Discharge Instructions for Epilepsy

You have been diagnosed with epilepsy, a disorder of recurring seizures. When you have a seizure, an electrical disturbance happens in your brain. There are different kinds of seizures, and each patient may have one or many types of seizures. Here are some guidelines for you and your family.

If you have a seizure

Ask friends and family members to learn seizure management. Also, tell them to do the following if you have a seizure:

• Clear the area to prevent injury.
• Position you on a flat, carpeted surface, if possible.
• Do not try to restrain you.
• Do not put anything in your mouth.
• Turn you onto your side.
• Keep track of the date and time the seizure started, how long it lasted, whether or not you lost consciousness, a description of your body movements, what provoked the seizure (if known), and any injuries you suffered. Using a watch may help keep correct time of events.  
• Stay with you until you regain consciousness.
• Call 911 if the seizure is longer than 5 minutes, if there are multiple seizures or if you do not begin to wake up after the seizure stops.  

Activities

Following are some things to consider:

• Enjoy your normal activities. Most people with epilepsy lead normal lives.
• Do not do hazardous activities, such as mountain climbing or scuba diving. A seizure under these conditions could lead to a fatal accident.
• Do not swim alone or participate in other similar activities without others nearby.
• Ask your healthcare provider about any restrictions on driving or other activities.
• Check with your state department of public safety to learn whether there are any driving limitations based on your condition.

Other home care

Other considerations:

• Take your medicine exactly as directed. Skipping doses can affect the way your body handles the medicine, which could cause you to have a seizure.
• Do not drink alcohol or use any medicine without talking with your healthcare provider first.
• Seizure medicines may interact with other medicines. Make sure all of your healthcare providers have a list of all your medicines. 
• Birth control pills may not work as effectively when taking seizure medicines.  Ask your healthcare provider if a change in birth control is needed. 
• Birth control pills may also affect seizure medications.
• Try to avoid medications that contain pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) which can be seizure triggers for some people.
• Ensure you get good sleep, both in quantity and quality.
• Avoid taking baths. Showers are preferred.  Consider placing a temperature control on your shower head.
• Wear a medical alert pendant or bracelet that alerts others to your condition, especially if you are allergic to seizure medicine.
• Join a local support group. Ask your healthcare provider for names and phone numbers.