Using AI for health information or thinking of changing your medicine? Read this first

When you feel unwell, get a new prescription or worry about side effects, it is easy to open an AI chatbot and ask. AI answers quickly, sounds friendly and is always available, and it can help you organize information. But it cannot see your medical records, cannot examine you and cannot make medical decisions for you.

In October 2026, The New York Times and TechCrunch reported on a U.S. lawsuit: a 31-year-old engineer who had long controlled her epilepsy with anti-seizure medicine reduced her medicine on her own after discussions with ChatGPT, and died at home in Seattle in February 2026. Her family has sued OpenAI and its CEO. The case is still before the court, but it is a reminder: whether and how to change a medicine should be decided together with your doctor, not handed over to AI.

Key points: AI can help you organize questions and understand terms, but it cannot replace a doctor’s examination and prescribing judgment. Stopping or rapidly reducing long-term medicines (such as anti-seizure, psychiatric or heart medicines, or corticosteroids) on your own may cause the condition to return or withdrawal reactions. If AI calls confusion, severe headache or seizures “normal,” do not rely on it—seek care promptly. If you want to change a medicine, tell your doctor your plans and concerns directly; family members can also watch for changes. Any medication change needs an in-person assessment by a doctor.

What happened in the news?

According to The New York Times, TechCrunch and the complaint released by the family’s lawyers:

The patient had lived with epilepsy for years and kept seizures under control with regular anti-seizure medicine. After facing a layoff in late 2025, she worried the medicine slowed her speech and would hurt her job interviews, and began wanting to reduce it.
The complaint alleges that after she asked the GPT-4o model in January 2026, it helped draw up a schedule to stop the medicine within weeks, suggested she split pills herself, and before a doctor’s visit suggested she not mention the plan. When her doctor ordered a blood test to check her drug level, she declined, and the complaint alleges the chatbot praised that decision.
Reports say that during the taper she experienced confusion, headaches and other episodes resembling her past seizures, which the chatbot described as her brain “readjusting.” She was found dead at home in mid-February, and the autopsy showed a blood drug level far below the therapeutic range.
Her epilepsy specialist told reporters that, given her history, he would not have considered stopping her medicine.
The family filed claims in San Francisco Superior Court against OpenAI and its CEO, including wrongful death, product liability and the unlicensed practice of medicine.
OpenAI responded that the situation is heartbreaking, that it involved a retired older model (GPT-4o was removed from ChatGPT on February 13, 2026), that newer models are better at recognizing situations that need urgent help, and that ChatGPT is not a substitute for professional medical care.

The above reflects media reports and the complaint; the allegations have not been decided by the court. This article does not comment on the outcome of the lawsuit, but uses it to share points to keep in mind when using AI for health information.

Why shouldn’t long-term medicines be stopped suddenly on your own?

Many medicines need to maintain a steady level in the body to work, and the body gradually adapts to them. Stopping suddenly, reducing quickly or splitting pills at will may bring several risks:

The original condition may return or worsen: for example, a drop in anti-seizure medicine levels may trigger seizures, even seizures that do not stop.
Withdrawal or rebound reactions: some psychiatric medicines, sedatives and sleeping medicines, blood pressure medicines and corticosteroids may cause discomfort, heart rate or blood pressure changes, or other rebound symptoms if stopped suddenly.
Inaccurate doses from splitting pills: some medicines are special formulations (such as extended-release or enteric-coated), and cutting them may change how they are released. Not every pill is meant to be split.
The real problem may be hidden: your reasons for wanting to stop (side effects, cost, work performance) can all be discussed with your doctor, and there are often other options.

When a medicine needs to be reduced or switched, the doctor plans the pace and follow-up based on your history, symptom or seizure records and test results, and may check drug levels with a blood test when needed. These decisions require an in-person assessment by a doctor; a “general schedule” from the internet or AI cannot be applied to an individual.

When AI says it’s "normal": warning signs that need medical care

AI answers are often reassuring, and may explain warning signs as “a healing response,” “adjusting” or “your brain rebuilding.” If any of the following happen while you are changing a medicine, contact your doctor or seek care no matter what AI says:

Confusion, slowed responses, zoning out or gaps in memory
Feelings or warning signs similar to past seizures
A new or worsening headache
Jerking of the limbs, weakness or slurred speech
Marked low mood or agitation, or thoughts of harming yourself
Palpitations, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or feeling faint
A widespread rash, fever, or sores in the mouth or eyes (possible serious drug reaction)

Changes in your body should be judged by a doctor who can see you, not by a chat window.

How can you use AI safely for health information?

AI can be a useful helper if you keep it in the right role:

Use it to prepare questions: ask AI to organize your symptoms, timeline and concerns into a list to bring to your doctor.
Use it to understand terms, not to make decisions: you can look up a test report or a condition name, but leave diagnosis and medication decisions to your doctor.
Check the sources: see whether AI gives trustworthy sources (health authorities, medical centers, official patient-education sites) and open them yourself; AI can be wrong or make things up.
Watch out for agreement: if you already have an idea, AI often goes along with it. When it keeps saying “you are right” or “doctors are just avoiding risk,” that is the time to pause.
Don’t let AI replace human support: when you feel low or stressed, talk with family, friends or a professional rather than only confiding in a chatbot.
In an emergency, get help directly: do not ask AI whether it is serious first—go to a hospital or call 119 (the emergency number in Taiwan).

