Taking Stock: Asking About Side Effects

Changes in Appearance

Some antiepileptic drugs may cause changes in how you look. These are sometimes called "cosmetic side effects." For example, some medications may produce more masculine features in women, extra facial and body hair, acne and, in susceptible people, overgrowth of gums. On the other hand, hormonal changes unrelated to the medications can produce some of these side effects.

If changes in your appearance are troubling you, let your doctor know. If the medication is causing the problem, there may be other options that would work better for you. Here are some questions that might be asked of your doctor:

• Are these cosmetic side effects the result of 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?
• Would it be possible for me to try an entirely different medication that is not associated with this side effect?
• How do other people deal with this problem? What can I do if medication adjustments don’t work?

Read about other possible side effects...