1. It depends on what kind of seizures you're having. If they are grand mal or generalized seizures in which you completely lose consciousness, then antiepileptic treatment should be more aggressive. Otherwise, you'll have to discuss this with your neurologist as to how aggressive you want to be. It would be ideal to be completely seizure free, but as you had/have a structural lesion (tumor) and now surgical scar - both can serve as a chronic irritant for seizures.
2.no
3.it's always better to be on the least amount of medications possible. I suspect that once the lamictal starts kicking in, the phenobarb will be taken away. Then you'd only be on two drugs, which is fine (3 is ok too if you need it, but the risk of side effects go up with amount of meds). Keppra is relatively safe with few side effects and no significant drug interactions.
Best of luck.
Thanks for your answers.
Sorry i forgot to write that I have focal seizures and I am awake for the whole seizure (about two minuets they last) and my tumor is a grade 2.
Today the doctor told me to take 1 less phenobarbital, you were right.
Thanks again
Dave
I have this type of tumor, inoperable for 4 years now. No growth
on previous MRIs.
I have been taking Dilantin 300mg and recently stopped taking Neurontin because of weight gain and bloating.
Imediately on stopping the Neurontin I started to lose weight and my diabetes was in much better control.
I have several focal seizures everyday, but have learned to live with them instead of loading up on medications that have so many side effects.