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In short: Oxcarbazepine, sold in the UK under the brand name Trileptal and as generic versions, is an anti-seizure medication (ASM) used for focal seizures. Most early side effects are dose-related and often settle, but oxcarbazepine has one distinctive risk worth understanding: low blood sodium, known as hyponatraemia. Skin reactions also need prompt attention, particularly…

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A febrile convulsion (also called a febrile seizure) is a seizure that can happen when a young child has a high temperature. Most are not serious, last under five minutes and cause no lasting harm. Keep your child safe, time the seizure, and call 999 if it is their first one, if it lasts more…

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Sleep is one of the most well-established factors influencing seizure activity. For many people with epilepsy, poor or disrupted sleep is associated with an increased likelihood of seizures, and consistent sleep is associated with better seizure control. When working patterns interfere with sleep, this becomes a workplace issue as well as a personal one. This…

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The handover between shifts is one of the most important moments in any care setting. For individuals with epilepsy, it is also one of the moments where information is most easily lost. A seizure that happened overnight, a missed dose, a change in behaviour, a planned medication review — all of these need to travel…

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Much of the available information about seizures focuses on what to do during the seizure itself. Far less attention is given to what happens afterwards. Yet the period immediately following a seizure — known as the post-ictal phase — is when many of the most important decisions about care, observation, and escalation are made. This…

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For providers supporting people with epilepsy, a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection is an opportunity to evidence the quality and safety of care being delivered. Epilepsy support is one of the areas inspectors scrutinise closely, particularly in residential care, supported living, and domiciliary services. Understanding what inspectors are looking for, and how to prepare, helps…

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