Taking Stock: Asking About Side Effects

Clumsiness

Clumsiness may be a side effect of an antiepileptic drug. It is also possible that nerve damage or certain conditions in your brain related to the seizure disorders/epilepsy is affecting your control of movements and leading you to drop things. Dropping things because of a suddenly loosened grip might also be caused by very brief seizures. Check with your doctor about both possibilities if clumsiness is limiting your ability to lead an active life.

Questions for your physician might include:

• Is my clumsiness being caused by my medication?
• Am I taking an inappropriate amount of medication? Or could I be taking it incorrectly?
• Could my medication's generic version eliminate this side effect?
• Are my seizures in control, or do I require testing for that answer?
• Are there any other conditions I might have, other than epilepsy, which might explain this problem?

Two different types of seizures are easily misconstrued as clumsiness: atonic seizures (also called drop attacks) and myoclonic seizures. An atonic seizure is when a person suddenly collapses, and after about 10 seconds, completely regains consciousness and is capable of walking around. A myoclonic seizure is a sudden brief, massive muscle jerk that may involve the whole body or parts of the body. It may cause a person to spill a drink or fall off a chair.

Read about other possible side effects...