Clinic Updates

In the know - anti-seizure medication

At every visit to our Children's Health Epilepsy Center, one of our nurses will ask you or your child if you are noticing any side effects from the anti-seizure medications. Our nurses will also ask if any doses of the medicine have been missed in the past four weeks. Perhaps you’re wondering why this is important.

Anti-seizure medication only works if it is taken every day, exactly the way the prescription says to take it. We understand that families may face one or more challenges taking medicines as prescribed.

If anything is getting in the way of you or your child taking anti-seizure medication, we want to understand and help. Our clinic is part of the Epilepsy Learning Health System, which has created an entire “Toolkit” to help patients and their families. Just ask our clinic nurses at check in for more information. Some of the topics covered are:

• Helping with the cost of medication

• Using motivation to help take your medicine

• Learning how to swallow pills

• Making medicine taste better

• Remembering to take medicine

• Understanding side effects of seizure medicine

• Taking medicine in public

You can also find this information on the Epilepsy Foundation website.