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Epilepsy - Antiepileptic treatment

Medicines for epileptic seizures prevent and reduce the risk of further seizures. 2/3 of people with epilepsy respond well to medication and have few problems with seizures.

Epilepsy

Referral and assessment

Your GP will refer you to a neurologist for assessment and treatment of epilepsy.

The referral must include a detailed medical history, describing the duration, extent and frequency of the seizures.

The results of the clinical neurological examination must also be included with the referral.

For referrals to the National Centre for Epilepsy, see the separate referral criteria here 

Before

Bring a printout of your updated medication list from your GP when you come to your appointment with the neurologist.

During

We make an individual assessment of each patient when choosing the appropriate medication for your epilepsy.

There are several things we need to consider when choosing medication:

  • the type of epilepsy you have
  • age
  • other illnesses or medications
  • which stage of life you are at (for example, whether you are of childbearing age)
  • weight

What should you do if you have forgotten a dose of your medication, vomit or have diarrhoea?

Here is some general advice on what to do. Please note that your doctor may have given you other instructions specifically tailored to you.

Missed morning dose, discovered before lunch:

  • Give the dose immediately. Give the evening dose at the usual time.

Missed morning dose, discovered after lunch:

  • Give only the evening dose at the usual time.

Missed evening dose, discovered the next day:

  • Give only the usual morning dose.

If an adult misses a dose of epilepsy medication, it is recommended that they take it as soon as possible, even if this means taking it together with the next dose.
Individual circumstances should be taken into account.

Vomiting within 30 min:

  • Give a new dose.

Vomiting after 30 min to 2 hours:

  • Regular tablets: Give half the dose
  • Liquid medicine: Do not repeat the dose.
  • Prolonged-release* or enteric-coated tablets: Repeat the dose.
    (*Prolonged-release tablets may also be labelled “retard” or “long”)

The medication is still absorbed into the body through the bloodstream: Do not take an extra dose.

After

You must have follow-up appointments with a neurologist as long as your seizures are not well controlled.

  • Once you have been seizure-free for one to two years, follow-up with your GP may be appropriate.
  • Blood tests are commonly taken to measure the amount of medication in your blood, as well as other blood tests, as part of follow-up for epilepsy medication, so that your treatment can be tailored to you.

Please note

  • When you receive seizure-suppressing treatment, you may experience fatigue, effects on the liver and skin rashes.

  • If you develop a severe skin rash, stop taking the medication and contact your neurologist, GP or out-of-hours medical service as soon as possible.

  • If you have been seizure-free for one year while taking the same medication, you can usually hold a driving licence and drive a car.

  • If you are planning or hoping to become pregnant, contact your neurologist to ensure your treatment and follow-up are tailored as well as possible. If you become pregnant without having contacted your neurologist first, you should get in touch so that your treatment can be assessed and your follow-up plan discussed.
Last professionally updated 25.09.2024.

Contact

  • Contact the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (BUA), Arendal

    Where to go

    Please report to the reception for the paediatric ward, 6E, on the 6th floor of the main building



    Sørlandet sykehus Arendal sett fra luften.

    Sørlandet Hospital Arendal

    Sykehusveien 1

    Sykehusveien 1, 4838 Arendal

    Find your way

    Transport

    You can reach our locations by public transport. Visit Agder kollektivtrafikk to find your route:akt.no

    You may be entitled to reimbursement of necessary expenses when travelling to and from your place of treatment.

    As a general rule, you should use public transport, and you will have to pay a co-payment. To be reimbursed for travel expenses you have paid, you must complete a travel reimbursement form and send it toPatient travel.

    Practical information

    At the hospital pharmacy in Arendal, you can fill prescriptions and buy pharmacy products.
    You will find us on the ground floor of the main building, just inside the entrance.
    Open every weekday from 08:30 to 16:00.

    Hospital Pharmacy Arendal

    Is your appointment inconvenient? If you receive your appointment letter digitally on helsenorge.no, you can now send a direct message to the department you are due to visit if you need to reschedule. You must be a registered user on Helsenorge to access the service.
    You can also contact the department where you have an appointment or call the switchboard on: 38 07 30 00
    ​

    Children and young people are affected when someone in the family is ill, and need to understand what is happening. You may be a patient, a relative, or a parent of a sick child with siblings. At the hospital, we will help ensure that the children and young people in your family are well looked after.

    Children as next of kin


    Visiting hours may vary between departments and locations. Please check with the department where you have an appointment for more information.

