23rd February 2024

A 75-year-old man is seen for the first time in the epilepsy clinic after a blackout episode whilst walking in the park.

A 75-year-old man is seen for the first time in the epilepsy clinic after a blackout episode whilst walking in the park. The son, who witnessed the incident, described tonic-clonic activity lasting 2-3 minutes. The neurologist performs a systemic examination and neuroimaging and decides to start the patient on sodium valproate for likely generalised tonic-clonic epilepsy.

Select one option which correctly describes an element of the monitoring required during treatment.