Perhaps it is time for a political change in the States (or wherever
most of you live)? At least a call for higher taxes, to take care of
your public health system. In Norway, nobody has to pay more than approx
$225/year for health care/hospital bills/treatments/doctors (except
dentists). Whenever you have paid more than that for one year, you're
given free health care the rest of the year, the national insurance
taking care of your bills. I'm sometimes shocked by reading about your
health bills in this group.
Perhaps this is the last thing you want to hear, but I just couldn't
help it  . . . . .

cheers,
ole k

*** Not to worry.  We're sure it's still there !  :-<

I refused because I spent a

** Some of the tests can see any glitches down to fractions of an inch.  If
it was a minor malformation or even a teenie blood spot, there's no reason
to expect it to grow.  I'm sure (?) that even a semi-trained Dr. thought
there was something to look for that they would./

Last month I had 6 seizures in one week. If

** Pass... :->  Actually with several of the meds. (Including Tegretol) when
the blood level gets temporarily above the target dose, we can feel dopy,
clumsie or a drunken sensation.  I'm assuming you're using Tegretol CR? or
XR?  Most places use those (time released) versions than the older Regular
Tegretol now.
  Do you take that in 2 doses during the day?  The Pharmacist might be able
to suggest if you might be able to split them up into 3 doses? per day, to
spread out the time it's hitting your bloodstream? But that's something I'm
not licensed to suggest without a Competent Expert (druggist).  If you're
home during the day, e.g. you might be able to start with an AM dose, then a
Noontime part 2, and keep the night dose the same.   It's the Balance in
your bloodstream you're aiming for, and if the dizziness doesn't clear in
1-2 weeks that means you're temporarily above ideal levels for a short time,
even though it entertains your brother.  We can get him a Comic Book (or
short-sheet his bed !).

  If it doesn't clear in 3-5 days at the current dose level, then you could
call the Dr. or speak to the Pharmacist.  It can take that long for us to
adjust to a new dose level.  They might also start to reduce the Keppra a
bit if it persists as the 2 meds. might conflict with each other. (I haven't
used Keppra so don't know how it reacts with other pills. Perhaps others
here who use it can comment. )

   In case you didn't see an Olde post a few years ago, avoid Grapefruit
and its Juices while you use Tegretol.  Other juices are OK as it works best
with milk, food or juice.  One of the acids in G.fruit interferes with how
Tegretol gets absorbed.  (In case you didn't see that, or the Pharmacy
doesn't include that with your prescription --mine does now in Canada since
I took a printout I got off efa? site years ago to show them.) /

I'm dizzy and high. I'm very dopy, my Brother is

**G- My Dr. started me on lower dose 100mg each AM and night, then upped the
dose by half a tablet (100mg) either AM or night each week until I got to
target.  (At that time it was 400mg AM and 400 at night. But your 2 pills
are also interacting, and that's something a Dr. or Pharmacist could comment
on better.  Likely as you reduce the Keppra, when they think you have enough
Tegretol in your system, that sensation should clear. )  /

*** They're only going to try get away from Mom when they're Teenagers.
Don't worry about that now, wait until you get Olde...   G./

Bill,

Dilantin was the first seizure med I took, and I started on Tegretol a
few weeks later.  I was gradually weened off Dilantin and the Tegretol
worked better.  This was in the late summer and then the fall of 1982,
though, when I was 18.  I have had seizure problems since age 11. My
mother took Dilantin since I was born in 1964.  She had her first Grand
mal along with having me.  She recently quit taking Dilantin a few
months ago, and is taking no meds and is seizure-free at the age of 65.

E.B.