    See an overview of the hospital departments

    General visiting hours:

    Arendal:
    17:00–19:00 on weekdays
    14:00–16:00 and 18:00–19:00 on weekends and public holidays

    Flekkefjord:
    14:00–15:00 and 18:00–19:00
    Maternity ward: 17:00–19:00 (rest period/no visitors: 14:00–16:00)

    Kristiansand:
    17:00–19:00 on weekdays
    14:00–16:00 and 18:00–19:00 on weekends and public holidays

    Maternity ward: 16:00–18:00 every day for the newborn’s healthy siblings.

    The patient library in Arendal is in the basement of the main building. It is self-service and open 24 hours a day. You can borrow books and read newspapers and magazines here.

    Many people like to bring flowers when visiting a patient in hospital, but due to allergies and the risk of infection, several of our departments are flower-free. If you would like to bring the patient a gift, we would appreciate it if you chose something other than flowers.

    Some patients are also allergic to perfume or perfumed creams. We ask you to take this into consideration.

    Many patients and relatives want to take photos/videos or blog about their time in hospital. This is of course permitted, as long as you respect the privacy of other patients and staff.

    Here are a few helpful tips on using social media for patients and relatives:

    • Be considerate of others. You must have consent if you want to take photos or videos of patients or staff. All patients are entitled to privacy while in hospital.
    • Parents/guardians decide whether you can take photos of children or post photos of their children online. Parents should consider what is best for the child. Once a child has turned 12, their views must be given considerable weight. Once a child has turned 15, they decide for themselves whether they are happy to be photographed and whether the images may be published.
    • Remember that staff must also give their permission if you want to publish photos you have taken of them.
    • You should remove content you have published if the person concerned asks you to. If someone has posted pictures of you online without your permission, you can ask them to delete them. If they do not listen, you can contact: www.slettmeg.no.

    Audio recordings
    It is not illegal to make recordings of conversations in which you take part for private use. However, publishing and sharing them requires the consent of the person you are speaking with. Secretly recording conversations in which you do not take part is illegal.

    Have you worked in healthcare or received healthcare outside the Nordic countries during the past year?

    This may include, for example, a hospital stay, extensive outpatient treatment or a visit to the dentist. In that case, your GP must test you for bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics (such as MRSA).

    Ask your GP to send you the test results before your appointment with us, and bring them with you when you come to the hospital.

    If you are coming for a day visit or an admission, please bring the following to the hospital:

    • Bring indoor shoes, a change of clothes and toiletries
    • Bring your regular medication. It may take some time to obtain the same medication from the pharmacy.
    • Bring a medication list/overview of your regular medication
    • Medical equipment for daily use

    From time to time, we need a room for rest and reflection. We have three such rooms available for you and your relatives. The rooms are open to everyone, regardless of their beliefs or faith.

    In Arendal, you will find the hospital’s quiet room/chapel on the basement level of the main building. In Kristiansand, the room is on the ground floor of the main building, north entrance. Both rooms are open 24 hours a day. In Flekkefjord, the chapel is by the car park, to the left of the main entrance.

    A memorial service can also be held in the chapel following a death. Please contact the hospital chaplains to arrange this.

    Eg Church in Kristiansand is open on weekdays from 08:00 to 18:00 for anyone who would like a space for quiet and reflection. Open from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekends.

    Kiosk
    You will find the kiosk in the lobby on the 1st floor.

    The kiosk sells items such as newspapers, magazines, fruit, chocolate, biscuits, ice cream, soft drinks, cards, flowers, some toiletries and various gift items.

    You can also buy buns, chicken wraps, rolls, salads, calzone, panini and hot dogs.

    Opening hours:
    Monday–Friday: 07:00–21:00
    Saturday and Sunday: 09:00–20:00

    Parking at Sørlandet Hospital is subject to a fee Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00. Anyone wishing to park on the hospital grounds must follow the signs and instructions on the payment machines.

    At the hospitals in Arendal and Kristiansand, you can pay for parking using EasyPark (mobile app) or by card at other locations. Check the signs for payment options and time limits.

    At the hospital in Kristiansand, you can register your parking via the EasyPark app, at the machine where you park, or on the Flowbird website.

    Register payment on the website

    Map of parking spaces at Eg in Kristiansand
     

    At the hospital in Arendal, cameras read vehicle registration numbers when vehicles enter and exit the parking garage through the Autopay service. Follow the signs and read the instructions.

    Pay at the payment machine

    If you have not created a profile onAutopay.io​, you can pay at the machine by the main entrance. Enter the vehicle registration number. You can pay by card.

