context: For 70% of patients with epilepsy, drugs can control seizures. However, they can't cure epilepsy, and most people will need to continue taking medications. var s_context; s_context= s_context || {}; s_context['wb.modimp'] = 'vidfloat'; if(webmd.useragent && webmd.useragent.ua.type === 'desktop'){ webmd.ads2.disable Initial Load(); webmd.ads2.disable Ads Init = true; $(function() { webmd.p.pim.increment(); $('.responsive-video-container').insert After('.module-social-share-container'); require(['video2/1/responsive-player/video-loader'], function(video Loader) { video Loader.init({ autoplay: webmd.useragent.ua.type === 'desktop' && ! !s_sensitive, chron ID: $('article embeded_module[type=video][align=top]:eq(0)').attr('chronic_id'), continuous Play: true, cp Options: { flyout: true }, display Ads: true, mode: 'in-article', sticky: true }) }); }); } else { $(function(){ $('.responsive-video-container').remove(); }); } An accurate diagnosis of the type of epilepsy (not just the type of seizure, because most seizure types occur in different types of epilepsy) a person has is very important in choosing the best treatment. The type of medication prescribed will also depend on several factors specific to each patient, such as which side effects can be tolerated, other illnesses he or she may have, and which delivery method is acceptable. Below is a list of some of the most common brand-name drugs currently used to treat epilepsy. Your doctor may prefer that you take the brand name of anticonvulsant and not the generic substitution. Talk with your doctor about this important issue. Brivaracetam ( Briviact) Approved for use as an add-on treatment to other medications in treating partial onset seizures in patients age 16 years and older. Possible side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Cannabidiol ( Epidiolex) Approved in 2018 for treatment of severe or hard-to-treat seizures including those in patients with Lennox- Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Common side effects include lethargy, sleepiness, fatigue, increased appetite, diarrhea and sleep disorders. Carbamazepine ( Carbatrol or Tegretol) First choice for partial, generalized tonic-clonic and mixed seizures Common adverse effects include fatigue, vision changes, nausea, dizziness, rash. Diazepam ( Valium ), lorazepam ( Ativan) and similar tranquilizers such as clonazepam ( Klonopin ) Effective in short-term treatment of all seizures; used often in the emergency room to stop a seizure, particularly status epilepticus Tolerance develops in most within a few weeks, so the same dose has less effect over time. Valium can also be given as rectal suppository. Side effects include tiredness, unsteady walking, nausea, depression, and loss of appetite. In children, they can cause drooling and hyperactivity. Eslicarbazepine ( Aptiom) This drug is a once-a-day medication used alone or in combination with other anti-seizure drugs to treat partial-onset seizures. The most common side effects include dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting, fatigue, vertigo, ataxia, blurred vision, and tremor. Ethosuximide ( Zarontin) Used to treat absence seizures Adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and weight loss. Felbamate ( Felbatol) Treats partial seizures alone and some partial and generalized seizures in Lennox- Gastaut Syndrome; is used rarely and only when no other medications have been effective. Side effects include decreased appetite, weight loss, inability to sleep, headache, and depression. Although rare, the drug may cause bone marrow or liver failure. Therefore, the use of the drug is limited and patients taking it must have blood cell counts and liver tests regularly during therapy. Lacosamide ( VIMPAT) This drug is approved to treat partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. VIMPAT can be used alone or with other drugs. The drug comes as tablets, an oral solution, or injection. Side effects include dizziness, headache, and nausea. Lamotrigine ( Lamictal) Treats partial, some generalized seizures and mixed seizures. Has few side effects, but rarely people report dizziness, insomnia, or rash. Levetiracetam ( Keppra) It is combined with other epilepsy drugs to treat partial seizures, primary generalized seizures and myoclonic (shock-like jerks of muscle) seizures. Side effects include tiredness, weakness, and behavioral changes. Oxcarbazepine ( Oxtellar XR, Trileptal ) Used to treat partial seizures, it is a once-daily medicine used alone or with other medications to control seizures. Common side effects include dizziness, sleepiness, headache, vomiting, double vision , and balance problems. Perampanel ( Fycompa) The drug is approved to treat partial onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in those age 12 and older. The label carries a warning of potential serious events including irritability, aggression, anger, anxiety, paranoia, euphoric mood, agitation, and changes in mental status. Phenobarbitol Oldest epilepsy medicine still in use. It is used to treat most forms of seizures and is known for its effectiveness and low cost. Side effects can be sleepiness or changes in behavior. Phenytoin ( Dilantin) Controls partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures; also can be given by vein (intravenously) in the hospital to rapidly control active seizures, although if the drug is being delivered by IV, fosphenytoin ( Cerebyx) is usually used. Side effects include dizziness, fatigue, slurred speech, acne, rash, gum thickening, and increased hair (hirsutism). Over the long term, the drug can cause bone thinning. Pregabalin ( Lyrica) Used with other epilepsy drugs to treat partial seizures, but is used more often to treat neuropathic pain. Side effects include dizziness, sleepiness (somnolence), dry mouth, peripheral edema, blurred vision, weight gain, and difficulty with concentration/attention. Tiagabine ( Gabitril) Used with other epilepsy drugs to treat partial seizures with or without generalized seizures Common side effects include dizziness, fatigue, weakness, irritability, anxiety, and confusion. Topiramate ( Topamax) Used with other drugs to treat partial or generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It is also used with absence seizures. Side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, speech problems, nervousness, memory problems, visions problems, weight loss. Valproate, valproic acid ( Depakene, Depakote) Used to treat partial, absence, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures Common side effects include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, tremor, hair loss, weight gain, depression in adults, irritability in children, reduced attention, a decrease in thinking speed. Over the long term, the drug can cause bone thinning, swelling of the ankles, irregular menstrual periods. More rare and dangerous effects include hearing loss, liver damage, decreased platelets (clotting cells), and pancreas problems. Zonisamide ( Zonegran ) Used with other drugs to treat partial, generalized and myoclonic seizures Adverse effects include drowsiness, dizziness, unsteady gait, kidney stones, abdominal discomfort, headache, and rash. It may take several months before the best drug and dosage are determined for you. During this adjustment period, you will be carefully monitored through frequent blood tests to measure your response to the medication. It is very important to keep your follow-up appointments with your doctor and the lab to minimize your risk for serious side effects and prevent complications. When seizures continue despite treatment for epilepsy, it may be because the episodes thought to be seizures are non-epileptic. In such cases, you should get a second opinion from a specialist and have EEG-video monitoring so the diagnosis can be re-evaluated. In specialized centers, about 15% to 20% of patients referred for persistent seizures that defy treatment ultimately prove to have non-epileptic conditions.