Do epilepsy medications have side effects?
Yes, and occasionally they can resemble intoxication, producing slurred speech, unsteady gait, and sleepiness. This can happen if the dose of medication is very high, or if something has interacted with the drug to produce a higher than usual concentration in the blood. These effects are most likely at the beginning of treatment or if the person has to take large doses to control seizures. Sometimes the medicines have a slowing effect on speech, although otherwise the person can function normally. For most people, however, the side effects do not interfere with a normal life.