    Pay automatically

    Register as a customer with your registration number and bank card at www.autopay.io. Once registered, you will be charged automatically every time you park in the parking garage.

    At certain times, for example when there is a lot of snow, it can be difficult to find a parking space. We therefore recommend that you allow plenty of time.

    For electric cars:

    Electric cars are charged a fee from the first hour.

    Do you need to charge your car? Not all our hospital sites have charging stations, and those that do have a limited number. You therefore cannot count on being able to charge your car while you are inside as a patient or visitor. You can view all charging stations here:

    All charging stations on one map – Norwegian EV Association​

    Blood donors can park free of charge at the hospital.
    Contact the blood bank for more information.


    Parents/guardians of children (under 18) who are staying in hospital for more than 14 dayscan park free of charge for the remainder of the child’s stay. This also applies if the child’s stay began at another hospital. Contact the hospital department for more information.

    A valid disabled parking permit entitles you to free parking in designated spaces
    Contact the Service Desk to register your disabled parking permit. Vehicles displaying a disabled parking permit are exempt from time limits unless otherwise indicated on the sign.

    Parking for expectant mothers in Kristiansand
    Expectant mothers can park free of charge outside the Women’s Department at the hospital in Kristiansand. The maximum parking time is 2 hours.

    Care allowance compensates for lost income when you care for a child who needs continuous supervision and care due to illness or injury. Read more about, among other things,care allowance, attendance and basic benefitsandNational Insurance benefitsat NAV.

    The Breathing Space is a sanctuary for children and young people whose seriously ill parents or siblings are hospitalised, or who are themselves admitted to the hospital in Arendal. The hospital departments have a key to the room and can provide more information about the service. The room is on the basement level of Wing C and has, among other things, a TV, computer and games.

    Smoking can cause discomfort to others. Thank you for being considerate and helping Sørlandet Hospital maintain a smoke-free environment.

    The Service Desk in Arendal is located just by the main entrance. You can contact us here with questions about your appointment at the hospital.

    Opening hours:
    Weekdays: 07:00–21:00.
    Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 09:00–20:00.

    Need someone to talk to? Our hospital chaplains have extensive experience supporting people in a range of life situations. They meet you on your terms, regardless of faith, beliefs or outlook on life. The hospital chaplains are available around the clock, every day of the week, for patients, relatives and staff.

    Would you like to get in touch? You can ask hospital staff for help or call the switchboard on 38 07 30 00.

    The hospital chaplains can also put you in touch with other faith and belief communities.

    If you need an interpreter, please notify the hospital well in advance of your appointment. The health service covers the cost of the interpreter.Helsenorge.no

    Patients not fluent in Norwegian are entitled to an interpreter.Helsenorge.no/interpreter

    All visitors can use the hospital’s free wireless internet.

    Look for HSO-Gjest in your network list and follow the login instructions.

    If you cannot find the network, you are in an area that has not yet been equipped.

    If your child has been exposed to chickenpox or has chickenpox, please contact us. Your scheduled appointment/admission will then need to be postponed. This also applies if you are visiting the paediatric and adolescent department. Chickenpox can be dangerous for some of our patients.

  • Contact the Department of Neurology, Kristiansand

    Where to report

    Sørlandet Hospital Kristiansand:
    Neurology outpatient clinic, 1st floor.
    Sørlandet Hospital Arendal:
    Medical/neurology outpatient clinic, 2nd floor: 2E.

    Address

    Visiting hours

    • Today
      • 14:00–16:00
      • 18:00–19:00
    En by omgitt av trær og en elv

    Sørlandet Hospital Kristiansand

    Egsveien 100, building 10

    Egsveien 100, building 10, 4615 Kristiansand

    Find your way

    Transport

    You can reach our locations by public transport. Visit Agder public transport to find your route:akt.no

    You may be entitled to reimbursement of necessary expenses when travelling to and from your place of treatment.

    As a general rule, you should use public transport, and you will have to pay a co-payment. To get reimbursed for travel expenses you have paid, you must complete a travel reimbursement form and send it toPatient travel.

    The hospital bus provides transport for patients between the hospitals in Arendal and Kristiansand.

    There is also a return service between Vigeland, Mandal and Kristiansand.

    See timetables

     

    Practical information

    At the hospital pharmacy in Kristiansand, you can fill prescriptions and buy pharmacy products.

    You can find us on the 1st floor of the main building, right by the entrance.
    Open every weekday from 08:30 to 16:30.

