Living with Epilepsy 2

Understanding How Anti-Seizure Medicines Work

Seizures start when the brain sends out an abnormal electrical signal. There is no medicine that can permanently stop the brain from sending those signals, but anti-seizure medicines can prevent seizures by making it harder for an abnormal signal to spread from one brain cell to the other cells around it. This only works if there is enough medicine in the body to be effective. Your child’s provider may want to check the medicine level with a blood test. This lets us know if the level is high enough to protect against seizures.

When we start a child on a new medication, we choose a dose that we know works for most children of the same age and weight, without causing side effects. Every child, however, is different. Some will need more medicine, and others may be very sensitive and notice side effects even at a low dose. When your child grows and gains weight, the dose may need to be adjusted to keep the level high enough to protect him or her. Managing anti-seizure medication requires a partnership between families and providers. Parents and caregivers play an essential role in their child’s care by letting us know how the medication is working for their child at home.

Every time someone takes a dose of anti-seizure medicine, the level will build up in the blood and then start to fall again. It is important to take the next dose of medication at the right time, before the level falls so low that a seizure could break through. Most medicines need to be given twice a day to keep the level in the blood high enough to prevent seizures. For some medicines, especially in younger children, the medicine may need to be given three times daily. Luckily, there are some once-a-day medicines for seizures. But, many of the once-a-day medicines only come in pill form, so they are more often used in older children.

There are many ways to help remember to give the medicine on time. If you think this information could help you, please ask your provider or clinic nurse. If your child can swallow pills and you are finding it hard to remember twice daily medication, ask your provider if there is a once-a-day medicine you could try.