Can missing a dose of epilepsy medication trigger a seizure?
Yes, missing a dose of epilepsy medication can trigger a seizure. Even skipping or changing the schedule of a single dose raises the risk of having a seizure, a cluster of seizures, or longer seizures.
The risk depends on how often you take your medication. If you Show Full Answer
Can missing a dose of epilepsy medication trigger a seizure?
Yes, missing a dose of epilepsy medication can trigger a seizure. Even skipping or changing the schedule of a single dose raises the risk of having a seizure, a cluster of seizures, or longer seizures.
The risk depends on how often you take your medication. If you take medication just once a day rather than multiple times daily, missing that single dose carries higher risks.
Why this happens:
Epilepsy medications need to stay at consistent levels in your bloodstream to effectively prevent seizures. When you miss a dose, those levels drop, which can lead to breakthrough seizures—seizures that occur even when your condition has been well-controlled.
Research shows that approximately 34 percent of breakthrough seizures in children occurred when medications weren't taken as directed. Missing medications is actually the most common trigger for breakthrough seizures.
Important note:
While it's rare for just one missed dose to cause a breakthrough seizure, it can happen. In severe cases, missing a dose may even result in status epilepticus—a prolonged seizure that's a medical emergency.
If you do miss a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist right away for guidance on what to do next. Never stop taking seizure medication without your neurologist's approval.
February 10
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