This blog post is sponsored by SK Life Science, Inc.
November marks National Epilepsy Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing public understanding of epilepsy and supporting the 3.4 million Americans living with this condition. For those of us navigating life with epilepsy, it’s not just about awareness but also about advocacy, education, and creating real change. This month is a time to reflect on what advocacy and awareness really means – and why it matters every single day.
Advocacy is Personal
Epilepsy doesn’t just affect one aspect of life—it impacts everything from relationships and careers to daily routines and mental health. The unpredictability of seizures can be one of the hardest parts of living with epilepsy. Knowing that a seizure can happen at any time makes life feel unstable, especially before finding the right treatment.
However, advocacy is one thing that is within our control. By sharing experiences and raising awareness, individuals can help educate others, dispel myths, and encourage a better understanding of epilepsy. Advocacy is powerful because it transforms struggles into a tool for change, giving people living with epilepsy a platform to be heard.
What Epilepsy Awareness Means
During National Epilepsy Awareness Month, organizations, advocates, and communities come together to shine a light on the realities of living with epilepsy. Epilepsy has long been misunderstood, with outdated stereotypes and stigma making it even harder for those affected to live openly.
Awareness is more than just recognition—it’s about ensuring that people with epilepsy feel seen and supported. This month is an opportunity to educate others about the condition, from what a seizure looks like to how they can help someone during one. It’s also a time to advocate for policies that support epilepsy research, better access to healthcare, and resources for those in need.
Finding Support in the Epilepsy Community
One of the most important aspects of National Epilepsy Awareness Month is the sense of community it fosters. Living with epilepsy can feel isolating, but connecting with others who understand the journey can make all the difference. Whether through online platforms or local support groups, finding others who truly understand the ups and downs is invaluable.
As the epilepsy community works together to raise awareness, it also builds a support system that encourages everyone to be their best advocates. The power of community and shared experiences helps individuals feel less alone and more empowered to navigate their epilepsy journey.
The Role of Treatment in Managing Epilepsy
A crucial part of raising epilepsy awareness is understanding the importance of finding effective treatments and that there’s no one-size fits all approach to managing epilepsy.
For many people with epilepsy, finding the right treatment is essential to living well. XCOPRI (cenobamate tablets) CV, a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults aged 18 and older, is one of those treatment options that can play a key role in helping manage seizures.
Like any medication, XCOPRI has risks and benefits. Do not take XCOPRI if you are allergic to it or have a genetic problem (called familial short QT syndrome) that affects the electrical system of the heart. XCOPRI can have serious side effects including serious allergic reaction which may affect organs and other parts of your body like the liver or blood cells. XCOPRI may cause problems with the electrical system of the heart (QT shortening). Antiseizure drugs, including XCOPRI, may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your doctor right away if you have suicidal thoughts or actions, or new or worsening depression, anxiety, or irritability. XCOPRI may cause problems that affect your nervous system, including dizziness, trouble walking or with coordination, feeling sleepy and tired, trouble concentrating, remembering and thinking clearly, and vision problems. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how XCOPRI affects you. These are not all of XCOPRI’s side effects. I encourage you to read the Important safety information included at the end of this article.
For those struggling to control their seizures, discussing XCOPRI with a neurologist or epileptologist may be a critical step. Like any medication, XCOPRI has potential side effects, so reviewing the Important Safety Information and talking with a healthcare provider about the risks and benefits is essential.
Let’s Make a Difference This November
This National Epilepsy Awareness Month, everyone can take steps to make a difference by raising their voice to create meaningful change. Whether it’s sharing personal stories, educating others, or advocating for better support systems, every action counts. Together, the epilepsy community can work toward a future where epilepsy is better understood. For more information about epilepsy and XCOPRI, please visit XCOPRI.com.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION and INDICATION for XCOPRI® (cenobamate tablets) CV
DO NOT TAKE XCOPRI IF YOU:
- Are allergic to cenobamate or any of the other ingredients in XCOPRI.
- Have a genetic problem (called Familial Short QT syndrome) that affects the electrical system of the heart.
XCOPRI CAN CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING:
Allergic reactions: XCOPRI can cause serious skin rash or other serious allergic reactions which may affect organs and other parts of your body like the liver or blood cells. You may or may not have a rash with these types of reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away and go to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following: swelling of your face, eyes, lips, or tongue, trouble swallowing or breathing, a skin rash, hives, fever, swollen glands, or sore throat that does not go away or comes and goes, painful sores in the mouth or around your eyes, yellowing of your skin or eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, severe fatigue or weakness, severe muscle pain, frequent infections, or infections that do not go away. Take XCOPRI exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. It is very important to increase your dose of XCOPRI slowly, as instructed by your healthcare provider.
QT shortening: XCOPRI may cause problems with the electrical system of the heart (QT shortening). Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of QT shortening including fast heartbeat (heart palpitations) that last a long time or fainting.
Suicidal behavior and ideation: Antiepileptic drugs, including XCOPRI, may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempting to commit suicide; new or worse depression, anxiety, or irritability; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; trouble sleeping (insomnia); acting aggressive; being angry or violent; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania); or other unusual changes in behavior or mood.
Nervous system problems: XCOPRI may cause problems that affect your nervous system. Symptoms of nervous system problems include: dizziness, trouble walking or with coordination, feeling sleepy and tired, trouble concentrating, remembering, and thinking clearly, and vision problems. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how XCOPRI affects you.
Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines that can make you sleepy or dizzy while taking XCOPRI without first talking to your healthcare provider.
DISCONTINUATION:
Do not stop taking XCOPRI without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping XCOPRI suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
XCOPRI may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how XCOPRI works. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider. Tell healthcare providers about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.
PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
XCOPRI may cause your birth control medicine to be less effective. Talk to your health care provider about the best birth control method to use.
Talk to your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if XCOPRI will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking XCOPRI. You and your healthcare provider will decide if you should take XCOPRI while you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking XCOPRI, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 18882332334 or go to www.aedpregnancyregistry.org.
Talk to your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if XCOPRI passes into breastmilk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking XCOPRI.
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:
The most common side effects in patients taking XCOPRI include dizziness, sleepiness, headache, double vision, and feeling tired.
These are not all the possible side effects of XCOPRI. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1800FDA1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
DRUG ABUSE:
XCOPRI is a federally controlled substance (CV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep XCOPRI in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away XCOPRI may harm others and is against the law.
INDICATION:
XCOPRI is a prescription medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures in adults 18 years of age and older.
It is not known if XCOPRI is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
Please see additional patient information in the Medication Guide. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your condition or your treatment.
Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.
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