The use of epilepsy drugs

  Epilepsy has its own developmental pattern, and treatment with medication should be systematic and complete. The common cause of recurrence of epilepsy is not taking enough doses as prescribed by the doctor, and sudden discontinuation of medication can cause persistent status epilepticus. The actual fact is that you can find a lot of people who have been in the business for a long time, and they’ve been in the business for a long time.  In other words, anti-epileptic drugs must be taken for a long time, without interruption, regularly and quantitatively, generally for at least 2-3 years, sometimes 3-4 years or even longer, until the seizures have been completely controlled before the drug can be gradually reduced. The time to stop the medication is generally required to be gradually reduced within six months until it is completed. If phenytoin sodium 0.1 gram, 3 times a day, the seizures have been controlled, taking 2-3 years, can be changed to 0.1 gram, twice a day; continue for a number of months, if no seizures before stopping the drug. Even if you are taking herbal medicine or have other diseases, you should usually ask your doctor for permission to change your treatment plan. Sometimes, if you forget to take the medication during the day, you can make up for it in the evening to keep the daily dose constant and maintain a stable and effective blood concentration.  Generally, the dosage should be small at the beginning and gradually adjusted until it can control the seizures without producing toxic reactions. Do not interrupt medication during the resting period. Irregular medication is the main reason for failure to control seizures. Some scholars believe that it is safer not to take medication at all than perhaps to take it irregularly.  After a period of observation and confirmation of ineffectiveness, it is necessary to change the medication. There are two ways to change the medication: one is to replace the original medication with a new dose, for example, the original phenytoin sodium 0.1 gram, 3 times a day, to be replaced by phenobarbital, every week a daily reduction of phenobarbital sodium, add phenobarbital once, the second week to replace once, the third week that is changed to 3 times a day phenobarbital; the other method is to maintain the original medication, gradually increase Another method is to maintain the original medication and gradually add new medication once a week, and when the two drugs are combined to achieve the effect, the effective concentration of the drug in the blood can be combined. Some patients may decide the time and number of doses depending on the seizure. If the seizure occurs only at night, the drug may be given once a day at night before going to bed. Female patients who have seizures during menstruation or have frequent seizures should be given more medication during this period. Individual patients with frequent seizures can also take medication each time. In conclusion, until the pattern of seizures is known, it is appropriate to take medication three times a day. The appropriate number of doses and doses vary from person to person and are gradually developed.