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 Anticonvulsants are the main form of treatment for epilepsy. There are a number of anticonvulsant drugs. The right drug, used in the right way, can be very effective in treating seizures. It is important that you take the medication daily in order to maintain a constant level in the blood. After starting an anticonvulsant, a blood test is done to measure the amount of drug in your blood stream. If the medicine level is too high, you may experience side effects (i.e. dizziness, double vision, nausea). If the level is too low, you may be at risk for seizures. It is important that you keep track of the frequency of your seizures and notify your doctor or nurse of medication side effects so that your medication can be adjusted properly. There are some interactions which may occur between anticonvulsant and other prescription or over-the-counter medications. For example, some anticonvulsants can lower the effectiveness of birth control pills. This can sometimes be corrected if a higher dose birth control pill is prescribed. Also, the prescription drugs erythromycin and propoxyphene (Darvon) can cause an increase in the Tegretol level. Aspirin taken with valproic acid (Depakote) may cause thinning of the blood. These are a few examples and there are many more. It is important to tell any doctor prescribing medication for you that you are also taking anticonvulsants.
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