The good news is there are excellent medications available now that can help patients strive for no seizures and limited side effects. Today, patients and their physicians are demanding excellence in epilepsy medications and treatment. It is okay to demand more from your epilepsy medication and to have the goal of achieving 100% seizure freedom.
Your first step may be to see your primary care doctor and to get a referral to a neurologist or epileptologist who has the deepest knowledge in the field. Before your medical visit, write down any questions you have. If possible, write down everything you remember about what brings on your seizures, and also be prepared to discuss your medical history including any past injuries. Questions your neurologist may ask include:
Epilepsy can be a complicated condition, and you need to learn as much as you can to achieve seizure freedom; so make sure you ask questions. Together with your neurologist or epileptologist, you can make the best decision for your health.
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There are over a dozen medications currently available for epilepsy treatment. Epilepsy medications are either called first-generation or second-generation, depending on when they were first discovered and made available.
Some of the first-generation epilepsy drugs were introduced almost 100 years agoaround the same time that the modern zipper and the first pop-up toaster were invented. All were revolutionary innovations for their time.
While first-generation antiepileptic drugs are effective, and many people continue to use them, some people find there may be a tradeoff between safety and effectiveness with long-term use of these older drugs. Until about 15 years ago, people with epilepsy didnt have any other options. But now they do. With the introduction of 9 new second-generation antiepileptic drugs, doctors and people with epilepsy have more choices when it comes to epilepsy treatment.
Many epilepsy drugs were often used for treating other disorders before their effectiveness in epilepsy was fully appreciated. Some newer drugs on the market are specifically for epilepsy treatment. Not all antiepilepsy drugs work in the same way. In fact, a few of these drugs may bind to specific sites in the brain that other epilepsy medications have not been shown to affect.
In addition, second-generation drugs were developed to help improve tolerability. Be sure to talk to your neurologist about what generation your epilepsy medication is in.
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Treatment - Epilepsy Advocate