If you’re supporting and caring for an adult with epilepsy, it’s important to recognize that epilepsy can and does affect daily life in a variety of ways. While it’s difficult to assess exactly how epilepsy will affect each individual, some people with epilepsy have an increased risk of poor self-esteem and depression. It’s also hard for someone without epilepsy to understand how it feels to live with an ever-present fear of experiencing another seizure. That’s why your loved one needs your encouragement and understanding, and why you should encourage him or her to seek the best treatment possible.
When a loved one has epilepsy, especially if he or she is newly diagnosed, neurologist’s appointments, blood tests, seizure-tracking, and treatment become a central part of everyday life. Limitations on driving may make keeping a job and managing day-to-day responsibilities like picking up the kids from school and doing the grocery shopping difficult. And, seizures may introduce a need for home safety precautions that seem inconvenient.
You can help by being sensitive not only to your loved one’s medical needs, which may be significant, but also his or her need for companionship and normalcy. This can be as simple as letting your loved one know when you’re planning a trip to the grocery store so he or she can get the shopping done or arranging a night out with friends and coworkers your loved one hasn’t seen lately.
If you are caring for an older adult with epilepsy, 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.
Certain medications, including some AEDs, can cause memory problems and affect concentration, and some 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.
Remind your loved one to:
- Use a daily pillbox to keep medicines conveniently available
- Make taking Keppra XR® at the same time each day a part of his or her everyday routine
- Set the alarm on his or her watch and cellular phone to alert him or her when it’s time to take medicines
Once-daily Keppra XR® can help make it easier to remember to take medicine every day so your loved one can control his or her epilepsy. Learn more about Keppra XR®.
Be sure your loved one’s doctor knows about his or her epilepsy and other medical conditions.
Be sure your loved one has medical information readily available in case he or she experiences a seizure when unaccompanied by a friend or family member. Consider getting your loved one a medic alert bracelet or encouraging him or her to carry the information in a wallet or pocketbook. With our Identification and Emergency Wallet Card (PDF 70 KB), your loved one can fill in all of the appropriate information, and carry it everywhere.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Keppra XR® is a prescription medicine that is used with other medicines to treat partial onset seizures in people 16 years of age and older with epilepsy.
Keppra XR® is generally well-tolerated, but may not be for everyone. Ask your doctor if Keppra XR® is right for you. Like other antiepileptic drugs, Keppra XR® may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500 people taking it. Patients should call their healthcare provider right away if they have depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior while taking Keppra XR®. Keppra XR® may cause extreme sleepiness, tiredness, and weakness, and problems with muscle coordination. Keppra XR® may also cause mood and behavior changes including psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and unusual behavior. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms. The most common side effects seen with Keppra XR® and other formulations of Keppra® include sleepiness, weakness, dizziness, and infection. Do not stop taking Keppra XR® unless instructed by your healthcare provider. Stopping a seizure medication all at once can cause seizures that will not stop, a very serious problem.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may also report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or go to www.fda.gov/medwatch or contact UCB, Inc. at 1-866-822-0068.
Please see Keppra XR® Medication Guide and Full Prescribing Information for additional important patient information.
*With this coupon, you pay the first $25 of your Keppra XR® or Keppra® co-pay and we pay your remaining out-of-pocket expense up to a maximum of $30. This coupon may not be reproduced and must accompany a valid, signed Keppra XR® prescription. No cash value. Offer not valid for prescriptions reimbursed or paid under any government health insurance program (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare) or any private payer in Massachusetts or where otherwise prohibited by law. Patients are responsible for reporting this rebate to any private insurer that covers any part of the prescription. Offer expires on 12/31/12. UCB may cancel or alter this program at any time without notice.