Although anti-seizure medication will not cure epilepsy, it is designed to prevent seizures from happening. For about 70% of those with epilepsy, good seizure control can be achieved through taking medication.
Treating a patient with anti-seizure medication should be decided by both the patient (plus parent/guardian if the patient is unable to give consent) and the doctor. However this decision may be affected by:
- The type of seizure that the patient has experienced
- How often seizures occur
- The epilepsy syndrome (if it has been established)
- Results or findings from the EEG or MRI
Some medications work better for certain types of seizures than for others. Finding the right medication can be lengthy and frustrating because the first drug may not be the best option. There is no test to identify which drug will be best.
NB Young Epilepsy are currently reviewing our information portfolio which will be updated in October 2023.