WebMD Medical Reference in Collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic: Epilepsy: Medications to Treat Seizures

For most people with epilepsy, medications are used to control seizures. Although the different types of epilepsy vary greatly, in general medications can control seizures in about 70% of patients. However, they won't cure epilepsy.

An accurate diagnosis of the type of epilepsy (not just the type of seizure, since most seizure types occur in different types of epilepsy) 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 by the patient, other illnesses they may have, and which delivery method is acceptable.

Here's a list of some of the most common drugs currently used to treat epilepsy.

Tegretol or Carbatrol (carbamazepine)

• First choice for partial, generalized tonic-clonic and mixed seizures.
• Common adverse effects include fatigue, vision changes, nausea, dizziness, rash.

Zarontin (ethosuximide)

• Used to treat absence seizures.
• Adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite and weight loss.

Felbatol

• Treats partial and some generalized seizures.
• Side effects include decreased appetite, weight loss, inability to sleep, headache and depression. The drug can rarely 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.

Gabitril

• Used with other epilepsy drugs to treat partial and some generalized seizures.
• Common side effects include dizziness, fatigue, weakness, irritability, anxiety and confusion.

Keppra

• Used with other epilepsy drugs to treat partial seizures.
• Side effects include tiredness, weakness, and behavioral changes.

Lamictal

• Treats partial and some generalized seizures.
• Has few side effects, but rarely people report dizziness, insomnia or rash.

Lyrica

• Used to treat partial seizures.
• Side effects include dizziness, sleepiness (somnolence), dry mouth, peripheral edema, blurred vision, weight gain, and difficulty with concentration/attention.
  
  Lyrica is a recently-approved drug and therefore will not be available until the fall of 2005.

Neurontin

• Used with other epilepsy drugs to treat partial and some generalized seizures.
• Few lasting side effects. During the first weeks of treatment you may experience tiredness and dizziness.

Phenytoin

• Controls partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Also can be given by vein (intravenously) in the hospital to rapidly control active seizures.
• Side effects include dizziness, fatigue, slurred speech, acne, rash, and increased hair (hirsutism). Over the long term the drug can cause bone thinning.

Topamax

• Used with other medications to treat partial or generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
• Side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, speech problems, nervousness, memory problems, visions problems, weight loss.

Trileptal

• Treats partial seizures.
• Most common side effects are tiredness, dizziness, headache, blurred vision or double vision.

Depakene, Depakote (valproate, valproic acid)

• 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.

Zonegran

• Used with other medications to treat partial seizures.
• Adverse effects include drowsiness, dizziness, unsteady gait, kidney stones, abdominal discomfort, headache and rash.

Valium and similar tranquilizers such as Klonopin or Tranxene

• Effective in short term treatment of all seizures. Used often in the emergency room to stop a seizure.
• Tolerance develops in most within a few weeks, so the same dose has less effect over time.
• Side effects include tiredness, unsteady walking, nausea, depression and loss of appetite. In children they can cause drooling and hyperactivity.