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Ask the Doctor:
"What do I tell my coworkers to do?"
I've had epilepsy for three years. My seizures last about two minutes, but
then I'm sort of spaced out and tired for about half an hour. Sometimes I
have a seizure at work and my co-workers always call ambulance. I wish they
wouldn't do that. What can I tell them to reassure them that I'll be OK?
For generalized tonic clonic seizures (grand mal) or complex partial seizures, there usually is a period after the seizure that the person is not back to normal. We call this the post-ictal period, and it may be associated with poor concentration, sleepiness, and confusion. Following a brief seizure, even if a post-ictal period is present, a person with epilepsy does not need to be evaluated in an emergency room. My recommendations to you regarding what you should tell your co-workers is that they should monitor you carefully until you are back to normal. They should call an ambulance if the generalized tonic clonic motor activity lasts for more than five minutes or if you should have another seizure before returning back to your normal baseline. If a seizure is a generalized tonic clonic seizure, make sure that your co-workers do not try to insert objects into your mouth but, instead, loosen any clothing, help you to the floor, place something under your head, and turn your head to the side so secretions will be cleared. Generalized tonic clonic seizures usually last less than two minutes. A generalized tonic clonic seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is of concern and should be evaluated. It is important to realize that what may be a relatively brief seizure may appear to be much longer than it is by observers.
Ask the Pharmacist: "My refill looks different; is it the same?"
The other day, I went to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription that I have
been taking for a while now. When I got home, I opened the bottle and saw
that the pills looked different from the ones I had been previously taking.
The prescription had not changed, but the pills had. Should I trust that they
are the same kind? I don't know if pharmacies make mistakes or not. What
should I do?
There have been several media reports over the past year that have picked up on this basic fact. Consumers should always examine the instructions on the bottle and the tablet before taking the medication. If the instructions and/or the tablet seem unfamiliar to you, call your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor. It is possible for the tablet to look different but still be essentially the same drug you have been receiving before. Sometimes your pharmacy may order a drug from a different manufacturer because the price is less expensive than if it was obtained from the previous manufacturer. Small changes in color and size may occur with the change in manufacturer. However, you should not just assume this; you should ask your pharmacist to clarify that a change in manufacturer did indeed occur. You may also receive a different drug if the doctor allows generic substitution (or if a doctor and/or pharmacist forgets whether the brand or generic was given in the past). A generic drug has the same active drug components as the brand product but is typically offered at a lower price, since there was much less research and development cost associated with bringing the drug to market. Not all generics are equally equivalent in therapeutic efficacy to the brand product. As a result of these differences, generic drugs receive different ratings as to their equivalency to the brand. Patients often report that a generic works differently for them from the brand and thus have their preferences for one or the other. If you have such experiences and preferences, let your doctor know so that he/she notes on the prescription whether substitution should be allowed. If you do not have such preferences, the doctor most likely will allow the pharmacist to substitute. Once again, if the refilled prescription tablet is not familiar to you, you should ask the pharmacy to check what was dispensed. Such clarification may save you from unnecessary complications.
ASK THE PHARMACIST! may be submitted to EFSCW, by mail or by phone, in care of Jane Boltz or e-mail: mjboltz@facstaff.wisc.edu |
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