Focal Aware Seizure Medication

Posted by lzbthtyler @lzbthtyler, 6 hours ago

I have focal aware seizures in my right temporal lobe. I was diagnosed in 2016. Due to the medications not helping, I had Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy LITT in 2022. My seizures were much less frequent and less intense after the surgery until January 2025. Since January 2025, my seizures have been different than before. I am still aware, but they are more intense. My right arm and sometimes my right leg will shake. My family says my bottom lip will tremble. I breathe heavily and immediately want to lie down. I do not have a known trigger. I get a rising sick feeling in my stomach, and then I will tingle or tremble, but I do not lose consciousness. Before surgery, I tried the following medications: Briviact, Carbamazepine, Lacosamide, Lamotrigine, Keppra, Aptiom, and Clonazepam. I am currently on 200 mg of Xcopri-Cenobamate. I tried to go up to 300 mg, but it made me extremely sleepy, and I didn't feel well. I also take .5mg of Clonazepam if I have several seizures in 1 day.
Has anyone had any success with a medication I haven't tried?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group.

right frontal lobe focal seizures. similar semiology to you. sEEG in Dec 2024 with ablation (4 months of seizure freedom). scheduled for resection in August 2025.
currently on 150mg Briviact BID, and 400mg Xcopri at night. I was on Keppra for a long time but my dose got to 4000mg XR daily and had horrible mood effects. no mood side effects since switching to Briviact. I have no proof, but I felt like Xcopri made the biggest difference in my seizures. Xcopri was a very slow taper up. I am tired all the time, but used to it after being on medication for so long.

REPLY
@arkyjohn

right frontal lobe focal seizures. similar semiology to you. sEEG in Dec 2024 with ablation (4 months of seizure freedom). scheduled for resection in August 2025.
currently on 150mg Briviact BID, and 400mg Xcopri at night. I was on Keppra for a long time but my dose got to 4000mg XR daily and had horrible mood effects. no mood side effects since switching to Briviact. I have no proof, but I felt like Xcopri made the biggest difference in my seizures. Xcopri was a very slow taper up. I am tired all the time, but used to it after being on medication for so long.

Jump to this post

Hi, @arkyjohn, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Hurray for the 4 months of seizure freedom and that the brivaracetam (Briviact) is helping with the mood effects you experienced on your previous seizure medication. Being tired all the time sounds rough. Glad you are at least getting used to it.

Are you planning on staying on the same medication, arkyjohn, or are you looking to switch to cenobamate (Xcopri) or something else?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.