Phenobarbital

I was taking 180mg of Pheno with 3000mg of keppra and 300mg of lamictal, on 9/14/02 I was told to reduce my Pheno by 60mg, last night I had seizure I also had one on  9/19/02 (focal seizures) both lasted about 2 1/2 min and were more intense than usual. I normaly go 30 days between seizures but this time only 17 days.

Is this normal when coming of Pheno?

The Doctor probably will raise my lamictal later, Will this help?

Thanks
Dave

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Switching over antiseizure meds can be quite tricky.  As you're trying to slowly taper off one med and onto a new one, the drug levels in your body can be subtherapeutic leading to a breakthru in the seizure threshold. Hopefully, when the second drug (lamictal in your case) is tapered up to the right dose for you then your seizure frequency will go back to baseline. But that's only theoretical. There's always the possibility that lamictal won't control your seizures, or that something else caused a breakdown in the seizure threshold. Let your doctor know about the seizures. If you have a secondary generalized sz (meaning it turns into a grand mal) tell him right away or consider going to the ER if it's prolonged or somehow unusual. GOod luck.

[evad]

Had 2nd seizure today 40 min after taking meds.

Dave