This information is for children and young people with epilepsy. Parents and carers may also find this information helpful.
On this page we talk about the different types of anti-seizure medications. We also talk about who can have anti-seizure medications and how well they work. You may also hear them being called anti-epileptic drugs.
Use this page as a general guide. Talk to a health professional for more help.
Seizures are sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain. They change how the brain works for a short time. Anti-seizure medications (meds) work by stopping these sudden bursts of activity. This makes seizures less likely to happen.
Some anti-seizure meds improve how the chemical processes in the brain work. Others work by blocking or limiting the effects of chemical processes in the brain.
Which type of anti-seizure meds you have will depend on the type of seizures you have. You may have to try a few anti-seizure meds, or a combination of meds, before you find something that works well for you.
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There are many different anti-seizure meds available, but they won’t all be suitable for everyone. Your doctor will talk to you about which meds are suitable for you.
Most anti-seizure meds come in the form of tablets or liquid that you swallow. Or granules that you mix with food or water.
When you’re first diagnosed, your doctor will probably suggest you start with one anti-seizure med. This is called monotherapy. If the first med you try does not work, your doctor will talk to you about what you can try next. This may be on its own or as an add-on.
If you’re at risk of having many seizures (cluster) or seizures that last a long time (prolonged), your doctor may suggest you have an emergency plan.
As well as your standard anti-seizure meds, which is sometimes called maintenance medication, you may also need to have emergency anti-seizure meds. These meds may include:
Talk to your doctor if you’re worried about emergency anti-seizure meds. They will explain if you need an emergency management plan. They will try to answer any questions that you have.
Your doctor will use the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines to help them decide which treatment to choose for you. They may start by offering you a single anti-seizure med. You may have to try a few different treatments, or a combination of treatments, before you find something that works well for you.
Which anti-seizure meds you are offered will depend on different things. For example your age, sex, weight, the type of seizures you have and any other health conditions you may have.
For more information about which treatments may be suitable for your seizures, read the information about your seizure type. Or speak to your doctor.
Most people can control and reduce their seizures with the right treatment and support. Anti-seizure meds work very well at controlling seizures. And for some people they may help to prevent or stop seizures altogether.
But, like all medicines, anti-seizure meds also come with possible side effects. Not everyone will get side effects, but if you do, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. They’ll be able to help you manage side effects. Or they may suggest you swap to a different anti-seizure med.
Anti-seizure meds may not work so well if you’re drinking too much alcohol or taking street drugs. For example, such as cocaine or ketamine. Alcohol and drugs raise your risk of seizures and can make medication side effects worse. Read more about how anti-seizure meds interact with alcohol and drugs on our page about anti-seizure medication side effects.
It’s important to always take your meds correctly, at the right time and at the right dose. Taking your meds properly, and sticking with them, will help keep your seizures under control.
But sometimes you may forget to take your meds. If this happens, take your meds as soon as you remember. Or, if it’s already near the time of your next dose, just carry on taking your meds as normal. Don’t take double the amount. Read more about what to do if you miss a dose on our page – Stopping, changing and reducing epilepsy medications.
Remember, even if your seizures stop and you feel well, it’s important to keep taking your meds.
Never change the dose or stop taking your meds without talking to your doctor first. Or, if you’re not sure how to take your meds correctly, read the leaflet that comes with them. You can also talk to your doctor or a pharmacist. They will be able to help and support you.
Don't let holidays or changes in routines get in the way of taking your meds. This blog has some easy tips for staying on track.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with epilepsy, or who has had two or more seizures, should be offered anti-seizure meds. Talk to your doctor about your own situation and what medication choices are available to you.
Not all anti-seizure meds are suitable for everyone. For example, some anti-seizure meds may not be suitable for people who are pregnant or plan to be in the future. Some anti-seizure meds may also affect how well hormonal contraceptive medication (birth control) works. It could also affect pregnancy and birth. Read more about how anti-seizure medication can affect contraception and pregnancy.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and are registered with a GP you can have free prescriptions.
If you live in England, you get free prescriptions if you’re under 16. You also get free prescriptions if you’re aged 16 to 18 and in full-time education.
You can also have free prescriptions if you take anti-seizure meds.
To get your prescriptions for free, you’ll need to apply for a medical exemption certificate. This looks a bit like a credit card, which you can keep with you in your wallet or purse. Show the card to pharmacy staff when you go to collect your meds. Or, if you use an online pharmacy, put in the exemption certificate details at the registration or checkout stage.
A medical exemption certificate needs to be renewed every five years. It’s your job to make sure you renew it. Set a reminder in your phone so you don’t forget when the certificate expires.
