a place in the city he did not know at all. His seizures are, however, not just focal, but do evolve into generalized seizures, having convulsions. Thank God he has adapted well to medication and is seizure-free nowadays.
Have you and others here in the group wandered? Please share your experiences.
Have all a nice day!
Santosha

@santosha
I had a few I remember but probably more.
I went to my then Neurologist who refused to check my seizure levels so I went to my primary care doctor 15 miles away and on the way home I had a seizure which turned out to be a focal. My mom got us off the road and I crawled out over the top of her and went running onto the highway, the other time I was at the Grand Canyon I had a focal and started walking towards the canyon and a man guided me back. I’ve always wondered if when someone wanders if they are somehow Abe to , the other time I was at the Grand Canyon I had a focal and started walking towards the canyon and a man guided me back. I’ve always wondered if when someone wanders if they are able to somehow avoid danger.
I remember a couple of focal aware seizures. One was a déjà vu episode. The other, I was pulling out of a parking lot and nearly hit a car. I went to my neurologist, and he increased my Phenobarbital, and I haven’t had another one since. Will you ask your Epileptologist sometime about his views on Phenobarbital? A man I suggested asking his Neuro about it which he did. He was on 3 AEDs weren't helping. He's been on Phenobarbital since and has been seizure free.
Thanks for you response Chris.
Jake

Thanks for your insights they are sure appreciated. I will be seeing a neurologist tomorrow so I have to make sure I am together enough to ask all the right questions. This shallow breathing every time I get up/out and around is killing mer. Seems to be the Keppra (never ever had before), he will have to 'listen' with that one! I can't go through everyday not being able to breathe every time I walk across the room. We used to live in Sedona/Tucson/Alpine so sure understand AZ has some reasons to be there, except the politics. Hugs!

@bunnyboy
I wonder if your breathing problems could be an allergic reaction to Keppra.
You might want to ask your doctor for pharmacological genetic testing for the best drug to help you.
Be firm if you want off Keppra. You have the right to refuse any medical treatment. I had an issue with a Neuro who all but insisted I take Topamax. I refused but he wouldn't let it be. My last Neuro also suggested it but when I told him I didn't want to take it he let it drop.
Good luck with appointment.
Jake

@jakedduck1
Hi Jake,
Thanks for sharing those experiences with us!
I will be with my doctor this coming Monday and I will ask him about his views on Phenobarbital, the oldest AED still avalaible on the market, right? Is there anything specific you would like me to ask him? I will also ask him if when people with epilepsy wander if they are somehow able to avoid danger.
Take care!
Santosha

@santosha
Yes, asking if wanderers are somehow capable of avoiding dangers although I walked onto a highway.
Why is Phenobarbital not so often tried when other drugs for Tonic-Clonic & Focal seizures fail?
Jake

Breaks my heart, tears by end of your post..... Hugs!

Happy you are pro-active with your treatment! Yes, certainly, there is some kind of allergic reaction, appreciate your comment!

Thanks, my seizures are Grand Mal. Usually in morning I have severe muscle strain, bitten tongue, and little memory. Thank God I have a partner to help me. I start out with a loud yelp, he knows immediately. I breaks my heart he has to go thru this all. The last episode was 7 throughout the night, he was horrified, ER said call us immediately if it ever happens again. However, and a big however, so far has cost us $750.00 cash, and our insurance over 10 grand, that's a lot of money. They did Keppra intravenous immediately, lots of tests, and MRI, CT scan, etc., I was in ER for 7 Hours! I usually get one nocturnal seizure a month, first week of each month, then it's over for another 30 days. The reason I had such a bad episode this last time was I tried to cut back on the Carbamazepine as it has a half-life of 36 hours. I increased the Gabapentin to compensate as it has a half-life of 6 hours. The Carbamazepine had its revenge! That said I was only taking at night as it makes me so tired at work. Guess I won't be able to do that in future, Zombieland here I come, will see a new Neurologist tomorrow. Thanks for your comments! Cheers!