Patient's question:
I have had epilepsy for about 7 years. I went to many hospitals, but they couldn't diagnose my condition properly, so I had to rely on medication to control it. Every time I have a recurrence, I experience white eyes and foaming at the mouth, suddenly jerk and fall asleep, and my whole body becomes stiff. Now I'm taking medication, but it's making my body worse and worse. How can I be cured? What if I get pregnant while still taking this medication? Will it be bad for the baby? What should I do?Doctor's answer:
During medication, pregnancy should be avoided. Currently, the most commonly used drugs include traditional antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine and sodium valproate, as well as new antiepileptic drugs like lamotrigine, topiramate, and oxcarbazepine. These antiepileptic drugs are safer and have fewer side effects compared to older drugs like phenytoin and phenobarbital, making them a more ideal choice for epilepsy patients. The treatment of epilepsy advocates monotherapy, starting with low doses. If monotherapy is ineffective, adding or switching to another antiepileptic drug can be considered. If it is indeed believed that a particular drug is ineffective for the patient or has excessive side effects, and a new drug needs to be used, the switch must be gradual.