As with care of other chronic conditions, transition to adult services needs to be planned well ahead of turning 16. Focus and decision making should be more around the young person themselves.
Topics include:
- Understanding of own condition
- Risks and risk management
- Medication – risks of missing, side effects, how to not forget
- Peers – explaining condition or sharing diagnosis (common misunderstandings)
- Impact on independent living, career
- Impact on relationships
- Effect of alcohol/drugs
- Emotional well being, self image
Specific things for epilepsy are:
- Driving
- Many epilepsy medicines (Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Topirimate etc) are enzyme inducers so can stop contraceptive hormones (the pill, implants) working. Girls taking these anti-seizure medications are usually given contraceptive pills with a higher level of oestrogen. A family planning doctor can give advice about other methods of contraception.
- Some anti-seizure medications can affect a baby’s development in the womb. For this reason, pregnancies should be planned well in advance and monitored from an early stage.
- Seizure management plan
- Stigma
See https://www.youngepilepsy.org.uk/parents-and-carers/adolescence-and-beyond/transition-to-adult-healthcare and other patient/family support websites.