Generic: phenobarbitone

Class: barbiturate

Indication: epilepsy

Dose: 60 - 240mg at bedtime

Side effects:

sedation, confusion, depression, cognitive impairment, altered mood and behavior, paradoxical insomnia, hyperactivity and aggression (particularly in children), rash

Counselling:

Interacts with many other drugs.  Check with dr/pharmacist before taking any other med.

Avoid alcohol as it can increase side effects

Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly.

This medicine causes drowsiness and may affect your ability to drive.  Do not drive until you know how it affects you

Generic: primidone

Class: barbiturate

Indication: epilepsy

Dose:

Side effects:

sedation, confusion, depression, cognitive impairment, altered mood and behavior, paradoxical insomnia, hyperactivity and aggression (particularly in children), rash

Counselling:

Interacts with a lot of other medicines.  Check with dr/pharmacist before taking anything.

May cause drowsiness and affect ability to drive.  Don't drive until you know how it affects you.

Avoid alcohol as it may increase side effects

Do not stop taking medicine suddenly unless told to be dr.

Generic: acetazolamide

Class: carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

Indication: chronic closed angle glaucoma, epilepsy

Dose: 125mg bd initially, increased to 250mg qid

Side effects:

common: parasthesia, fatigue, drowsiness, depression, reduced libido, bitter or metalic taste, nausea, vomitting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, black faeces, polyuria, renal stones, metabolic alkalosis, electrolyte changes

Counselling:

Take with meals to reduce likelihood of upset stomach

Generic: levetiricam

Class: anti-epileptic

Indication: partial seizures, with or without secondary generalization

Dose: 0.5 - 1.5g bd

Side effects:

common: behavioural effects, drowsiness, weakness, headache, vertigo, insomnia, amnesia, ataxia, diplopia, anorexia

Counselling:

This medicine may make you feel drowsy/dizzy.  Do not drive if thus affected.

May increase the effects of alcohol

Mixture may be diluted in water

Do not stop taking this medicine abruptly

Generic: tiagabine

Class: antiepileptic

Indication: partial seizures with or without secondary generalization in people over 12 years.

Dose: 7.5 - 30mg daily (30 - 50mg daily in people taking enzyme-inducing drugs)

Side effects:

common: nausea, vomitting, diarrhoea, dizziness, fatigue, somnolence, nervousness, tremor, depression, insomnia, ataxia, nystagmus, confusion, concentration difficulties

Counselling:

Take with meals to reduce stomach upset

May cause dizziness/drowsiness.  Do not drive if thus affected

May also increase affects of alcohol

Do not stop taking suddenly unless told to do so.

Generic: carbamazepine

Class: antiepileptic

Indication: epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia, mood stabilizer, neuropathic pain

Dose:

Side effects:

common: drowsiness, dizziness, ataxia, blurred vision, diplopia, headache, rash, dry mouth, abdominal pain, nausea, vomitting, anorexia, diarrhoea, constipation, asymptomatic hyponaturaemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, increased liver enzymes

Counselling:

Do not stop taking abrupty.

Interacts with grapefruit and many other drugs.  Check before taking any other medicines

Take with food to reduce stomach upset.  Do not crush or chew controlled release tablets.

May increase effects of alcohol.

May cause drowsiness, dizziness or blurred vision.  Do not drive if it affects you in this way.

Tell dr immediately if rash, sore throat, fever, mouth ulcers, bruising or bleeding occur.

Generic: oxcarbazepine

Class: antiepileptic

Indication: epilepsy

Dose: 0.6 - 2.4 g

Side effects:

common: nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, rash, acne, alopecia, somnolence, fatigue, dizziness, headache, agitation, confusion, depression, tremor, amnesia, ataxia, nystagmus, diplopia, blurred vision, hyponatraemia

Counselling:

Do not stop taking medicine abrupty unless told to do so.

May increase affects of alcohol

Interacts with many other medications.  Check before taking anything.

May cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision.  Do not drive if thus affected.

Tell dr immediately if rash, sore thoat, fever, mouth ulcers, bruising or bleeding occur