Medication, Follow up & Prevention

Depending on the seizure type, different treatments may be prescribed. This will often include anticonvulsant medication that prevents or stops seizures.

• The type of anticonvulsant medication selected by your doctor will depend on factors such as seizure type, cost, and other medical conditions.
• Anticonvulsant medications may need frequent adjustments, especially after starting medications.
• Monitoring of anticonvulsant medications and other laboratory tests may be necessary.

Follow-up varies tremendously depending on an identified cause of seizures and the frequency of seizures.

• For people with infrequent seizures who are on constant medications, follow-up visits once or twice a year may be adequate.
• If the seizures are difficult to control or if new medications are being used, weekly visits are not unusual.

If the seizures are related to another medical condition, identification and treatment of that medical condition is the key to prevention. If anticonvulsant medication is prescribed, taking the medication on the recommended schedule and not missing medication is important.

• Some people with epilepsy are quite sensitive to alcohol. If this pattern develops, avoid alcohol. Others may have seizures only after ceasing heavy alcohol intake. The key to prevention is avoidance of alcohol.
• Sleep deprivation and stress certainly may increase the frequency of seizures in some people with epilepsy.