Tiagabine for epilepsy

About tiagabine

Having epilepsy means that you have had more than one otherwise unexplained fit, or seizure. A seizure is a short episode of symptoms caused by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in your brain. With partial seizures (also called focal seizures), the burst of electrical activity is in one part of your brain and therefore you tend to have localised or 'focal' symptoms. Because different parts of the brain control different functions, your symptoms will depend on which part of your brain is affected. Partial seizures can sometimes develop into seizures which affect all of your brain. These are called secondary generalised seizures. Symptoms that may occur during a seizure can affect your muscles, sensations, behaviour, emotions, consciousness, or a combination of these.

The seizures can be prevented in most people by suitable antiepileptic medication. Tiagabine works alongside other antiepileptic medicines to stabilise the electrical activity of your brain. It does this by increasing the amount of a chemical in your brain, called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This helps to prevent the seizures from occurring.

Before taking tiagabine

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking tiagabine it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si está embarazada, esperando un bebé o en período de lactancia.

• Si tiene problemas con el funcionamiento del hígado.

• Si padece una rara enfermedad hereditaria de la sangre llamada porfiria.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que pueda adquirirse sin receta, así como medicamentos a base de plantas y complementarios.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.

How to take tiagabine

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about tiagabine and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take tiagabine exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your dose will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said. There are several different strengths of tiagabine tablets. It is usual to start treatment on a low dose, and then for the dose to be increased gradually to a regular maintenance dose. You will begin by taking one or two doses each day, and this may gradually increase to two or three doses a day as your dose becomes fixed.

• Es importante que intente tomar la dosis a la misma hora todos los días. Tener una rutina le ayudará a acordarse de tomar las dosis con regularidad.

• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. You should take tiagabine with, or straight after, a meal or a snack.

• Si olvida tomar una dosis, tómela en cuanto se acuerde. Si cuando se acuerde ya es casi la hora de la siguiente dosis, tómesela cuando corresponda, pero omita la dosis olvidada. No tome dos dosis juntas para compensar la dosis olvidada.
  

Aproveche al máximo su tratamiento

• Cuando empiece un nuevo tratamiento para la epilepsia puede haber un cambio en el número o tipo de crisis que experimente. Su médico le informará al respecto.

• Procure acudir a las citas periódicas con su médico. Así podrá comprobar su evolución.

• Durante el tratamiento de la epilepsia existe un pequeño riesgo de que se produzcan cambios de humor, pensamientos angustiosos y sentimientos suicidas. Si esto ocurre, debe comunicárselo inmediatamente a su médico.

• Las personas con epilepsia deben dejar de conducir al principio. Su médico le indicará cuándo puede volver a conducir. Normalmente será después de un año sin crisis.

• Si bebe alcohol, consulte a su médico. Su médico puede aconsejarle que no beba alcohol mientras esté tomando este medicamento.

• Different formulations of some antiepileptic medicines can act in a slightly different way in your body. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you continue to take tiagabine from the same manufacturer each time you obtain a new supply. If so, each time you collect a prescription, check to make sure your supply looks the same and that the name is the same. If you are unsure, or if you have any questions about your prescription, please ask your pharmacist to advise you.

• Si compra algún medicamento, compruebe con un farmacéutico que es adecuado para tomarlo con su medicación antiepiléptica.

• Muchos antiepilépticos pueden dañar al feto. Si es usted mujer, asegúrese de haber consultado con su médico qué tipos de anticonceptivos son adecuados para usted y su pareja. Si desea tener familia, coménteselo a su médico para que le asesore un especialista antes de quedarse embarazada.

• You need to take tiagabine regularly every day. Do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to stop. Stopping treatment suddenly can cause problems and your doctor will want you to reduce your dose gradually if this becomes necessary.

Can tiagabine cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with tiagabine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que crea que puede deberse a los comprimidos, hable con su médico o farmacéutico para que le aconsejen.

How to store tiagabine

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y de la vista de los niños.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light. Keep the tablets in their original bottle until you are ready to take them. This is because they absorb moisture from the air and there is a drying agent in the bottle to help prevent this.
  

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos