Hi Daisy,
Not everyone chooses drug therapy, and there are other options available. These include diets, neurofeedback, and behavior therapy, for starters.You also have the right to get a second or even third opinion, especially since there are so many things that can cause TLE.
Check out Riva's posts on the G.A.R.D. diet. We are both finding better seizure control [no seizures!] on a gluten free diet.
Choosing to use or not use drugs is very a very personal decision, and you are the best judge of what is best for yourself. Get as much information as you can find, and go with what feels right for you and let yourself be free to change your mind if you are not getting the results you want to see. Below are links to information and resources I hope you will find useful.
You may want to make this your first stop:
http://www.andrewsreiter.com
They have decades of experience in helping people learn to manage or overcome their seizures with minimal use of drugs, a more comprehensive approach than you will find in many places.
Epilepsy is very often misdiagnosed. One of the more common misdiagnoses is syncope (heart problems) This link is to an article by a cardiologist who gives some good advice to anyone with seizures that don't respond to drug therapy:
Vasovagal syncope and the inappropriate diagnosis of epilepsy Patients with vasovagal syncope (simple fainting spells) often receive the mistaken ... Many patients are inappropriately labeled as having seizures ...
http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/generallinks/a/syncopeseizure.htm
lamictal can have some serious, even life threatening side effects you may want to know about before deciding whether to take it. This web site is about drugs that have been recalled and dangerous drugs:
http://www.ryar.org/lamictal/
Panic attacks can be the symptom of a partial seizure, they were for me, when I had them. And all of this can be triggered by gluten intolerance. This link is from the Oprah Winfrey web site:
http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/3511
And another article on this: "Happiness with Gluten Elimination
Gluten-Free Diet Decreases Depression, Increases Mental Health
© Kimberly Burnham
Feb 20, 2007
A gluten-free diet is being associated with decreased depression, increased mental health, better balance, improved behavioral issues and neurologic function." Full article link:
http://neurologicalillness.suite101.com/article.cfm/happiness_with_gluten_elimination
Panic, syncope, and seizures can be triggered by magnesium deficiency:
eMedicine - Hypomagnesemia : Article by Nona Novello, MDAccordingly, magnesium deficiency has an effect on multiple body functions. ... Ataxia, vertigo, nystagmus, and seizures (at levels <1 mEq/L) ...
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic274.htm
Many people in this support group are looking at non-drug approaches to treating seizures:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/epilepsycured/
For your panic and depression symptoms, you may want to check out Dr. Peter Breggin's site. He is a very strong patient advocate in his work and his writing:
http://www.breggin.com/
This site is for non-drug approaches to mental health issues:
http://www.alternativementalhealth.c...ut/default.htm
I hope you find the information useful.