Mens Health Blog. Medical Blog

Carbamazepine

Carbamazepine is available in 200 mg and 100 mg tablets as well as a suspension (100 mg/5 ml). The drug does not last very long in the body and so needs to be taken two or three times a day.

Side effects with carbamazepine are few but include sleepiness and double vision; this usually means that you are taking too much medicine. A rash, like measles, may occur during the first month of treatment. If it does, you are sensitive to the drug and should probably stop taking it after discussion with your doctor.

Patients on carbamazepine should avoid taking the antibiotic, erythromycin, as it may make the blood level of carbamazepine rise and produce toxicity. The same applies to Verapamil which is occasionally used in the treatment of epilepsy.

Clobazam

Clobazam is available as a 10 mg tablet.

It is not a drug that can be used on its own; it needs to be used with another anticonvulsant (adjunct therapy). It can be taken twice daily. Side effects are few, but include some drowsiness, weight gain and, occasionally, depression.

As for clonazepam, tolerance may occur.

Clonazepam

Clonazepam is available in 0.5 mg and 2.0 mg tablets and as a liquid (2.5 mg/ml).

Clonazepam generally needs to be taken two or three times a day. Side effects are quite frequent, more so in children than adults. The side effects include hyperactivity, an increase in weight, drowsiness, slurred speech and an unsteady walk (as if drunk). There may also be increased salivation.

In some patients, tolerance occurs. This means that they ‘get used’ to the drug. In these patients, seizures may recur, usually one to six months after treatment was begun.

Ethosuximide

Ethosuximide is available as a 250 mg capsule and a syrup (250 mg/5 ml).

It lasts a long time in the body and so may be taken once a day although it is usually given twice daily.

Side effects are few and include a decrease in appetite, tiredness, headache and an unsteady walk.

Nitrazepam

Nitrazepam is available as a 5 mg tablet and is usually given twice daily. Side effects are similar to those described for clonazepam, but to a lesser extent.

Phenobarbitone

Phenobarbitone is available in 15 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg and 100 mg tablets and as a 15 mg/5 ml syrup.

Phenobarbitone lasts a long time in the body and can be given once a day although it is usually given twice a day. It has been used for many years as an anticonvulsant, but tends to make patients rather drowsy. Children and elderly people may behave the opposite way and become hyperactive. These behaviour changes have made phenobarbitone less popular than it was ten years ago.

Patients on phenobarbitone should not take warfarin (to thin the blood), phenylbutazone (for arthritis), prednisone (for arthritis or asthma) or doxycycline (for infections) without careful medical supervision.

Phenytoin

Phenytoin is available in 30 mg capsules, 50 mg tablets (chewable), 100 mg capsules and two suspensions (30 mg/5 ml and 100 mg/5 ml).

Phenytoin is retained in the body for a long time and can be used once daily.

It has rather a lot of side effects, although many patients are well controlled on this drug with minimal side effects. Drowsiness, unsteady walk and slurred speech suggest that the patient has been taking too much of the drug and should contact his doctor. Other side effects include swelling of the gums, rashes, acne and an increase in body hair.

Patients on phenytoin should not take rifampicin (for tuberculosis), chloramphenicol (for infections), phenylbutazone (for arthritis), dicoumarol (to thin the blood) or cimetidine (for stomach ulcers) without careful medical supervision.

Primidone

Primidone is available as a 250 mg tablet. The drug is broken down to phenobarbitone in the body.

Sodium valproate

Sodium valproate is available as a 100 mg crushable tablet, a 200 mg and 500 mg enteric coated tablet, a syrup (200 mg/ 5 ml) and a sugar free liquid (200 mg/5 ml).

Sodium valproate stays in the body for quite a long time and may be given once daily. It is more usual to give it twice daily.

The side effects of sodium valproate are relatively few and include slight drowsiness, an increase in weight, hair loss (which is usually temporary) and very rarely jaundice (turning yellow). This last complication (jaundice) is serious and immediate medical attention should be sought. It occurs very rarely and is due to liver damage caused by the drug. If a patient taking this medication feels generally unwell, unduly tired or drowsy and has an increase in seizure frequency, a doctor should be consulted immediately. It may be necessary to do regular blood tests, called liver function tests, to see how the liver is working during the first six months of treatment.

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Epilepsy

The management of epilepsy has improved considerably over the past two decades but, despite this, a number of problems remain. They have already been alluded to in this text, but it may be of use to summarise them.

Polypharmacy (more than one anticonvulsant). It is worth repeating that the majority of people with epilepsy can be well controlled on one drug only (monotherapy). Naturally there are people with severe or complicated seizures who will need more than one medication. However, it is desirable to be on as little medication as possible.

Blood level monitoring. This has been a very useful advance in the management of epilepsy. There is a risk that doing a blood level may become an end in itself. If you feel that you are having too many blood levels done, ask your doctor what is being achieved. Do not let blood level results become a substitute for conversation and asking questions.

Non-compliance. If you are not taking your medication, be honest and tell your doctor. In a condition like epilepsy there is always a reason for people not taking their medication. It may be that you cannot see the value of taking medication because you have very few fits or perhaps because you have not understood the importance of taking the drugs regularly. If you are honest and tell your doctor that you are not taking your medication and you get a hostile reception, it is probable that he or she does not understand how you see things. A change of doctor may be desirable.

Should all seizures be eradicated? It is the right of epileptics, provided they are not in an occupation where harm might come to others, to decide on the degree of seizure control which they find acceptable. It is not, in my view, the prerogative of the doctor to insist on complete seizure eradication. This is a matter of consensus between patient and doctor which should be reached intelligently. To achieve this takes time and communication with your doctor.

Education. There is an ongoing need for education about epilepsy amongst people with epilepsy, the medical profession and the general public. It is for this reason that Epilepsy Associations exist. By joining your Association you will be helping yourself and very importantly helping the epilepsy cause in general. If you don’t stand up and be counted, the epilepsy movement will remain static, the prejudice and stigma will persist and you will have contributed to this ongoing state of affairs.

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Epilepsy