Topic Overview
While working with your doctor to plan a medicine routine
for yourself or your child, it may help you to talk about some of the choices
and issues involved. Some of the following questions might help you
prepare.
How often will I or my child have to take the medicine?
Some medicines for
epilepsy have to be taken several times a day. This is
sometimes hard for children in school; people with busy, irregular schedules;
and people who have a hard time remembering to take their drugs. People who
have fewer daily doses may be more likely to follow the treatment plan. Talk
to your doctor about what to do if you miss a dose.
How will the medicine's side effects affect my lifestyle?
All antiepileptic medicines have side effects, but some may have side
effects that are more acceptable to you or your child than others.
- It may be hard to get your teenager to take a
medicine that causes weight gain, hair loss or growth, or
acne.
- Some medicines can cause mood swings, memory loss, or
depression. But others may not affect your state of
mind.
- Job-related issues might be important. For instance, if your
job requires close, steady work, you may want to avoid a medicine that causes
your hands to shake or affects muscle control.
What health risks come with using the medicine?
Allergic or toxic reactions in the skin, liver, and blood may sometimes
result from use of antiepileptic medicines. Your age or medical history may
make you more likely to have one of these adverse reactions. Long-term use of
antiepileptic medicines, while often needed, may cause other health
problems. Ask your doctor to discuss the short-term and long-term risks of the
medicine.
How will the medicine react with other medicines I take?
Many medicines for epilepsy can interact with other medicines you may be
taking. This means that your epilepsy medicine may not work as well, or it may
affect the way another medicine you are taking works. Some of these
interactions can be dangerous. It is important to tell your doctor about all
the medicines, herbal pills, or dietary supplements you are taking.
If you have several types of seizures, you may need to take more than one
medicine to control them. The doctor will work with you to choose medicines
that will neither work against each other nor make side effects worse. If you
take medicine for health problems other than epilepsy, the doctor should choose
an antiepileptic medicine that will not react badly with your other medicine.
This is a special concern for older people, who are more likely to be taking
several medicines.
Some antiepileptic medicines can make birth
control pills less effective and make a woman more likely to become pregnant. A
woman taking birth control pills may need to change the dosage or use a
different type of birth control.
How much will the treatment cost?
The costs of
medicines vary. Epilepsy often requires many years of treatment. If you can,
choose a medicine that you will be able to afford over the long run. High costs
may make you less likely to stay on your treatment plan.
Try to
keep the total costs in mind. Medicine may be expensive, especially with some
of the newer antiepileptic medicines. But successful treatment may also help you lower
your total costs by reducing doctor visits, hospitalization, and missed work
time. A medicine that controls your seizures and does not cause many side
effects may be worth the cost.
What if I become pregnant? How will the medicine affect me and my baby?
All medicines for epilepsy have some risk of birth defects.
But the risk of birth defects needs to be carefully compared to other risks to
the baby if the mother stops taking her epilepsy medicine. If you are thinking
about becoming pregnant, it is important to plan ahead and talk with your
doctor about the benefits and risks of taking epilepsy medicine during your
pregnancy. It you are already pregnant, it is not too late. The best thing to
do is talk to your doctor about your pregnancy before you make any changes to
the medicines you are taking.
Although most women with epilepsy
deliver healthy babies, the risk of birth defects, stillbirth, and seizure
problems is higher for women who have epilepsy. Most antiepileptic medicines
increase the risk even more, but stopping use of the medicine is not always the
best solution. You may start having more seizures if you stop taking your
medicine, and having seizures during pregnancy can harm the baby.