The ultimate goal of epilepsy treatment is the same no matter what your age: seizure freedom with minimal side effects. But, there are some special considerations that seniors should keep in mind. For example, seizure medicines may affect seniors differently than younger people with epilepsy.
Seniors are also more likely to be taking multiple medications for a variety of health conditions. Keeping track of all the different medications and how they interact with each other can be a challenge. Certain medicines may mask the side effects of others, and it’s possible that the symptoms of one condition may go unnoticed due to the severity of other symptoms. Some AEDs may interact with other medications you take. Keppra XR™ is unlikely to interact with other antiepilepsy medicines and everyday drugs. Learn more about Keppra XR™.
Take note of these points when discussing treatment with your neurologist:
- People may become more sensitive to medicines with age.
- Seniors may react to medicines differently than other people.
- Seniors may need to take different doses than other patients.
- Seniors may not easily detect side effects.
- Some medicines may cause seizures in seniors with epilepsy.
- Renal impairment may complicate treatment in some seniors.
- Bone density may be an additional concern in treatment planning.
Keep in mind that some medications, including some AEDs, can cause memory problems and affect concentration. And, many older people experience changes or slight declines in their memory as a part of normal aging. This can make it easy to forget taking medicines. Here are some tips that may help:
- Use a daily pillbox to keep your medicines conveniently available.
- Make taking Keppra XR™ at the same time each day a part of your everyday routine. For example, it may help to take Keppra XR™ when you wake up, before brushing your teeth.
- Set the alarm on your watch and cellular phone to alert you when it’s time to take your medicines.
Once-daily Keppra XR™ can help make it easier to remember to take your medicine every day so you can control your epilepsy. Learn more about Keppra XR™.
There were insufficient numbers of elderly subjects in controlled trials of epilepsy to adequately assess the effectiveness of Keppra XR™ in these patients. It is expected that the safety of Keppra XR™ in elderly patients 65 and over would be comparable to the safety observed in clinical studies of immediate-release Keppra® tablets.
Of the total number of subjects in clinical studies of immediate-release levetiracetam, 347 were 65 and over. No overall differences in safety were observed between these subjects and younger subjects. There were insufficient numbers of elderly subjects in controlled trials of epilepsy to adequately assess the effectiveness of immediate-release Keppra® in these patients.
Levetiracetam is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function.
Be sure that any doctor prescribing medications for you knows about your epilepsy and its treatment.
Be sure to have medical information readily available in case you have a seizure when you’re not accompanied by a friend or family member who knows you have epilepsy. You can wear a medic alert bracelet detailing your condition, or you can carry the information in your wallet or pocketbook. 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.
Learn how other seniors with epilepsy are living with epilepsy on their terms. Visit EpilepsyAdvocate.com for inspiring stories, practical advice, and to connect with other people with epilepsy through L.I.V.E. speaking events, monthly e-mail, a magazine, and videos.
Is someone in your life dealing with epilepsy? Get some tips for being supportive and helpful. Learn how to help.
Next: Information for Caregivers