Final answer:
In 'The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down,' Lia Lee is treated with antiepileptic drugs such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine, highlighting the cultural clash between western medicine and Hmong beliefs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medications discussed in Anne Fadiman's book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, pertain to the treatment of Lia Lee, a young Hmong girl living in America, who was diagnosed with severe epilepsy. The Hmong community has traditional beliefs about health and illness, which often clash with Western medical practices. Lia was prescribed a variety of antiepileptic drugs, including phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and carbamazepine (Tegretol). Each of these medications works differently to control seizures but also comes with a risk of side effects, something that the Lee family found difficult to cope with, especially given the language barrier and cultural misunderstandings between them and the medical professionals. Fadiman's account highlights the complexities and challenges of cross-cultural medicine, as outlined in 'Medical Anthropology' by Foster and Anderson.