What Can Happen If Epilepsy Medicine Doses Are Missed: A Guide to Understanding the Risks
By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Click to rate this article!
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By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Table of Contents
Epilepsy is a disorder affecting many worldwide. Due to increased abnormal neuronal activity, repeated unprovoked seizures (fits) are seen in people suffering from epilepsy. Managing these correctly makes life better for those with this illness. The main way of doing this is by sticking to prescribed epilepsy drugs. Adhering to these drugs is needed for good therapy, less risk of linked problems, and a better life for the patient.
In this article, we’ll look at why it’s important to adhere to your epilepsy drug plan. Also, we’ll break down what happens if you miss doses, how to handle missed doses, and the possible long-term effects. We’ll also share tips that will help you adhere to your drug plan. Finally, we’ll answer some common questions about managing your epilepsy drugs.
Drugs for epilepsy, or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), help control seizures and keep brain function optimal. Knowing how they work, and their role in managing epilepsy is key to a better life for those living with this issue. Many types of epilepsy drugs are out there, working in different ways and having different side effects.
Your doctor or healthcare provider will think about factors like type of seizures, age, health, and side effects when choosing the right drug for you.
The goal of epilepsy drugs is to restore balance in the brain’s electrical activity. This way, they can help lessen the number and severity of seizures.
The drugs can help to steady neuron activity. This lowers the chance of brain states that lead to seizures. They do this by targeting specific chemicals, channels, or parts in the nervous system.
By steadying neuron activity, epilepsy drugs can stop odd electrical events in the brain. This way, they avoid seizures from happening or getting worse.
Missing a dose of epilepsy drugs may lead to grave problems which are discussed below.
The main risk of skipping a dose is the higher chance of having a seizure.
Even when you’re sticking to your drug plan, seizure episodes can occur called breakthrough seizures. If you miss drugs, these breakthrough seizures may happen more. In some cases, they may be harder to handle than the seizures you had before therapy started.
If you miss doses, the level of drugs in your blood may go down. It’s key to keep the level of drug in your blood steady for the best control of fits. Missing drugs often disturbs this balance, making them less effective and possibly leading to uncontrolled fits.
Missing drugs can cause “rebound effects”. These can include more side effects and worse withdrawal symptoms.
As drug levels change due to skipped doses, side effects may get worse or happen more often. They could involve feeling dizzy or sleepy, and suffering from belly discomfort.
Stopping drugs suddenly or missing many doses may make withdrawal symptoms worse. Symptoms like seizures, being irritable, and sleep problems can further raise the risk of fits coming back and other problems.
Even with our best efforts, we may sometimes miss doses. Knowing how to face these situations is key to lessen possible risks.
If you or your child miss a dose of epilepsy drug, take it as soon as you remember or notice that you missed a dose. If it’s nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and stick to your schedule. Don’t double the dose to make up for what you missed. This could lead to too high a dose and more side effects.
Typically, you should not double the dose. Always talk with your doctor before taking any actions that go from what your drug plan says.
Coming up with a good system to handle your drugs is key to taking the drugs in the right manner every time. Here are some methods to stop you from missing any doses.
Set a routine to take drugs at the same time daily. You could do this by joining it with daily habits. This may raise the chance of sticking to the drug plan.
Use tools like pillboxes, phone reminders, or sticky notes to help you remember to take your drugs. Setting many reminders may give you backup in case you forget a dose.
Also Read: Epilepsy Treatment Adherence: Research-Based Guidelines for Effective Management
Sticking to the epilepsy drug plan is key to stopping long-term problems and maintaining overall health. Below are the possible long-term effects of missing doses:
Missing many doses could raise your chance of becoming resistant to drugs. Drug-resistant epilepsy is when seizures are out of control despite trying many drugs. This can make it harder to control seizures, make them last longer, and increase the risk of problems like injuries or status epilepticus.
Uncontrolled seizures due to missed drugs may lead to many visits to the Emergency Room, stays in the hospital, or even trips to the Intensive Care Unit. All of these can raise the overall cost of care for patients and their families.
Missing doses can have a big impact on the life quality of those living with epilepsy.
Missed doses can worsen mood changes and mental health problems. These include feeling anxious, being sad, and having trouble sleeping.
Seizures that are out of control due to missed doses are linked with a higher chance of injury, less brain work, and feeling tired more often.
Also Read: Tips to Avoid Breakthrough Seizures: A Comprehensive Guide
To best keep seizures under control, those with epilepsy, their families, and healthcare providers must work together. Consider these tips to make sure you stick to your drug plan.
Keep open and honest discussions with your healthcare provider about your drug plan, issues managing doses, and any questions or worries about your management plan. Your doctor or healthcare provider can offer helpful guidance and support to face problems with taking drugs.
Keeping a record of side effects and drug interactions is key to making good choices and changes to your management plan. Let your healthcare provider know of any side effects or changes in drug plans which include over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Being organized may do a lot to better handle drugs, making it easier to stick to a routine and avoid missing doses. Use tools like pillboxes and special storage spots to make sure drugs are easy to find, neat, and safe.
Also Read: Importance of Diet for Epilepsy: A Closer Look at Research-Based Findings
In conclusion, making sure you’re regularly adhering to your epilepsy drug plan is key to managing seizures and give a better life to those living with epilepsy. By knowing what could happen if you miss doses and by being proactive to avoid missing them, patients and healthcare providers may work together to get the best from the therapy and stop long-term problems.
By keeping a strong bond with healthcare providers, setting a clear drug routine, keeping track of side effects, and organizing drugs, people living with epilepsy can do a lot to stick to their drug plan. This sets the way to better control of seizures and better overall health.
Also Read: Role of Stress & Sleep in Epilepsy Management: A Comprehensive Research-Based Guide
Missing a dose of epilepsy drug can upset its ability to control fits. This may lead to a higher risk of breakthrough seizures, resistance to anti-seizure drugs, and rebound effects. These include worse side effects and more serious withdrawal symptoms.
The risk of having a seizure increases a lot with missed doses of epilepsy drugs. To lessen this risk, it’s vital to stick to your drug schedule and address any missed doses fast. Talk to your healthcare provider when this happens.
Not taking seizure drugs can have grave effects. They include a higher chance of fits, worse control over fits, a chance of becoming drug-resistant, higher emergency care costs, and less life quality related to both mental and physical health.
Epilepsy drugs should be taken at the same times each day, as told by your healthcare provider. Keeping a stable drug level in the bloodstream is key for best seizure control and fewer side effects. If you miss a dose, talk to your healthcare provider for advice on what to do next.
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