Patient/caregiver was educated on how to take Primidone as follows:
- Take this medication as ordered by your physician. Do not change the dose and frequency on this medication without consulting your doctor. Take the medication dose for the duration prescribed without fail.
- Take the medication dose at the same time, every day, to avoid forgetting the intake of medication. Taking the medication at regularly spaced intervals help maintain appropriate blood levels of primidone needed for control of seizures.
- Primidone use, especially on empty stomach, can induce some nausea and vomiting. Taking dose of primidone with a glass of water, after having some food or a snack can help avoid having unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms with the medication.
- Primidone intake can induce some dizziness and results in sleep. Starting primidone on a low dose and gradually increasing it to the desired dose for seizure control can help accommodate to the dizzy symptoms. If the dizziness becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered.
- Primidone use can result in depression of respiratory center in the brain and shallow breathing. Do not take primidone with alcohol or opioid pain medications, such as, hydrocodone and codeine, as these products also depress the respirations. Using primidone with these products can result in their effects on respiration getting added up, result in severe respiratory depression and thus, can be fatal. A number of OTC cough medications, antihistamines, and antianxiety medications, also share the depressing effect on respirations and so, must be avoided taking along with primidone.
- When taking primidone as an oral liquid/suspension, use a measuring spoon/cup to measure the correct dose being taken, in order to avoid risk for over/under dosing. Also, do not forgot to shake the suspension well before you use it.
- Take the primidone regular tablet as a whole, using a glass of water. If you encounter difficulty swallowing the whole tablet, you may cut the tablet and swallow it in pieces with a glass of water. You can also crush the regular tablet and sprinkle the powder on a spoon of apple sauce or jello or pudding, to facilitate an easy swallow.
- Primidone can take some time to fairly adjust to your body and reach a therapeutic level in your blood, before preventing seizure episodes. Do not discontinue taking the medication without your physician’s consult, as you failed to see the desired result immediately after taking the medication.
- While taking primidone as ordered, notify your doctor of any continuing episodes of seizures, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised.
- Your physician could change the dose of primidone, based on the relief obtained or side-effects developed. So, maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments, to update on the relief from symptoms. Be accommodative to the plan of dose changes, if need be, until you show an optimum response.
- Primidone only prevents the seizures from happening by reducing the excitation and rapid firing of the nerves. But, primidone does not fix the actual condition causing the seizures. Continue taking primidone as ordered, even if you experience relief from the symptoms. Abrupt discontinuation on primidone intake can result in recurrence of seizure episodes and life-threatening status epilepticus. Discontinuing the medication should only be on your physician’s recommendation.
- Sudden discontinuation of primidone intake, after prolonged use, can result in onset of severe withdrawal symptoms, such as, sleep disturbances, hallucinations, and anxiety. This can also increase the potential for recurrence of seizures and life threatening status epilepticus. Discontinuation on primidone use must be slow and gradual, using tapering doses.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
