Living with Epilepsy

Every day, people living with epilepsy
go to work, take care of their children, take part in sports, ride buses, cross busy streets, go on escalators, wait for trains, and — perhaps most difficult of all — risk having a seizure in public.

To get the best possible seizure control, the medicine has to be taken every day, on time, as prescribed. Stopping the medicine suddenly for any reason may cause serious reoccurrence of seizures.

A normal, healthy life with epilepsy

Most people with epilepsy lead normal, active lives.

Epilepsy is a chronic condition and affects people in different ways. Some people find that they rarely have to think about their epilepsy, except when they take their medication or go to see their healthcare team. Other people have to plan carefully to avoid things that could trigger a seizure.

However epilepsy affects you, it is important to remember that the attitude you have about your seizure disorder is very important. Having a positive attitude to your epilepsy and working well with your healthcare team can help you to control your seizure disorder so that you can live a full, balanced life.

It is important that you know and understand all you can about your condition. Make sure your family and friends, and if necessary your teachers or employers, have good information too.

A personal seizure pattern

As we've described, simple and complex partial seizures can produce a very wide range of changed feelings or behavior. However, what each person does or feels during a seizure is likely to be the same and occur in the same order each time.

Patient Seizure Diary

Keeping track of your progress is a very important part of treating your epilepsy. Print out your own personal seizure diary so you can record the way you are feeling while taking TRILEPTAL.