Epilepsy medication - twice or once a day? - Headway

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Epilepsy medication - twice or once a day?

B_S_A profile image
4 Replies

Hi all (been a while),

Read something today that said taking one dose of epilepsy meds at night (taking twice as much) is better for fatigue than taking it twice a day. I currently take it twice a day and I feel sleepy a lot of the time. It's difficult to tell if that's due to the stroke or the meds (probably both) but I was wondering if there are people out there who take epilepsy meds once a day? And how you feel on them?

Obviously, I'll take to my doctor first

Ben

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4 Replies
moo196 profile image
moo196

You must discuss with your doctor. I used to take 500mg twice a day, but reduced after a year to 250 twice a day. It helped with the tiredness, but this might have been just the time passing.

Good luck

Angelia1234 profile image
Angelia1234

You need the meds in your system consistently so if it says twice a day, effects probably last about 12 hrs. But of course talk to your neurologist.

steve55 profile image
steve55

fatigue is different to tiredness. i was taking 2 lots of epilepsy meds, 1 100 topiramate twice a day for my epilepsy and 1200mg epilim twice a day for my behaviour. but that didnt cure my fatigue.

ive now changed my behaviour medication and my fatigue is combined with tiredness.

cat3 profile image
cat3

I reckon if your present medication is prescribed for twice daily it's because it has a 12 hour release action in which case taking it all at once could leave you unprotected for the following late afternoon/evening.

I know that studies from a couple of years ago suggest that some epilepsy meds are effective in a single dose but, like you say, you'd need to ask your doctor whether your present med would cover you for 24hrs or if it would need to be switched for another...……….. and could that take you back to square one with the compatibility issue ? 🤔

I hope you can get this sorted Ben ; the fatigue from the BI is wearing enough without an added extra from meds ! Cat x

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