Place Your Advertisement Here. All ad revenues support the mission of the Epilepsy Therapy Project.
 

Welcome to the redesigned epilepsy.com

It is now easier and faster than ever to access news, articles and community content. With less clutter and an improved navigation system, your favorite content is now only a click away.

The new features include:

  • Streamlined design with less clutter to promote important content and sections
  • New slider masthead
  • New horizontal menu across the site to ease top level navigation
  • Re-designed content pages that are easier to navigate
  • Overall new, fresh look!

Place Your Advertisement Here

Take control of your epilepsy and seizures. Seizure management has never been easier.

TAKE CONTROL TODAY

Sign up for our Newsletter!



Medication

A Parent's Story

"I know Steve doesn't take his medication regularly. I try to remind him every morning and every night. It's more than forgetting. By not taking his medications, he is saying, 'I don't really have epilepsy.' I hope he realizes that he won't be able to drive if he still has his occasional complex partial seizures."

The maturity that adolescence brings should make children more aware of the benefits of taking their seizure medicines. For some teens, however, rebellion or denial dominates the scene, making them less likely to take their medications as prescribed. It is essential, therefore, to repeat in early adolescence the reasons for taking the seizure medicines that were taught during childhood. Teens are normally able to understand the consequences of taking or not taking their medications. Education about seizure medicines can come from both the parents and the doctor, but the teen should be enlisted as an active partner in his or her treatment. Teens with epilepsy should be allowed to take greater responsibility for managing their care. It is often helpful for the teen and the doctor to be alone for a portion of each visit or even the whole visit. This makes the teen feel more in control and more mature and helps to establish trust with the doctor and the parents.

One of the most powerful factors in securing a child's compliance is peer pressure. The teen's desire to conform is strong. Seizures can be embarrassing and cause fears of social isolation. Further, uncontrolled seizures can result in restrictions on certain activities such as driving. Teens should know that the longer they are free of seizures with medications, the better the chances are that they will be seizure-free without medications.

With older children and teens, the easiest and the best assessment of compliance is simply to ask them straight out: "Are you taking your medicine?" Measuring the level of seizure medicines in the blood at regular intervals can tell the doctor and the parents if the teen is taking the medications as prescribed and can reinforce compliance. However, there are at least three instances when levels may be low even when medication is taken regularly; for example, 1) a period of rapid growth in height and weight,2) interaction with another new medicine (not necessarily for treatment of epilepsy) or,3)in rare cases, problems with absorption or metabolism.This is why it is critically important to notify the neurologist if any new medication is begun.

Topic Editor: James W. Wheless, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 10/5/06


Welcome to the Wiki. This space is created for epilepsy.com members to share their own experiences and expertise to help refine and expand the discussion around important topics.

No members have yet contributed to this topic. If you are not yet an epilepsy.com member, register today to get started on this Wiki topic and the many other advantages of being a member. If you are a member and wish to be the first to edit this Wiki topic, please make sure to login, then click on the orange "Start Wiki" button at the top of this page. Or, learn more about Wikis.


Information For Families

Did you know?

Children with epilepsy have a higher rate of learning disorders than the general public. However, most children with epilepsy don't have learning problems.

More FAQs



Place Your Advertisement Here

Title Posted
any good experiences with trileptal?  
adamssa@uwec.edu
who am i?  
Daniella
New, Scared & In Need Of Support  
kattatstrophe
Too many side effecs with Keppra. What should I switch to??  
JamminJamie
Medication Side Effects  
Dragool
My story and some questions! Does anyone else have pains in there head?  
johnandkymberley
Eyesight problems on Topamax  
Chilli
New to Seizures Everthing falling apart!  
Nessietoo
My son has had his last 3 seizures on 3 Thrusdays in a row  
kimvdr
Phenobarbital, Babies & Developmental Delays  
BenjiMom
View all Forums

Title Posted
Epileptic Seizure Monitor Alarm System  
onemarvy
Are these normal migraine symptoms or is there something more to it?  
xtheotherside
5 year old worsening seizures. Pls help???  
TIM_C28
Trileptal dosage  
myejk
SEN and epilepsy  
Kim Norris
possible non convulsive epilepticus?  
rayraykay
Fight with the sidewalk  
jasssmit
Focal activity followed by generalized activity but no epilepsy  
BendyPianist
Self-Management of Medication  
columbia.epilepsy.study
Feeling Like a Human Guinea Pig  
christopherpaul
View all Forums

Title Page Views
my.epilepsy.com Updates  
epi_help
topamax and weight loss  
alexia mom
kepra  
brian mattingly
Possible cure for absence seizures  
pdl1
How exactly do aura's feel  
WendyBendy
Sexual Side Effects  
George R
MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s  
picnupthepcs
Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised  
spiz
electrical shock in head?  
Maggie
Weight Gain and Depakote  
galinda
View all Forums

Title Posted
Quitting medication after brain operation  
karl34
personal decision to go off medication - only way to see  
karl34
Ice Age 3D and Marathon Training...what a week!  
xaviersjourney
The Pool helps stave off the Georgia heat  
xaviersjourney
Have you heard of Geoff Smith  
xaviersjourney
New toy arrived. Under water video is now possible  
xaviersjourney
A new mediaction, and more szs.  
Shenoah
The Marathon is on...  
xaviersjourney
Daughter not responding to medications (tried 7 so far)  
lahull2000
View all Blogs

Title Posted
Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference  
bryan_farley
my partial complex seizures  
Zanna1211
The Sunday Dreads  
johnverling
Giant Stuffed Animals For The Toddlers  
zacharysmith
Frederick's of Hollywood Announces the "Hollywood Love Story Contest" Valentine's Day  
cn-lightings
Seizures and medical marijuana  
seizureprone134
From muscle problems to seizures in 6 weeks or less  
ArizonaAbby
Speech at Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference -2012  
dayna
The Doors.  
BowlofMush
marijuana  
ccraven
View all Blogs

Title Page Views
my partial complex seizures  
Zanna1211
Topomax... The Dreaded.........  
Dr Jason
Brain Zaps, tics & twitches  
JudiS
How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens?  
epl_controller
Feeling Sick  
JBJ1984
side effects of phenobarb.  
pksmom
Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds  
Butterflygrl
TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES  
cmscribbles
Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures"  
teft
newborn seizure  
Sunny_80
View all Blogs

Title Posted
Had the worse seizure of my life last night! Complex Partial  
jlamont
Self-Management of Medication  
columbia.epilepsy.study
Dravet Spectrum Disorder  
mytboy
Diving with eplilepsy  
p59
Moms of epileptic toddlers  
Xaviersmom2
Autism  
Aaron Chan
brain surgery  
jen020309
People in their 20's with epilepsy  
Mandy911
TEAM ETP  
krisj
24yr old male  
Dave24
View all Groups

Title Posted
36 years epilepsy and seizure free so far after op.  
karl34
Another Epilepsy Story  
teen_on_shaky_ground
Fighting the fight to stop the seizures  
lahull2000
View all Stories

Title Posted
My Story - Still Don't Know What it Means  
arobertshaw85
Help me plz. I can't go on like this  
Lindsea
For my daughter  
britni1780
Why can't I find out what is going on with me?  
dgreer27
nightime seizure  
ishaq
my grandchild with possible panayiotopolous syndrome  
krys
Please Read and Help  
WALLIGAT0R
Hello. I'm new to the forum  
Tom S.
Maxx  
MDS2006
Lyme Disease as a cause for seizures  
ssidah
View all Stories