The information provided here is meant to give you a general idea about each of the medications listed below. Only the most general side effects are included. Ask your doctor if you need to take any special precautions. Use each of these medications as recommended by your doctor, or according to the instructions provided. If you have further questions about usage or side effects, contact your doctor.
Medications are the first line of treatment for epilepsy. Anti-epileptic medications should only be used if the diagnosis is established. The goal of medication is to prevent epileptic seizures and to decrease the frequency and severity of seizures. The type and dosage of medication given must match the type of epilepsy you have. Dosage is important. It must balance prevention of seizures with the side effects that epileptic drugs can cause.
Often, but not always, one type of medication is tried at a time until the most effective one is found. Changes in medication are often made gradually because these changes can increase the likelihood of seizures. Good control is achieved in the majority of people.
In some cases, however, anti-epileptic medications may be used in combination. In approximately 80% of people, epileptic medication is fully or partially successful in preventing seizures. Be sure to take the medication on a regular schedule.
Carbamazepine prevents seizures by reducing the excitability of nerve fibers in the brain. This medication is taken as a tablet or liquid. It is best taken at the same time or times each day. Taking carbamazepine with food or drink can help prevent stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
More serious, but less common side effects include:
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), people of Asian ancestry who have a certain gene, called HLA-B*1502, and take carbamazepine are at risk for dangerous or even fatal skin reactions. If you are of Asian descent, the FDA recommends that you get tested for this gene before taking carbamazepine. If you have been taking this medication for a few months with no skin reactions, then you are at low risk of developing these reactions. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medication.
This medication is used to control seizures in people with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare condition that causes severe seizures in childhood.
Possible side effects include:
Diazepam is approved for the treatment of people with epilepsy who are affected by seizure clusters. Seizure clusters are multiple seizures that are different from the person's usual pattern. These episodes can last minutes to hours and may require emergency treatment.
Diastat can be given rectally by trained parents or other caregivers in a non-hospital setting.
Possible side effects include:
Eslicarbazepine is an oral medication used to treat focal or partial seizures. It may be used alone or in combination with other anti-epileptic medication. Eslicarbazepine is generally started out at a lower dose, then gradually increased.
Possible side effects include:
More serious, but less common side effects include:
Ethosuximide controls seizures by depressing nerve transmissions in the motor cortex, which is the part of the brain that controls muscles. The medication is taken in liquid or capsule form. It is best taken at the same time or times each day. Taking it with food or drink can help prevent stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
Persistent fever or sore throat should be reported to your doctor. These symptoms may indicate a low white blood cell count due to suppressed bone marrow.
This medication is used to control seizures in adults with epilepsy. The medication is often prescribed in combination with other anti-epileptic medication.
Possible side effects include:
It is not known how gabapentin prevents convulsive seizures. But, it may work by altering the transport of amino acids in the brain. This medication is taken in capsule form. Maintenance dosage varies. It is best taken with food or liquid to prevent stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
By affecting the central nervous system, this medication reduces how many seizures a person has and how severe the seizures are. Given as a pill or an injection, lacosamide is usually prescribed with other anti-epileptic medication.
Possible side effects include:
It is not known how lamotrigine prevents convulsive seizures. But, it may work by stabilizing nerve membranes. The medication is taken in tablet form. Maintenance dosage varies. It is best taken with liquid to prevent stomach upset.
When you are taking lamotrigine, call your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms:
Possible side effects include:
Levetiracetam is used to treat partial, generalized convulsive, and myoclonic seizures. The medication is often prescribed in combination with other anti-epileptic medication. To prevent stomach upset, take levetiracetam with food.
Possible side effects include:
Oxcarbazepine is believed to prevent convulsive seizures by altering the transport of amino acids in the brain and stabilizing the nerve membranes. This medication is taken in tablet or liquid form. Maintenance dosage varies. It is best taken with liquid.
Possible side effects include:
Phenobarbital is used with other anti-epileptic medications in people who have partial seizures or generalized convulsive seizures. But, the medication can be prescribed to treat all types of seizures. Phenobarbital is also used for other conditions, such as tremor, insomnia, and drug withdrawal. The medication has a very long half-life. This means that it stays in your system for a long time. It is available as a pill or given by IV.
Possible side effects include:
Phenobarbital is a barbiturate, a type of medication that can be addictive. To avoid withdrawal symptoms, you doctor will slowly reduce the dose when it is time for you to stop taking phenobarbital.
Phenytoin prevents seizures by promoting sodium loss in nerve fibers. This inhibits nerve excitability and the spread of nerve impulses. This medication is taken in tablet or liquid form. It is best taken with liquid at the same time each day.
Possible side effects include:
Primidone is believed to prevent seizures by stopping the spread of nerve impulses.
This medication is taken in tablet or liquid form. It is best taken at the same time each day. It is also best taken with food or drink.
Possible side effects include:
This medication is used to treat seizures. It is also especially useful in the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Possible side effects include:
This medication is used to prevent or control seizures. It is also useful as an add-on treatment for partial seizures.
Possible side effects include:
This medication may rarely cause seizures in patients who do not have them.
Topiramate may be prescribed with other anti-epileptic medications or alone. The medication is used to treat all types of seizures. To prevent stomach upset, take topiramate with food.
Possible side effects include:
More serious, but less common side effects include:
Valproic acid may prevent seizures by increasing concentrations of gamma aminobutyric acid. This inhibits nerve transmissions in parts of the brain. This medication is taken in capsule or syrup form. It is best taken once a day, at the same time each day. Taking it with food or drink can help prevent stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
Vigabatrin is used to treat seizures in infants aged 1 month to 2 years. This type of infantile seizure is dangerous because it can happen frequently throughout the day. Vigabatrin can also be used in adults who have refractory complex partial seizures in combination with other anti-epileptic medication.
The medication can cause serious side effects, including vision loss. Other side effects include:
This medication is a mood stabilizer that works by calming the brain. It is used to prevent or control seizures. It may also be used as a treatment for bipolar disorder.
Possible side effects include:
Before taking any of these medications, consult with your doctor if you:
If your child is taking medication, follow these general guidelines:
Contact your doctor if you:
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for seizure disorders. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114575/Antiepileptic-drugs-AEDs-for-seizure-disorders. Updated February 7, 2017. Accessed February 7, 2017.
Epilepsy in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115086/Epilepsy-in-adults. Updated December 8, 2016. Accessed February 7, 2017.
Epilepsy in children. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T900174/Epilepsy-in-children. Updated December 8, 2016. Accessed February 7, 2017.
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome . EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115316/Lennox-Gastaut-syndrome. Updated July 23, 2014. Accessed February 7, 2017.
Myoclonic seizures. Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/myoclonic-seizures. Accessed February 7, 2017.
Treating seizures and epilepsy. Epilepsy Foundation website. Available at: http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy. Accessed February 17, 2014.
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Last reviewed February 2017 by Rimas Lukas, MD Last Updated: 2/7/2017