Starting, Choosing, Changing, and Discontinuing Drug Treatment for Epilepsy Patients

Abstract

Epilepsy is a serious brain disease with seizures as the main symptom, which can be successfully treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). AEDs are usually started as soon as the epilepsy diagnosis has been established. About 80% of adults with new-onset epilepsy will achieve lasting seizure remission on AEDs. However, 20% continue to have seizures despite treatment (drug-resistant epilepsy). AEDs can be safely discontinued after several years of seizure remission during early treatment. Remarkably, 60% of all treated patients remain in remission off AEDs, making epilepsy one of the best treatable among chronic brain diseases.

Keywords: Antiepileptic drugs; Epilepsy drug therapy; Optimizing antiepileptic drugs; Starting antiepileptic drugs; Stopping antiepileptic drugs.