Question

Lindsey T. is a 12 year old middle school student who was diagnosed with clonic-tonic seizures 6 months ago. Although she has always performed well in school, she has started having difficulty in her classes because she is falling asleep in class and has trouble concentrating. Her mother complains that she is "not her usual self" and seems listless and depressed. She recently went for her regular dental checkup and had five new carious lesions, although she has always had good checkups before. She is taking carbamazepine chewable tablets four times a day to manage her seizure disorder but still has seizures when she has her menstrual cycle or is under a lot of stress.

Lindsey is losing weight because she says her stomach hurts when she takes her medicine. How can the gastrointestinal symptoms be minimized?
A. Changing her medication to another antiseizure medication
B. Taking her medication at bedtime
C. Taking her medication with food
D. Taking her medication with an antacid

Answer 1

To minimize gastrointestinal symptoms from carbamazepine, Lindsey should take her medication with food, which can help reduce stomach discomfort and improve medication adherence.

Step-by-step explanation:

Lindsey T is a 12-year-old middle school student with clonic-tonic seizures, experiencing gastrointestinal side effects from carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant medication used to manage her seizure disorder. To minimize gastrointestinal symptoms it is often recommended that the medication be taken with food, as this can help reduce stomach irritation and discomfort associated with the medication. Therefore the correct answer to how the gastrointestinal symptoms can be minimized is:

C. Taking her medication with food:

Taking carbamazepine with food can buffer the stomach and decrease the likelihood of pain and discomfort, potentially improving adherence to the medication regimen and overall quality of life for Lindsey. If these measures do not alleviate the symptoms it may be necessary to consult with a healthcare provider for further evaluation and possible medication adjustment.