**G*  I don't understand this part-- would you rather *not be seizure
free for the last 10 years?  My last was June 1998, using the same
meds. you are above.
 Many people who used to post here were not controlled and had 1-4
seizures per month that they were having a H** of a time getting under
control...  My reply here->

You realize Dave or someone will get at you for called Seizures 'a
disease'.  Polio is a Disease? Epilepsy has multiple causes and affects
multiple areas of the brain (not just our Complex Partial types). It is
not contagious, nor is there a blood test or other than e.g. EEGs or
MRIs that show the footprint of the seizures, but not a change to blood
or lymph? systems that might be present if it were a 'disease'.

  I thought you were in the UK? But I also thought that the equivalent
'over there' to my Tegretol CR (Controlled Release) was called Tegretol
Retard?   Did you ask the Doctor if there is a Generic Version
available yet and if it is one he'd **recommend for your type of TLE?

  Both the Frisium (Clobazam) and Tegretol are medications that should
*not be stopped abruptly or reduced without the Dr. being involved, as
prompt stopping of either could increase? risk of (what I call) Recoil
Seizures caused by the prompt withdrawal.
 (I use only 400mg Tegretol CR each AM with 10mg Frisium, and Frisium
at night.)

  I don't have an opinion whether either of those is 'a Benzo'  and
why that would matter.  If it *works for you and controls or greatly
reduces types of CP seizures you have, then I'd use whatever I need to
get rid of those awful CP seizures I had 1993 to 1997-- little or no
aura or warning of onset, waking up in Emerg. and feeling somehow
guilty that I wasn't able to 'snap out of it'  and achieve full control
without using pills.

 Some places in North America have either insurance companies (often
group policies bought by an employer, groups of employees as a block,
or reduced in price by prescriptions being made available through that
route). I don't know if the same would apply where you are.
   Both Tegretol and Frisium now have Generics available in Canada,
although general posts here and other places suggested that the filler
used in some generics might reduce their effectiveness in *Insuring
full control the Patented version would provide.   Tegretol should be
past the end of where it's still protected (for the developer) from
having a Generic version, and I thought Frisium (Clobazam) was nearing
there too.    Personally I've always used the patented version since,
over here, most employers have Prescription/extended health coverage as
part of their standard employee packages.
   For those (over here) who don't have access to that, I had heard
that sometimes they could either get onto a group plan via a local
Epilepsy Association, Social clubs, Church Groups or other routes. Have
you looked into or considered any of those?

  While I think of it, if you hadn't seen a post I did about a year
ago, do *not use Grapefruit Juice or any juices which contain it with
Tegretol (Carbamazepine).  One of the acids in there that's *not in
other Citrus juices, conflicts with the Tegretol. Other citrus juices
or food can be used with Tegretol, and also the Frisium to aid
digestion of the pill without upsetting stomach acids etc. as it's
absorbed into your system.  I hope some of that helps.
   Are you the Malcolm who is/was also the Teacher?  I wondered too if
you found that *Stress !!!!   if you experience any while teaching or
doing lesson plans,  adds to your risk of auras or side effects?  That
was supposed to be another 'trigger'  for TLE type of seizures in some
people, along with lack of sleep.    G./