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If you have questions about any aspect of seizures or epilepsy, you should ask your doctor about them. Your doctor should be able to give you information about epilepsy and its treatment, and about local support groups, national groups like the Epilepsy Foundation or the Epilepsy Therapy Project and websites that could help you learn more about epilepsy, like epilepsy.com and www.epilepsyfoundation.org.

Your doctor should also talk to you about social service organizations that could help you get a job, apply for social security disability, or figure out how to get around if you are unable to legally drive.

Your doctor should point out that you may respond differently to seizure medicines then other patients, and that how you respond might not be predictable. You may need to try several different medications before you find one that works best for you. Your doctor should discuss the possible side effects of each seizure medicine you take, including side effects that concern memory and thinking abilities, and effects on your mood and sexual functioning.

It is important for your doctor to encourage you to become educated about epilepsy and to advocate for yourself in the healthcare system and with all your health care providers.

For more information:

• Living With Epilepsy 101: The Basics
• Quality of Life
• Social Effects of Epilepsy
• Support
• Know Your Rights
• Driving and the Law

Topic Editor: Mary Jo V. Pugh, PhD, RN and Steven C. Schachter, MD.
Last Reviewed: 7/29/08