    Kristiansand Hospital Pharmacy

    Does your appointment time not suit you? If you receive your appointment letter digitally via helsenorge.no, you can now send a message directly to the department you are visiting if you need a new appointment time. You must be a registered user of Helsenorge to access this service.
    You can also contact the department where you have an appointment or call the switchboard at: 38 07 30 00
    ​

    Children and young people are affected when someone in the family is ill, and they need to understand what is happening. You may be a patient yourself, a relative of a patient, or a parent of sick children who have siblings. We at the hospital will help ensure that the children and young people in your family are well cared for.

    Children as next of kin


    Visiting hours may vary between departments and locations. Please check with the department where you have your appointment for more information.

    See an overview of the hospital’s departments

    General visiting hours:

    Arendal:
    17:00–19:00 on weekdays
    14:00–16:00 and 18:00–19:00 on weekends and public holidays

    Flekkefjord:
    14:00–15:00 and 18:00–19:00
    Maternity ward: 17:00–19:00 (siesta/no visitors: 14:00–16:00)

    Kristiansand:
    17:00–19:00 on weekdays
    14:00–16:00 and 18:00–19:00 on weekends and public holidays

    Postnatal ward: 16:00–18:00 every day for the newborn’s healthy siblings.

    Most inpatient wards in Kristiansand have a small collection of books that patients and relatives can borrow. Contact your department for more information and assistance.

    Many people wish to bring flowers when visiting a patient in hospital, but due to allergies and the risk of infection, several of our departments are flower-free. If you would like to bring the patient a gift, we would appreciate it if you chose something other than flowers.

    Some patients are also allergic to perfume or perfumed creams. Please take this into consideration.

    Many patients and relatives wish to take photos/videos or blog about their time in hospital. This is of course permitted, as long as you respect the privacy of other patients and staff.

    Here are a couple of helpful tips on using social media for patients and relatives:

    • Be considerate of others. You must obtain consent if you wish to take photos or videos of patients or staff. All patients have the right to privacy while in hospital.
    • Parents/guardians decide whether you may take photos of children or publish photos of their children online. Parents should consider what is best for the child. Once a child has turned 12, their views must be given considerable weight. Once a child has turned 15, they decide for themselves whether they are comfortable being photographed and whether the photos may be published.
    • Remember that staff must also give their permission if you wish to publish photos you have taken of them.
    • You should remove content you have published if the person concerned asks you to. If someone has posted photos of you online without permission, you can ask them to delete them. If they do not comply, you can contact: www.slettmeg.no.

    Audio recordings
    It is not illegal to make recordings of conversations you take part in for private use. However, publishing and sharing them requires consent from the person you are speaking with. Secretly recording conversations you are not part of is illegal.

    Our hairdresser is located on the third floor of the hospital’s main building and is open to everyone. If needed, the hairdresser can come to the department. The hairdresser also fits wigs. Opening hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 09:00 to 16:00.
    To book an appointment: 94 81 59 01 

    See alsowww.harspesialisten.noto book an appointment.

    Have you worked in healthcare or received healthcare outside the Nordic countries during the past year?

    This may include a hospital admission, extensive outpatient treatment or a visit to the dentist. In that case, your GP must test you for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (such as MRSA).

    Ask your GP to send you the test results before your appointment with us and bring them with you when you come to the hospital.

    Sometimes we need a room for rest and reflection. We have three such rooms available for you and your relatives. The rooms are open to everyone, regardless of beliefs or religion.

    In Arendal, you will find the hospital’s quiet room/chapel on the basement floor of the main building. In Kristiansand, the room is on the first floor of the main building, north entrance. Both rooms are open 24 hours a day. In Flekkefjord, the chapel is by the car park, to the left of the main entrance.

    Memorial services can also be held in the chapel in the event of a death. Please contact the hospital chaplains to arrange this.

    Eg Church in Kristiansand is open every weekday from 08:00 to 18:00 for those who would like a quiet place for reflection. Open from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekends.

    ​Kiosk
    The kiosk is on the ground floor in the main building’s lobby at Eg.

    Opening hours:
    Monday–Friday: 08:00–20:00
    Saturday and Sunday: 09:30–20:00

    At the kiosk, you can buy newspapers, weekly magazines, fruit, chocolate, biscuits, ice cream, soft drinks, flowers, cards and various gift items.

    Cafeteria
    The “Kilden” cafeteria is located alongside the kiosk and has the same opening hours.

    The cafeteria serves, among other things, rolls, baguettes, salad, cakes, hamburgers and hot dogs.

