Children and Medicine

Keeping important information on hand can help parents and school personnel assist children who have epilepsy.

Many children who experience a first seizure are not started on antiseizure medication.

However, if their seizures continue, medication is usually prescribed. For children, as for adults, the goal of treatment is the fewest number of seizures possible, hopefully none, and the fewest side effects from the medicine.

Regular checkups for a child with epilepsy are important. As children grow and increase in weight, they may need changes in how much medication they are taking.

Because of differences in the way children and adults process medicines, it takes a relatively larger dose of a drug to control seizures in the average child than in the average adult.

Particularly at the onset of puberty, when a child's body chemistry begins to change to that of an adult, teenagers may need to have their dosage of medication adjusted.

Children should be encouraged to take responsibility for taking their epilepsy medication. It gives them a sense of independence and control and teaches them about taking medication on time.

However, parents or guardians need to make sure that the medication is being taken. It can be very difficult, even for the most disciplined adult, to take medication every day.

Use of a weekly pill box, which can be purchased at a drug store and filled each week, can be helpful in monitoring how often the medicines are taken.

Periodically checking medication bottles will help to make sure prescriptions are being taken and refilled regularly.

Changes in seizure frequency, or the appearance of new side effects, may also be signs that the medication is not being taken properly. If these happen, parents or guardians should carefully review whether the child is getting the medication as prescribed.

Children who take medication three or more times a day may have to take it at school. Parents will want to check with the school administration to see how these medications should be handled.

Most schools will ask parents to send in a labeled bottle of medication to be kept in a school clinic rather than have children take their medication to school.

Parents sometimes worry that children or young adults who take epilepsy medication may become addicted to them or be more likely than others to become drug abusers.

There is no evidence of this. In fact, a more common reaction of many adolescents with epilepsy is to express rebellion against parents by failing to take the medication rather than by taking too much.

People who suddenly stop the medication may experience a marked increase in the severity of their seizures. However, this reaction is not due to addiction, but to the ongoing need for medication to prevent seizures.