Medications and side effects always come together. The most important goal is to control the seizures. If medication is prescribed, the goal must be to control the seizures with the fewest side effects possible!One must weigh thebenefits of controlling seizureswith the risks posed by side effects of anti-seizure medications. This is largely depend on how many seizures the child is having.
Information on side effects that a doctor or pharmacist gives you is based on the experiences of other people who’ve taken the same medication. Because each person’s body is different, you may or may not have a similar experience.
Also, children often respond differently to anti-epilepsy medications than do adults. The same drug that makes an adult sleepy might make a child hyperactive or irritable
Side effects are most noticeable when you start a medication or change medications. To keep the inconvenience and potential discomfort of side effects at a minimum, your doctor will typically start any new medication at a fairly low dose, increasing it over time.
Side effects you might experience during the first few weeks of treatment can include drowsiness, dizziness, sleep disturbance, upset stomach, or blurred vision. These usually last a limited period of time, fading as your body becomes more used to the medication.
Typically, these pose no more than a temporary inconvenience. However, if they prevent you or your child from functioning normally at school or work, talk to your doctor. Often, it takes a period of trial-and-error to find the right dosages of the right medications to control seizures and keep side effects at a minimum.
Check the package insert for the medication your doctor prescribed for you to find out what other side effects might occur. Remember that ‘might’ is the key word. Many people take anti-epilepsy medications without experiencing the vast majority of its reported side effects.
No matter which medication you’re on, there are some symptoms you need to let your doctor know about right away: abdominal pain (not just an upset stomach), prolonged bleeding, sores in your mouth, hair loss, fever, or unusual infections. These are extremely rare, but they require prompt attention from a doctor.
You can develop an allergy to an anti-seizure medication, and it will typically appear as a rash within the first five to 18 days of starting the medication. To help your doctor determine if a rash is related to your medications, make a note on your calendar of the first day you start any new drugs or increase your dose.
Your doctor will carefully monitor the level of medication in your blood. However, too much medication in your blood, called ‘toxicity’, causes certain symptoms: headache, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, and blurred vision. If you experience any of these, especially after an illness, call your doctor.
Click now to discuss theuse of anti-seizures medicationswith the support group!
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