Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking tiagabine as follows:
- Tiagabine use can result in new seizures or activation of seizures in individuals with history. Notify your doctor of any new or worsening episodes of seizures, deteriorating nerve pain and discomfort, or other continuing unpleasant side-effects, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised. Maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments, to update on the relief from symptoms. Your physician could change the dose of tiagabine, based on the relief obtained or side-effects developed. Be accommodative to the plan of frequent dose changes, until you show an optimum response.
- Tiagabine use in expectant mothers could harm the unborn baby and result in birth defects. Discuss with your physician regarding your pregnancy and possible risk with tiagabine use, if you are being newly started on tiagabine. Tiagabine use could be avoided during pregnancy and in women planning to get pregnant. Women in the child bearing age group, taking tiagabine on a regular basis, must employ effective contraceptive measures in order to avoid getting pregnant. Women getting pregnant while on regular intake of tiagabine, must immediately notify the physician regarding the pregnancy, for any appropriate changes to be made on the care plan.
- Tiagabine use can result in poor motor coordination and unsteadiness, with increased fall risk and accidents. Confusion and dizziness with tiagabine use, can add to the motor incoordination, thus enhancing the fall risk significantly. Observing compliance with general fall prevention measures and DME recommended, such as, cane or walker, can help prevent falls and injuries.