Check if you can get your prescription meds for free and apply for a medical exemption certificate on the NHS website. Or if you have any questions, ask your nurse, doctor or a pharmacist for help.
Each med is different and how long it takes to start working will vary from person-to-person. Usually, your doctor will start by giving you a low dose. Then, they may change the dose until it starts to work well. This allows your body to get used to the medication. And reduces the chance of getting medication side effects.
You may also have to try a few different anti-seizure meds, or a combination of different types before you find something that works well. This can take time to get right. But it’s important to stick with it and don’t suddenly stop or change your meds without talking to your doctor first.
Some people have epilepsy that does not respond well to anti-seizure meds. This is sometimes called drug-resistant epilepsy or refractory epilepsy. It is also sometimes described as ‘hard to treat’ or ‘complex’ epilepsy. It means that people with epilepsy still have seizures even if they’ve tried two or more anti-seizure meds. This happens in three out of 10 people with epilepsy.
It’s possible for anyone with epilepsy to develop drug resistance. But some people may have a higher risk than others. Some reasons for this include:
Remember, even if you’re at an increased risk, it does not mean that your epilepsy will become drug resistant. Everyone responds differently to anti-seizure meds. It’s normal to try a few different types before you find something that works well for you.
If anti-seizure meds haven’t worked well at controlling or stopping your seizures, your doctor should refer you to a specialist. A specialist epilepsy doctor will review your meds and talk to you about other treatment options. For example, surgery.
Your doctor should suggest having a monitoring review with you every year. This will usually happen at your GP practice or at the hospital. At your monitoring review, the doctor may talk to you about the following things:
They may also talk to you about emergency seizure management plans, contraception and pregnancy planning, and your risk of other health conditions.
Your appointment is also a chance for you, or your parent or carer, to ask questions or talk about any worries you have. Your healthcare team will be able to give you information that is specific to your type of seizures. They should signpost you to other places where you can get support. Remember, the healthcare professionals involved in your care are there to help and support you.
www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk
Information and support for children and their family about how children can take medication safely
Up-to-date guidelines for children and young people with epilepsy.
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2. Subbarao BS, Silverman A, Eapen BC. Seizure Medications. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed January 22, 2026. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482269/
3. NICE. Epilepsies in children, young people and adults. Published online 2022.
4. Heenan N, Coleman K, Tittensor P, Shepley S. Epilepsy in Children and Young People. Karger; 2024.
5. Laue-Gizzi H. Discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs in adults with epilepsy. Aust Prescr. 2021;44(2):53-56. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2021.005
6. Lawrence T. Advice for patients during a medicines shortage.
7. Emergency prescriptions. nhs.uk. January 22, 2024. Accessed March 30, 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/emergency-prescriptions/
8. Epilepsy. nhs.uk. October 23, 2017. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/
9. Epilepsy. Accessed January 20, 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy
10. Chen Y, Li W, Lu C, et al. Efficacy, tolerability and safety of add-on third-generation antiseizure medications in treating focal seizures worldwide: a network meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled trials. eClinicalMedicine. 2024;70. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102513
11. Gordon E, Devinsky O. Alcohol and marijuana: effects on epilepsy and use by patients with epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2001;42(10):1266-1272. doi:10.1046/j.1528-1157.2001.19301.x
12. Epilepsy in Young People - Alcohol, smoking, recreational drugs and epilepsy. Accessed January 29, 2026. https://hexi.ox.ac.uk/epilepsy-in-young-people/alcohol-smoking-recreational-drugs-and-epilepsy
13. Li Z ran, Wang C yu, Lin W wei, Chen Y ting, Liu X qin, Jiao Z. Handling Delayed or Missed Dose of Antiseizure Medications. Neurology. 2023;100(9):e921-e931. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000201604
14. Patel T, Grindrod K. Antiseizure drugs for women with epilepsy. Can Fam Physician. 2020;66(4):266-269.
15. Epilepsy - Drug treatment for epilepsy. Accessed January 22, 2026. https://www.hexi.ox.ac.uk/epilepsy/drug-treatment-for-epilepsy
16. Drug-Resistant Epilepsy // International League Against Epilepsy. Accessed February 5, 2026. https://www.ilae.org/patient-care/drug-resistant-epilepsy
17. Guery D, Rheims S. Clinical Management of Drug Resistant Epilepsy: A Review on Current Strategies. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2021;17:2229-2242. doi:10.2147/NDT.S256699
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19. Scenario: Routine epilepsy review | Management | Epilepsy | CKS | NICE. Accessed January 22, 2026. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/epilepsy/management/routine-epilepsy-review/
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Last updated July 2026.
We're currently reviewing this information. The next update will be 2029. If you would like to find out more about how we produce our information, or the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at healthinfo@youngepilepsy.org.uk
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