Seizure Medication

@abalthas
I wouldn't switch from generic to brand or vice versa. Also, stick with the same manufacturer with each refill. Changing manufacturers can increase side effects and may increase breakthrough seizures.
Stanford university did a study claiming increased breakthrough seizures when switching brands, generics, manufacturers.
My level went from 14 to 7 while in the hospital and my brand drugs were switched to generics.
Take care,
Jake

Thanks Jake - I will mention her provider who suggested she would feel better on Lamictal

Hi Jake - thanks for this information.

I've been taking name-brand Lamictal since 2019. I'm hoping you can help me with some questions:

1. Do you have more information (authors, date etc) about the Stanford study?

2. What is a 'breakthrough' seizure?

3. You mentioned "My level went from 14 to 7". What level was that? What do the numbers represent?

Thanks for your help!

Have you had side affects with Lamictal and have you had seizures while taking?

@genekranz
I can't locate the Stanford study I referred to. There have been conflicting studies done on this issue.
Switching manufacturers probably doesn't affect many seizure patients. Switching doesn't seem to affect my brother but he did have a seizure days after getting a refill after being seizure free for 20 years. Would that seizure have happened anyway or was it a different manufactured drug affecting his blood level lowering his seizure threshold? Know one will ever know the answer to that.

BREAKTHROUGH SEIZURE
If you've been having good seizure control and then have one all of a sudden, like the example I mentioned about my brother.

The numbers represent the amount of the anticonvulsant Dilantin that was in my blood. The therapeutic range is between 10-20. My doctor found it best to keep my blood level around 14.

My Neurologist who just passed away didn't believe in seizure patients taking generic AEDs or switching manufacturers.

I knew a man in England, and the only time he had seizures was right after he refilled his medication. Once the doctor ordered the same manufacturer with each refill, his seizures stopped.

There is research out there that says it doesn’t make any difference, but I’ve known people where it makes a significant difference, including myself.
Take care,
Jake

@abalthas
To the best of my recollection, I don’t believe I’ve ever taken Lamictal.
In the 57 years I’ve taken seizure medications my only side effects have been balance, coordination, tiredness, and memory. I always had seizures from age 14 to 59 when they abruptly stopped. I credit my seizure control with the drug Carbatrol, which is a brand name extended-release carbamazepine.
Take care,
Jake

Thanks for your feedback - i think we'll stay with generic by Unichem. Daughter is not one for change

No side effects as far as I can tell. But still seizures (albeit much milder than before) from time to time - every couple of weeks or so. These seizures seem to occur in clusters - e.g., a bunch (5+) in a 24-hour period.

My daughter gets several panic attacks during day which I think sometimes trigger seizures

Wow - that's a lot. My daughterseems to be 1 every 6-8 weeks