Seizure Medicines
This video provides a brief overview of treatment options for epilepsy. It covers anti-seizure medication (previously AED) types and side effects.
Medication for Epilepsy
Medicine is the most common way of treating epilepsy and is almost always the first treatment tried. There are many different medicines that can prevent or stop seizures. These are called anti-seizure medications (ASMs). They will successfully control seizures for about 7 out of 10 people with epilepsy.
Some medicines tend to work better for certain kinds of seizures than for others. If one medicine fails, another may work better. A combination of medications may be tried too. The medications don’t fix the problem that causes seizures. Instead, they work to stop seizures from occurring.
Learning more in-depth information on ASMs and how to use them will help in your role during treatment. It’s important to talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of the different seizure medicines available to treat your kind of epilepsy.
Learn More:
Seizure Medication ListImportant Information
- Taking your medication regularly is essential to controlling your seizures.
- Never stop or change your medication without talking to your doctor, as this could cause a severe seizure.
Watch the Approach to Seizure Medications video below for more information.
This video explains anti-seizure medications (previously AEDs) and the process of choosing the best medicine for you.
When to Seek Specialty Care
If your seizures are difficult to control, we recommend seeking more specialized care. Difficult to control seizures are ones that continue to occur after one year or after two anti-seizure medications have been tried.
Epilepsy centers provide a team approach to caring for people with seizures and epilepsy. Testing is available to diagnose whether a person has seizures and the type of epilepsy they may have. Epilepsy experts can help explore all treatment options, including:
- New or add-on seizure medications
- Surgery
- Devices
- Dietary therapy
- Clinical trials
"The goal is to get the best seizure control possible."
Medical Therapy in Epilepsy Webinar
Medical Therapy in Epilepsy: Treatment, Side Effects, Drug Interactions
Barry Gidal PharmD, RPh, and Elaine Kiriakopoulos MD, MSc, spoke to behavioral health providers about medical therapy in epilepsy. The goal was to improve their understanding of seizure treatment, medication side effects, and drug interactions to help them meet the needs of their patients living with epilepsy.
Watch the recording from September 19, 201 and learn more about the webinar.
This webinar shares information about medical therapy options, specifically about anti-seizure medications. Learn about treatment, side effects, drug interactions and more.
Resources
Epilepsy Centers
Epilepsy centers provide you with a team of specialists to help you diagnose your epilepsy and explore treatment options.
Epilepsy Medication
Find in-depth information on anti-seizure medications so you know what to ask your doctor.
Epilepsy and Seizures Helpline
Call our Epilepsy and Seizures Helpline and talk with an epilepsy information specialist or submit a question online.
Tools & Resources
Get information, tips, and more to help you manage your epilepsy.
Related Stories
Press Releases
New Podcast Series Highlights Innovation, Advocacy, and Community Impact at the Epilepsy Foundation of America
Read Story Press Releases
113 Epilepsy Organizations Unite to Express Concerns about Leadership Change at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Read Story