Patient's question:
I have had epilepsy for nearly twenty years. In the past two years, I have been taking medication to suppress it. However, after taking the medication for a while, my condition improves, but it recurs repeatedly when I stop taking it. This year, I started experiencing headaches and often feel like I can't remember things. My family says I might be having side effects from the epilepsy medication.Doctor's answer:
Antiepileptic drugs only control the condition, and stopping them leads to a rebound effect where the condition worsens. When administering medication, if there is a slight improvement in the condition, it is often considered effective. Once the condition shows some relief at a certain point, the medication is stopped. After stopping the medication, neuronal pulses immediately rebound, and the condition gradually improves. When medication is resumed, its effectiveness becomes less noticeable, so the dosage is increased. Over time, brain damage becomes significant, severe to the point where even during periods without seizures, the patient's mental state remains abnormal. Therefore, when taking medication, please follow the doctor's advice and do not arbitrarily change the dosage or stop taking it.The daily treatment for epilepsy patients primarily involves symptomatic treatment. Patients can take various oral medications and supplement them with many vitamins. Additionally, they should pay attention to self-care, maintain a proper diet, and avoid cold foods.