Taking Stock: Asking About Side Effects

Dizziness

Feeling dizzy is a common symptom of many different problems and the cause is often hard to sort out. It is a fairly common side effect of several antiepileptic drugs. If you have just started a new drug and are experiencing dizziness, it is possible that the feeling will go away as you become more used to the medicine. Or, the amount of medicine you are taking may have to be changed.

Dizziness that comes and goes quickly can be a symptom of a type of seizure. Keep track of when that kind of episode happens, what it feels like and how long it lasts, and let your doctor know. Sometimes other testing may be needed. Severe dizziness should always be reported to the doctor.

Questions for your physician might include:

• Is my dizziness 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?
• Is it possible that I have brain damage or a separate medical problem that is causing my dizziness?
• Is it necessary for me to reconsider certain activities, such as driving, until this problem is resolved?

Read about other possible side effects...