Most people with epilepsy can be successfully treated with medicines known as anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). AEDs do not cure epilepsy, but can prevent seizures from occurring.
There are many different AEDs.Generally, theywork by changing the levels of the chemicals in your brain that conduct electrical impulses. This reduces the chance of a seizure.
The drugs used to treat epilepsy are often referred to as first-line and second-line drugs. This does not mean that one type of drug is better than the other, but it refers to when the drugs were first introduced. First-line drugs are older and have treated epilepsy for decades. Second-line drugs are much newer.
The type of drug prescribed depends largely on the kind of seizures that you have.
The older first-line AEDs include sodium valproate, carbamazepine,phenytoin andphenobarbital.
Newer second-line AEDs are recommended if there is a reason why you cannot take AEDs, if there is concern about an older AED interacting with other drugs (such as the contraceptive pill), or if you are thinking of having a baby.
Newer AEDs include gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine,topamax and vigabatrin. Levetiracetam is not recommended for children, but the others are recommended if older AEDs do not benefit children with epilepsy.
Your specialist will start you on a low dose of the AED, then gradually increase it within safe limits until your seizures stop. If one AED does not control seizures, another will be tried by gradually introducing the new drug and slowly reducing the dose of the old drug.
The aim is to achieve maximum seizure control with minimum side effects, using the lowest possible dose of a single drug. Trying a different type of AED is preferable to taking more than one AED, although a combination of drugs may be necessary to control seizures.
Follow your specialist's advice as switching brands or formulations could lead to seizures.
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Epilepsy - Treatment - NHS Choices - Your health, your choices