I trust my GP and neurologist. I've had epilepsy for 52 years and am excellent at taking my medication.

In terms of my epilepsy management/treatments, due to the deplorable state of NZ's mental health system, I am now "drifting". Once a year, I see a neurologist, and this appointment usually lasts about 10-15 minutes. He (or she) will glance at my notes, tell me "I'm on strong medications..." and that is it. Nothing is said about my epilepsy for another 12 months.

This is actually a pretty good point. I had a change in Neurologists almost 10 years ago. I took the chance to bring up what I thought was a small issue but a new thing that had never been brought up. Long story short, one thing led to another and after a lot of tests and a TC seizure that came from nowhere, I finally got to where I wanted to be. Seizure free with a lot of underlying issues going on and basically suspected of having seizures (they couldn't prove it) Now I'm seizure free with no underlying issues and not suspected of having seizures. But it took 8 years to get to this point.

That’s why so many of the pills we’re taking are actually made for depression and anxiety not for epileptic ppl. They found out by accident that they also help prevent seizures from happening. Total accidental, but it works for both

VERY interesting question. It is really making me think. I have been on phenobarbital for over 40+ years, and I know it is slowing my brain down. Stopping the medication suddenly would be life-threatening at best. At worst, it is just too scary to contemplate. I hope for the day when there are choices for people that would cure the condition of epilepsy for everyone.