Tips for taking epilepsy medication

For many people with epilepsy, this may mean taking lifelong medication, also known as AEDs. In many cases, this requires taking the medication consistently at regular times of the day. After all, a missed dose or accidentally taking an extra dose can potentially lead to a seizure.

Keeping track of medication can be a challenge for many people with epilepsy, especially those who experience memory impairment as a result of their epilepsy. In this post, we’re going to discuss some practical advice on taking your medication consistently.

Medication boxes

One of the most simple tips we can offer is to organise your medication into labelled medication boxes each day. You can even purchase ones that have multiple containers for each day. This may be an effective way to ascertain your medication routine and this can help you to avoid taking too little or too much.

We should warn, however, that although most medication can be safely stored in a medication box, some should not as they are advised to be stored in their original packaging. It’s worth checking with your prescriber to ensure you are safe to do so beforehand.

Reminders

There are many quick and effective ways to set yourself a reminder, especially in the 21st century! Most modern mobile phones will enable you to set recurring reminders with an optional alarm to alert you that it’s time to take your medication. In addition, there are specialised apps that are designed to help you keep a consistent schedule with your medication.

Create an association

This is known as the ‘if this – then that’ technique, which means that you should create a routine that you associate with taking your medication at the right time. It needs to be something that you do every day and ideally at a certain time. For example, you may choose to take your medication just after brushing your teeth every morning. Over time, you will create a strong association between these two activities which makes it far less likely that you will fail to do it.

Keep a diary or chart

Many people find keeping a simple diary or chart is an effective way to manage their medication. It doesn’t have to be an in-depth record (although this could be helpful for other reasons), but even simply marking the dates and times of your medication and dosages will give you a reference point should you become confused or unsure of your medication intake.

Charts and diaries are especially useful for those who are new to taking regular medication, which is when a person is most likely to forget. They can also be really useful if you are changing medications or dosages and are still adjusting to the new prescription and its requirements.

National Epilepsy Training can help…

If you are having trouble taking your medication and need some advice and guidance, please call us on 01706 373075 or email admin@nationalepilepsytraining.co.uk.