Sticking to your medication schedule is an essential step in controlling your epilepsy. But in some cases, your ability to keep your meds down may be out of your control, such as when you throw up.

“I vomited this morning and I’m concerned my meds went with it,” one MyEpilepsyTeam member wrote. Another said, “When you vomit shortly after taking your medication, how do you handle the situation medication-wise if you can physically see the meds in your vomit?”

Read on to discover what to do if you vomit after taking your epilepsy medication and ideas to help prevent this situation from happening.

“I vomited this morning and I’m concerned my meds went with it.”

— A MyEpilepsyTeam member

Don’t Immediately Take an Extra Dose

Your first instinct after vomiting may be to reach for an additional dose of your anti-seizure drugs immediately, but that could be a bad idea. Taking too much of your anti-seizure medications can lead to potentially dangerous side effects, which may include:

• Fatigue
• Sleepiness
• Double vision
• Poor concentration
• Unsteadiness
• Tremors
• Vomiting
• Changes in heart rate
• Slowed breathing

“I have doubled up on my meds twice,” one MyEpilepsyTeam member wrote. “One time, I ended up in the hospital. Another time, I was unable to walk, with double vision, drowsiness, etc. Oh, what a mess it is!”

Update Your Neurologist

If you vomit after taking your medication, contact your neurologist right away to get advice on what to do. You don’t necessarily want to take a double dose. You also don’t want to miss a dose of your epilepsy treatment and end up having a seizure. However, the risk of seizure is usually low if you only missed one dose.

If you vomit after taking your medication, contact your neurologist right away to get advice on what to do.

Your neurologist will take the following factors into account before deciding when you should take your next dose.

Which Anti-Seizure Drug Did You Take?

Your neurologist will consider which anti-seizure medicines you take when deciding whether you should re-take the drug.

For instance, your neurologist will consider the medication’s half-life. This is the time it takes your body to eliminate half of the medication from your system. Many anti-seizure drugs need to stay at a consistent level in your bloodstream. Your doctor will use information about the medication’s half-life to predict if your levels are high enough to skip taking the extra dose.

What Is Your Dosing Schedule and Formulation?

Each person with epilepsy will take their anti-seizure drugs on a different schedule. Some also take a different formulation of the drug. For instance, one person may take an immediate-release formulation medication four times a day. Another may take a sustained-release formulation once a day. Slower-releasing formulations keep blood levels of the drug higher for longer, so you don’t need to take them as often.

How Long After Taking the Anti-Seizure Drug Did You Vomit?

Your doctor will be particularly interested in learning how much time passed between taking the anti-seizure medication and when you vomited. If you were able to see your medication in your vomit, let your physician know. This information can help them decide whether you should retake it. Either way, you should try to remember when you took your last dose of medication and when you got sick.

If you threw up within a few minutes of taking the medication, your healthcare provider may advise you to take another dose. But if an hour or more has passed, the neurologist may ask you to wait until your next scheduled dose. However, this is just a general guide. Every case is different, so always get specific advice from your neurology team.

Why Did You Vomit?

You may vomit up your anti-seizure drugs on occasion due to stomach upset, motion sickness, or other common reasons. But if vomiting becomes more frequent, it’s a good idea to investigate what may be causing it. This won’t only help you improve your quality of life but can also help reduce the chances of throwing up your medication.

Unfortunately, nausea is a common side effect of many anti-seizure drugs. Nausea may progress to vomiting, particularly when your body is just getting used to a new medication.

Some MyEpilepsyTeam members have found ways to reduce this side effect. “My doctor prescribed me an antiemetic to control nausea/vomiting before it started,” one member wrote. Another said, “I take a medication to control nausea, too. It’s helped a lot.”

If you experience nausea or vomiting from your anti-seizure drugs, ask your doctor how to manage this side effect.

In other cases, viral infections may cause vomiting. Even though these are typically short-lived, they may be seizure triggers in some people. It’s important to call your doctor right away if you have a virus. They may prescribe medication to help curb vomiting episodes. This can help you potentially avoid seizure activity and help you keep your medication down.

Learn To Manage Sickness and Nausea

Everyone gets sick sometimes. But for someone with epilepsy, these situations can be dangerous. People with epilepsy are more vulnerable to seizures when they’re sick for several reasons.

For example, sickness could leave you dehydrated or affect your sleep. Other medications you take for illness (over-the-counter or prescription) may also affect seizure activity. Finally, being sick can be stressful. And stress can trigger seizures.

That’s why it’s smart to have a strategy in place ahead of time that will help you manage nausea before it progresses to vomiting.

It’s smart to have a strategy in place ahead of time that will help you manage nausea before it progresses to vomiting.

Get medical advice from your neurologist about nausea control methods that won’t interfere with your epilepsy treatment regimen. You may want to:

• Adjust your diet. Don’t eat heavy, fried foods. Add clear liquids and bland options.
• Consume food and drinks more slowly.
• Avoid vigorous activities and exercises right after eating or drinking.
• Have small, frequent meals rather than eating big meals.
• Avoid mixing cold and hot beverages and foods together.

By working with your neurology team to find a solution, you’ll be less likely to face episodes of vomiting, so you can ensure that your anti-seizure drugs work for you.

Join the Conversation

On MyEpilepsyTeam, people share their experiences with epilepsy, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you ever thrown up after taking anti-seizure meds? Let others know in the comments below.