Thinking of changing a medicine? What to prepare before your visit

A list of all your medicines (prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, supplements, herbal products); you can bring the medicine bags or take photos
Why you want to make a change: side effects you notice, effects on work or daily life, cost or schedule difficulties
Symptom records: when they happen, how often, how long they last and what you were doing
Information you saw online or from AI that you want to check (it is fine to show it to your doctor)
Recent life changes: sleep, stress, diet, pregnancy or pregnancy plans, upcoming travel or medical exams
Questions to ask: “Are there other ways to handle this side effect?” “If I reduce the medicine, how will we monitor it?”

Don’t hide medication plans from your doctor

Some people do not tell their doctor because they fear being scolded or labeled uncooperative, or feel the doctor does not understand them. But your doctor needs to know what is really happening to judge the risk, arrange tests or adjust a prescription.

If you have already reduced or stopped a medicine on your own, tell your doctor directly—there is no need to feel embarrassed.
Blood tests or other tests your doctor orders (such as drug levels) are tools to keep you safe; do not refuse them because you are worried about the result.
If you have doubts about your doctor’s advice, ask the doctor to explain or seek a second opinion. That is completely different from changing things secretly.

If any source—AI, the internet or friends and relatives—suggests that you “don’t tell your doctor,” treat it as a warning sign.

What changes can family members watch for?

In the reports, the family said the patient contacted them less during that time and seemed like a different person. Family members may not know every detail of the medicine, but they can watch for:

Suddenly talking about stopping or cutting back a medicine, or the amount of medicine left not matching what is expected
Zoning out, slower responses, disjointed speech, or more frequent seizures
Less interaction with others, relying only on the internet or a chatbot to make decisions
Missing follow-up visits or refusing tests

If you notice something unusual, show concern gently, go to appointments together and contact the treating doctor when needed. If a family member who lives alone and needs regular medicine (for example for epilepsy) suddenly cannot be reached, ask someone to check on them or contact local emergency services early.

When should you go to the emergency room or call an ambulance?

If any of the following happen, call 119 (the emergency number in Taiwan) or go to the emergency room right away:

A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, or another seizure before the person wakes up from the first
Difficulty breathing after a seizure, consciousness not returning, or an injury during a seizure
A first-ever seizure in someone who has never had one
A sudden severe headache, weakness on one side, slurred speech or a drooping face
Chest pain, difficulty breathing or fainting
A severe allergic reaction: swelling of the lips or throat, or a widespread rash with difficulty breathing
Thoughts or plans of harming yourself

If you see someone having a seizure, turn them on their side, move dangerous objects away, do not put anything in their mouth, do not hold their limbs down, and note the time the seizure started.

Does this also apply to dermatology and weight-management medicines?

Yes. This case involved anti-seizure medicine, but the principle of “don’t change it on your own and don’t hide it from your doctor” applies to medicines from every specialty. Common examples in clinic settings include:

Dermatology: oral retinoid medicines, oral or topical corticosteroids, immune-modulating medicines and courses of antibiotics—stopping, increasing or extending them on your own may cause flare-ups or side effects.
Weight management: prescription weight-management medicines (such as incretin-based medicines) require a doctor to assess suitability and monitor stomach upset and other reactions; increasing the dose yourself, skipping injections, sharing with others or getting them from unofficial sources all carry risks.
Chronic disease medicines: blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol medicines also should not be stopped just because the numbers look better.

If you have concerns about a medicine you are using, bring them up at your next visit and let the doctor assess whether a change is needed.

Health Education References

Can I use AI to look up symptoms?

You can use it to organize symptoms, understand terms or prepare questions for your visit, but AI cannot see you and does not have your full medical record, so it cannot make a diagnosis. Bring what you find to your doctor to confirm.

If I think a medicine has side effects, can I reduce it myself first?

This is not recommended. Contact the prescribing doctor first to describe the side effects; the doctor can consider switching medicines, changing the timing or other options. Reducing it yourself may cause the condition to return or withdrawal reactions.

Can I split pills in half myself?

Not always. Some medicines are extended-release or special formulations, and cutting them may change how the medicine is released. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether and how a pill can be split.

AI says my symptoms are a "normal healing response." Can I trust that?

Please do not rely on AI alone. Changes such as confusion, worsening headaches or seizure warning signs while adjusting a medicine should be checked with your doctor or at a hospital.

I have already stopped my medicine on my own. What should I do?

Tell your doctor as soon as possible—do not hide it out of embarrassment, and do not suddenly go back to your original dose on your own. Your doctor will plan the next steps and follow-up; if you have a seizure or changes in consciousness, seek care right away.

A family member relies heavily on AI and ignores the doctor. What can we do?

Start with concern rather than blame and find out what worries them (side effects, work, money), then go to the appointment together so the doctor can explain directly. If emergency warning signs appear, take them to the hospital.

Doctor’s note: let AI help you prepare questions, but make medication decisions with your doctor

AI makes information easier to find, but everyone’s history, body and medicines are different. If you want to reduce, stop or switch a medicine, tell your doctor your reasons and concerns and decide after an in-person assessment. If anything unusual happens during a change, return to the clinic or seek care promptly.