Can anyone suggest any other medication besides Keppra for seizures?

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!

@bunnyboy
Wishing you a good appointment with this new doctor. Crossing my fingers for you!
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

We'll see, https://health.usnews.com/doctors/christopher-calder-342612

@1710dave, after my brother's EEG at the hospital did not reveal what lobe area of the brain might be the origination point for the seizures, I researched and came across the website Epilepsy Society where they list 16-classes of anti-epileptic-drugs (AED's). There appears to be a variety of AED's, each class seems to have a different mechanism of action, effect on the brain, metabolism in the body, and some with similar side-effects. My brother has been on Keppra since 2014 and the therapeutic level (trough) for his 750mg BID is supposed to be between 4.0 - 24.0 mcg/mL. His blood tests have shown values of ~14.0 mcg/mL. The meds make him very drowsy and limits what we're able to do with him (physical/speech therapy, ROM, appts), even while bed-ridden. Because he cannot speak/communicate with us, we've read his facial and audible queues to try to gauge whether the meds make him feel very negatively. I expect the meds make him feel much like many others I've heard describe their experiences with Keppra. After the EEG at the hospital, the doctor prescribed an adjunct AED, zonisamide (100mg, 1X-eve). When we introduced the CBD oil earlier this year and lowered the dose of zonisamide to 50mg, he had a couple of grand mall seizures in one afternoon. This led us to think the zonisamide might be have a more significant role in control of seizures. We will re-visit the lower dose of zonisamide as we increase the CBD oil to determine if the oil side-effects he experienced can be managed. Our thoughts at this point are the CBD oil likely has less negative impact/damage on the body, short-term and long-term, than any of the AED's.

Sorry for sort of dropping out, my Dr was wonderful, but unfortunately is semi-retired so may not be available for long. They got me with a specialist in medications with the hospital. Decided to keep me on Keppra for the moment, but, I just couldn't handle it. The Keppra and I just don't click. So I had a phone conference and they got me back on the Carbamazepine for the moment, but not the extended release. The new prescription releases immediately, as I have nocturnal seizures only for the moment. Thanks for the 'checking in with me'. Big hug!

I have been on zonisamide (zonegram) for over 13 years along with CBD/THC not one seizure. I take 100mg Z in am and 100mg Z around 10pm. Sleep like a baby. Sometimes a nap but I am 67! I had gammaknife in 2008 to fix an AVM but I will not chance another seizure.