Side Effects Of Anticonvulsants

Dizziness

Both ataxia and dizziness are some of the most common anticonvulsant side effects. Because anticonvulsants can have a significant impact on balance, doctors should use caution and careful monitoring when prescribing them to older patients. Studies have shown the balance-related side effects can become worse when the dosage is increased, and it's common for patients to experience adverse events. Feelings of dizziness and unsteadiness are common.

One study found ataxia symptoms in fifty-four percent of institutionalized patients who had epilepsy. In another study of epileptic patients at least seventy years old, eighty percent of those taking anticonvulsants had falls and balance disorders. Phenytoin can cause dizziness and imbalance in a large number of patients. Despite this, it remains the most commonly prescribed anticonvulsant for adults in nursing homes. Six percent of individuals confined to nursing homes take phenytoin. Carbamazepine can cause increased dizziness as dosages increase. There haven't been many studies establishing why anticonvulsants cause issues with balance and dizziness, and further data is necessary to determine which drugs cause which symptoms of balance problems.

Keep reading to learn more about the different side effects of taking anticonvulsants now.