As is true of all drugs, the drugs used to treat epilepsy have side effects. The occurrence of side effects depends on the dose, type of medicine, and length of treatment. The side effects worsen with higher doses but tend to be less severe with time as the body adjusts to the medicine. Anti-epileptic drugs are usually started at lower doses and increased gradually to make this adjustment easier.

Side effects of epilepsy drugs can include blurry or double vision, fatigue, sleepiness, unsteadiness, stomach upset, skin rashes, low blood cell counts, liver problems, swelling of the gums, hair loss, weight gain, and tremor.

Women who have seizures can have healthy children, provided they receive good prenatal care. It is very important that women who have epilepsy discuss pregnancy with their doctors BEFORE getting pregnant. All women of child-bearing age who have epilepsy should take a multivitamin containing folic acid daily, because some epilepsy medicines deplete the body of important vitamins.

Many seizure medicines can prevent birth control pills from working effectively, which might lead to unplanned pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs unexpectedly, women should NOT discontinue their seizure medicine without first consulting with their doctors. Abruptly discontinuing seizure medicine commonly leads to more frequent seizures, which can also harm the baby.

The frequency of seizures usually does not change significantly during pregnancy. Medicine blood levels should be checked often. This precaution is taken because levels gradually decrease during pregnancy and reach their lowest level around the time of delivery, which might result in breakthrough seizures. All seizures occurring during pregnancy should be reported to your doctor. Women should NEVER discontinue seizure medicines without consulting their doctors.

Most pregnant women with epilepsy have normal vaginal deliveries, although cesarean sections (removal of the baby through an incision made in the abdomen) are required in some cases.

Women taking seizure medicines can breast-feed their infants. Some medicines can cause babies to become very sleepy and irritable after feedings. If these effects occur, discontinue breast-feeding until you consult with your doctor.

They’re very closely related, but not quite the same. A seizure is the brief disruption in normal brain activity that interferes with brain function. Anyone can potentially have a seizure and it doesn’t automatically mean that they have epilepsy. Epilepsy is a brain disorder associated with an increased susceptibility to seizures.

The more regularly and consistently you take your medication(s), the better your chance of controlling your seizures. But it’s human to forget a dose or take it late, so don’t panic if it happens. If you forget a dose and realize your mistake within 24 hours, take the dose immediately, then delay the next scheduled dose by four hours. Let’s say you are supposed to take an anti-epilepsy pill twice a day. At 6 p.m., you realize you forgot to take your morning dose. What should you do? Take the missed dose immediately and wait until at least 10 p.m. to take the second dose.

Although seizures seem to last a long time, they usually do not last more than 60 to 90 seconds. Time the seizure, if you can. If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or the person seizing is pregnant (no matter how long the seizure lasts), call or other emergency services immediately.

There are several ways you can find a neurologist or an epileptologist near you. Your primary care or family provider can tell you about types of specialists. The American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society provide a listing of its member neurologists and epilepsy specialists, including epileptologists. The National Association of Epilepsy Centers also provides a list of its member centers, organized by state.

Most states and the District of Columbia will not issue a driver’s license to someone with epilepsy unless that person provides documentation that he or she has not had a seizure for a specific amount of time. The seizure-free period ranges from a few months to over a year, depending on the state.

Some states need a letter from your health provider to issue a license when a person has seizures that

Don’t distract the person from driving. Happen only during sleep. These are called nocturnal seizures. Have warning signs that alert the person that a seizure might happen. Sometimes a person feels strange before a seizure. This is called an aura. Learn state-specific information about driving laws from the Epilepsy Foundation.

Sometimes people with epilepsy worry that exercise or sports may worsen their seizures.

Exercise is rarely a “trigger” for seizure activity. In fact, regular exercise may improve seizure control. Safely playing sports can also be great for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

It is always important to avoid sports-related injuries that can increase the risk of seizures.

Self-management is taking top-level responsibility of your health and well-being. You can learn how to manage seizures and maintain a full and active life. Begin with these tips:

• Take your medicine on time, every time.
• Talk with your doctor or nurse when you have questions.
• Recognize seizure triggers (such as flashing or bright lights).
• Keep a record of your seizures.
• Get plenty of sleep each night. Set a regular sleep schedule, and stick to it.
• Lower stress.
• Eat a healthy diet.

You cannot be fired for having epilepsy. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the employment of a qualified individual with a disability who can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations. In addition, many states and cities prohibit employment discrimination on the basis on an individual’s disability.

To be afforded ADA protection, an individual must have a disability such as a physical or mental impairment, or must be regarded as having such an impairment. Most courts have determined that epilepsy is a disability under the ADA.

If you are an individual with a disability, you must be able to perform the essential functions of your job, with or without reasonable accommodations, provided by your employer. If you cannot perform the essential functions of your job with or without reasonable accommodations, then your employment may not be protected under the ADA.

State and local laws generally provide employment discrimination protection similar to that of the ADA, however, the definition of a disability varies by state and locally.