|
For more than 80 years, the
most effective treatment for people with epilepsy
has been use of seizure-preventing medications called
anticonvulsant or anti-epileptic (AED) drugs. While
the medications do not cure epilepsy, they make
it possible for many people to live normal, active
lives completely free of seizures. Others may continue
to have seizures, but less frequently.
If the drugs are not effective,
other treatment methods may be used. Whenever possible,
doctors try to prevent seizures with a single medication
(monotherapy), although some people may need more
than one medication (polytherapy) to achieve seizure
control.
Like all drugs, antiepileptic medications
may have both the desired effect of controlling
seizures and undesirable side effects. Some of these
are dose-related and occur only when a person is
taking high levels of medication. Other side effects
may occur regardless of dose and some may be an
allergic type of reaction, such as a rash. It is
important for the patient to use the medication
as prescribed and inform the physician of any side
effects. The following chart lists some of the various
antiepileptic drugs:
|
Brand Name
|
Generic Name
|
Commonly Used
For |
Possible Side
Effects & Adverse Reactions**
|
|
Depakene
Depakote
|
valproic acid
divalproex sodium
|
Absence, partial, tonic-clonic, myoclonic
|
Menstrual irregularities, nausea, hair
loss, weight gain, tremor, liver toxicity
|
|
Diastat
|
Diazepam rectal gel
|
Rectally administered for prolonged
seizures & clusters
|
Drowsiness, poor coordination, unsteadiness,
behavior changes
|
|
Dilantin
|
Phenytoin
|
Partial, tonic-clonic
|
Loss of coordination, difficulty concentrating,
insomnia, nausea, rash, gum overgrowth,
excess hair growth, blurred or double
vision
|
|
Felbatol
|
Felbamate
|
Difficult to control seizures only;
partial & secondarily generalized
tonic-clonic; Lennox-Gastaut
|
Anorexia, vomiting, insomnia, headache,
aplastic anemia (blood toxicity), liver
toxicity
|
|
Keppra
|
Levetiracetam
|
Partial
|
Dizziness, sleepiness, weakness, unsteadiness,
behavior disturbance
|
|
Klonopin
|
Clonazepam
|
Atonic, myoclonic, absence
|
Drowsiness, fatigue, poor coordination,
irritability, behavior changes
|
|
Lamictal
|
Lamotrigine
|
Partial & secondarily generalized
tonic-clonic, Lennox-Gastaut
|
Dizziness, double vision, headache,
loss of coordination, nausea, rash
|
|
Mysoline
|
Primidone
|
Partial & tonic-clonic
|
Drowsiness, confusion, unsteadiness,
irritability, behavior changes, depression
|
|
Neurontin
|
Gabapentin
|
Partial with or without secondary generalization
|
Drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness,
blurry vision, fatigue
|
| |
Phenobarbital
|
Partial, tonic-clonic, myoclonic
|
Drowsiness, irritability, hyperactivity
(children), behavioral changes, difficulty
concentrating, depression
|
|
Tegretol
|
Carbamezepine
|
Partial, tonic-clonic
|
Dizziness, nausea, double vision, drowsiness,
rash, abnormal blood count (rare)
|
|
Topamax
|
Topiramate
|
Partial with or without secondary generalization,
Lennox-Gastaut, myoclonic
|
Dizziness, slowing, speech & language
problems, cognitive slowing, unsteadiness,
fatigue
|
|
Trileptal
|
Oxcarbazepine
|
Partial
|
Dizziness, headache, sleepiness, unsteadiness,
double vision, fatigue
|
|
Zarontin
|
Ethosuximide
|
Absence
|
Drowsiness, nausea, appetite loss,
stomach pain, nervousness, rash, abnormal
blood count (rare)
|
|
Zonegran
|
Zonisamide
|
Partial
|
Sleepiness, fatigue, dizziness, confusion,
loss of appetite, rash
|
|
Source: Epilepsy Foundation
of America
**Side effects
are individual for each person and not everyone
experiences side effects. There also may be other
side effects not listed here.
|
Tonic Clonic