As a teen you face challenges every day—keeping up at school, relationships, after-school jobs, sports, and dating . . . and that’s before you factor in the added challenge of living with epilepsy.
Sometimes, it may seem like you’re the only person in the world with epilepsy . . . especially when you’re having a tough time dealing with seizures and finding the right treatment. But, as common as epilepsy is, there’s a good chance that some of the people who go to your school have epilepsy. Most teens with epilepsy can do all the things their friends do, although there are some special considerations:
Generally, having epilepsy doesn’t mean you can’t take part in sports and activities like baseball, soccer, and basketball. You can even enjoy swimming, bicycle riding, and gymnastics if you are careful. Remember, everyone is different. So, be sure to talk to your parents and neurologist about your seizure control and how it might affect your ability to participate in sports and other activities.
Every state has its own laws on epilepsy and driving. Most states say that you must be free of seizures for a certain period of time; in most states it is 6 to 12 months. The Epilepsy Foundation offers a state-by-state database of each state’s driving restrictions and regulations. Look up your state’s regulations.
Telling friends about your epilepsy is often a good idea . . . especially if you might have a seizure while you are with them. If they know what to expect, they won’t be as alarmed when it happens. You can also tell them what they can do to help you. Remember, the more your friends know about epilepsy, the more help they can give you when you need it.
You and your parents may decide it’s a good idea to notify your teachers, school nurse, coaches, and others about your epilepsy. Let them know what happens when you have a seizure and what they can do to help you. If you’re unsure of how to approach the subject, visit EpilepsyClassroom.com for some ideas.
You probably don’t want to risk more seizures, or jeopardize your treatment. But if you’re losing sleep or taking alcohol or drugs, you’re doing just that. By missing sleep, you may provoke seizures, so it’s vital to get plenty of rest. Alcohol can change the electrical activity in the brain and interact with your epilepsy medications.
It should also go without saying that street drugs like marijuana, uppers (amphetamines), downers (barbiturates, benzodiazepines), heroin, certain painkillers, LSD, meth, PCP, and Ecstasy are especially dangerous for people with epilepsy. They can bring on seizures or make them worse. In fact, crack and other forms of cocaine can cause seizures in people who have never had one before.
In spite of what you may have heard, playing video games generally doesn’t cause seizures in most people with epilepsy. Only the small number of people with photosensitive epilepsy can have a seizure when they see flashing lights. If you have photosensitive epilepsy, playing a video game could be a problem. If you’re concerned, ask your neurologist if you should avoid video games.
It’s a good idea to have medical information available in case you have a seizure when you’re not accompanied by a friend or family member who knows you have epilepsy. With our Identification and Emergency Wallet Card (PDF 70 KB), you can fill in all of the appropriate information, and carry it with you everywhere.
Visit EpilepsyAdvocate.com for inspiring stories, practical advice, and to connect with other teens living with epilepsy through L.I.V.E. speaking events, a magazine, monthly e-newsletter, and videos.
If you and your parents decide it’s a good idea to notify teachers, the school nurse, coaches, and others about epilepsy, there are resources to help you do so. Visit EpilepsyClassroom.com for some ideas.
Remember, with Keppra XR™, seizure control could be within your reach. Learn more about Keppra XR™.
Is a teen in your life dealing with epilepsy? Get some tips for being supportive and helpful while allowing your teen to be as independent as possible. Learn how to help.
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