    If you have a serious illness that requires treatment or follow-up over a period of time, you may be entitled to be assigned a contact doctor in the specialist health service.

    The contact doctor scheme in the specialist health service is intended to ensure that your follow-up as a patient is improved, safer and more effective. Having a contact doctor is your right as a patient and an obligation for the specialist health service.

    The contact doctor’s responsibilities

    The contact doctor has a particular responsibility for following up with you during treatment or follow-up in the specialist health service. The contact doctor’s responsibilities are to:

    • be your regular medical contact throughout your entire course of care
    • be involved in your treatment or follow-up
    • stay informed about the status of your treatment
    • help ensure that your course of care proceeds as planned
    • contact the relevant staff member / treatment unit if there are challenges with your course of care
    • provide information to you and your next of kin
    • be available to you and healthcare professionals for medical questions
    • A contact doctor does not replace your GP

    Guide to contact doctors in the specialist health service

     

    We encourage everyone to use their mobile phones considerately and be mindful of their fellow patients. It is important to put your phone on silent at night, and on silent or vibrate during the day. Out of consideration for other patients, please leave the room if you need to have a long conversation.

    Parking at Sørlandet Hospital is subject to a fee Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00. Anyone wishing to park on hospital grounds must follow the signs and instructions at the payment machines.

    At the hospitals in Arendal and Kristiansand, you can pay for parking using EasyPark (mobile app) or by card at other locations. Check the signs for payment options and time limits.

    At the hospital in Kristiansand, you can register your parking using the EasyPark app, at the machine where you park, or on the Flowbird website.

    Register and pay on the website

    Map of parking areas at Eg in Kristiansand
     

    At the hospital in Arendal, cameras read vehicles’ registration numbers as they enter and leave the parking garage using the Autopay service. Follow the signs and instructions.

    Pay at the payment machine

    If you have not created a profile onAutopay.io​, you can pay at the machine by the main entrance. Enter the vehicle’s registration number. You can pay by card.

    Pay automatically

    Register as a customer with your registration number and bank card at www.autopay.io. Once you have registered, you will pay automatically every time you park in the garage.

    At certain times, for example when there is a lot of snow, it can be difficult to find a parking space. We therefore recommend allowing plenty of time.

    For electric cars:

    Electric cars are charged a fee from the first hour.

    Do you need to charge your car? Not all our hospital sites have charging stations, and those that do have a limited number. You should therefore not count on being able to charge your car while you are inside as a patient or visitor. You can find all charging stations here:

    All charging stations on one map - Norwegian EV Association​

    Blood donors can park at the hospital free of charge.
    For more information, contact the blood bank.


    Parents/guardians of children (under 18) with a hospital stay of more than 14 dayscan park free of charge for the remainder of the child’s stay. This also applies if the child’s stay began at another hospital. Contact the hospital department for more information.

    A valid disabled parking permit entitles you to free parking in designated spaces
    Contact the Service Desk to register your disabled parking permit. Vehicles with disabled parking permits are exempt from time limits unless otherwise indicated on the signs.

    Parking for expectant mothers in Kristiansand
    Free parking is available for expectant mothers outside the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the hospital in Kristiansand. The maximum parking time is 2 hours.

    Smoking can cause discomfort to others. Thank you for being considerate and helping to keep Sørlandet Hospital a smoke-free environment.

    ​​The Service Desk in Kristiansand is located right by the main entrance. You can contact us here with questions about your appointment at the hospital.

    Opening hours:
    Weekdays: 07:30–21:00.
    Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 08:00–21:00.

    ​Would you like someone to talk to? Our hospital chaplains have extensive experience supporting people in different life situations. They meet you on your terms, regardless of your faith, beliefs or outlook on life. Hospital chaplains are available around the clock, every day of the week, to patients, next of kin and staff.

    Would you like to get in touch? You can ask hospital staff to help you or call the switchboard on 38 07 30 00.

    The hospital chaplains can also put you in touch with other faith and belief communities.

    ​If you need an interpreter, you must notify the hospital well in advance of your appointment. The healthcare service covers the cost of the interpreter.Helsenorge.no

    Patients not fluent in Norwegian are entitled to an interpreter.Helsenorge.no/interpreter

    All visitors can use free wireless internet at the hospital.

    Look for HSO-Gjest in your network settings and follow the instructions to log in.

    If you cannot find the network, you are in an area that has not yet been covered.

TEST VERSION
Machine-translated copy of sshf.no for testing only. Not official information.