Anti-seizure medications

There are over 20 different anti-epileptic medications available today. Most are effective for only certain types of seizures, so once a diagnosis of Epilepsy and its type or types has been made, the doctor will determine medicine might be most appropriate as a form of treatment. Most types of medications are taken by mouth in the form of tablets or capsules. They may also be prescribed in sprinkles or syrup. To view our recently published "A Guide to Drug Therapy," click the Drug Guide link. (Add link for Drug Guide) Once there, you'll find a complete list of currently available drugs, a description and photo of, what they look like, and a list of acceptable and unacceptable side effects for these anti-seizure medications.

No two people react the same to anti-seizure medications. One drug may effectively control one person's seizures, while that same drug may not work at all for another. How a body metabolizes anti-seizure medication will play a big part in what dosage levels will be successful in controlling seizures. For some people, side effects can be substantial, while others experience no negative side effects at all. All of these variations, from person to person, mean that it may take a while for you and your doctor to find the right anti-seizure medication at the right dosage level for you.

In most cases, the doctor will begin treatment at a low level of the drug and gradually increase, or titrate, the levels of the drug into your system. Starting at a low level and increasing the dosage over time helps to prevent toxic levels of the drug in your system. This progression also enables the doctor to observe what you can tolerate and at what level the seizures may stop.

Taking medications as prescribed is the most important part of treatment. The medicine you take every day replaces what has been metabolized by your body, keeping the medication levels at the correct therapeutic level in your bloodstream. Skipping a dose, taking fewer pills than prescribed, or not filling your prescription on time can cause your medication level to be too low in your blood, which means that you may experience a seizure. For some people, this can happen within minutes of missing a dosage. Not complying with your prescribed medication dosages is one the biggest reasons for breakthrough seizures and/or status epilepticus.

All medications can cause side effects. Some of these are acceptable and some are not. It is possible that after awhile, some side effects may simply go away. Side effects can happen because anti-seizure medication is interacting with another drug being taken, so always inform your doctor of other medicines you are using. Anti seizure medication may build up in the body, reaching a toxic level. If you are experiencing any side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, staggering, slurring of words, or a rash, contact your doctor immediately.

 

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