How often are antiepileptic drug blood levels necessary?
Blood levels may be taken in the initial stages of commencing an anti-convulsants, then they only need to be assessed if there is no decrease in seizures or you start to have breakthrough seizures. Sometimes doses are dependant on how much medication you can tolerate without too many side-effects, or by the amount of medication that is needed to control your seizures rather than the results of a blood levels. Some people may obtain seizure remission on minimal medication levels and others may still be having seizures although the levels are therapeutic. Each case is individual.
Blood levels are usually taken when commencing an anti-convulsant, then they only need to be checked if there is no decrease in seizures or you start to have breakthrough seizures. Sometimes doses are dependant on how much medication you can tolerate without too many side-effects, or by the amount of medication that is needed to control your seizures rather than the results of a blood levels.
