There are some side effects which are associated with epilepsy drugs, and understanding what they are and which ones are dangerous is important.
In some cases these side effects are caused by an incorrect dosage, and will go away once the dosage is corrected, but some of them can be dangerous or even life threatening.
If you need this type of medication for seizures then it is important the drug is not stopped unless this action is advised by a doctor, but some conditions should be evaluated immediately by a medical professional to prevent serious injury, permanent damage, or even death.
Mild side effects can include dizziness, abdominal pain or cramping, fatigue, and vision distortions.
These problems will usually go away after taking the drug for a time and building up a tolerance.
Epilepsy drugs can cause an allergic reaction, although this side effect is rare and not typically seen.
If you develop any allergy symptoms which are severe, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or extreme swelling then you should seek immediate emergency medical attention.
In some people the liver or pancreas may become inflamed due to the drug used for seizure prevention, and this can eventually result in failure of the organ.
Another serious side effect is reduced numbers of white blood cells.
Your white blood cells fight off diseases and infections, and reduced numbers mean you could get sick much easier.
Platelet reduction has also been seen with the use of certain seizure medications, and this may affect the ability of your blood to clot normally.
Drugs used to treat epilepsy can cause aplastic anemia in rare cases.
This condition is caused when the bone marrow is severely damaged by the drug, so that blood cells can not be produced normally.
Another uncommon side effect that requires immediate medical attention is excessive bleeding, because this may indicate that your clotting ability has been compromised.
In some cases the bleeding may be internal and go unnoticed, but you may experience severe abdominal pain, old blood in your stool or vomitus which looks similar to coffee grounds, and a lack of appetite.
If you notice any of these symptoms you should call your physician or go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation and treatment.
If internal bleeding is not stopped this could lead to death.
If you suffer from epilepsy then seizure medication may be necessary to prevent seizures from occurring.
These drugs can be strong, and carry many possible side effects.
While most of the symptoms you may experience are mild or medically insignificant, there are some that may indicate a serious complication or problem.
If you notice any side effect after taking these medications you should discuss them with your doctor as soon as possible.
If these conditions are severe or seem dangerous then you should be checked out immediately to rule out any rare or life threatening complications.
The risk of a seizure without these medications may be high, much higher than the risk of possible side effects from the drugs, and you should never discontinue the use of these medicines unless a physician tells you to.
In some cases these side effects are caused by an incorrect dosage, and will go away once the dosage is corrected, but some of them can be dangerous or even life threatening.
If you need this type of medication for seizures then it is important the drug is not stopped unless this action is advised by a doctor, but some conditions should be evaluated immediately by a medical professional to prevent serious injury, permanent damage, or even death.
Mild side effects can include dizziness, abdominal pain or cramping, fatigue, and vision distortions.
These problems will usually go away after taking the drug for a time and building up a tolerance.
Epilepsy drugs can cause an allergic reaction, although this side effect is rare and not typically seen.
If you develop any allergy symptoms which are severe, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or extreme swelling then you should seek immediate emergency medical attention.
In some people the liver or pancreas may become inflamed due to the drug used for seizure prevention, and this can eventually result in failure of the organ.
Another serious side effect is reduced numbers of white blood cells.
Your white blood cells fight off diseases and infections, and reduced numbers mean you could get sick much easier.
Platelet reduction has also been seen with the use of certain seizure medications, and this may affect the ability of your blood to clot normally.
Drugs used to treat epilepsy can cause aplastic anemia in rare cases.
This condition is caused when the bone marrow is severely damaged by the drug, so that blood cells can not be produced normally.
Another uncommon side effect that requires immediate medical attention is excessive bleeding, because this may indicate that your clotting ability has been compromised.
In some cases the bleeding may be internal and go unnoticed, but you may experience severe abdominal pain, old blood in your stool or vomitus which looks similar to coffee grounds, and a lack of appetite.
If you notice any of these symptoms you should call your physician or go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation and treatment.
If internal bleeding is not stopped this could lead to death.
If you suffer from epilepsy then seizure medication may be necessary to prevent seizures from occurring.
These drugs can be strong, and carry many possible side effects.
While most of the symptoms you may experience are mild or medically insignificant, there are some that may indicate a serious complication or problem.
If you notice any side effect after taking these medications you should discuss them with your doctor as soon as possible.
If these conditions are severe or seem dangerous then you should be checked out immediately to rule out any rare or life threatening complications.
The risk of a seizure without these medications may be high, much higher than the risk of possible side effects from the drugs, and you should never discontinue the use of these medicines unless a physician tells you to.
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