Epilepsy Health Center

Switching Epilepsy Medications

What to Expect After Switching Medications

What happens after switching medications? You won't know if your new epilepsy drug is effective until you've gone seizure-free for twice the usual time, according to experts. That is, if you previously went two months between seizures, it will take four months between seizures to be sure the new medicine is working.

Switching From Brand to Generic Epilepsy Drugs

Many people with epilepsy feel squeezed by the bills for their brand-name epilepsy drugs. Switching to a generic can be one way to lower the price tag of living with epilepsy. Others don't choose to switch, but their insurance company substitutes generic drugs without notifying them.

Though generic drugs save money, experts are raising concerns it may pose problems for people with epilepsy. One generic drug is often switched for another, on as frequently as a monthly basis. Although generic drugs are tightly regulated by the FDA, small variances are allowed.

Most experts in treating epilepsy believe frequent switching of medications between generic drugs can trigger seizures in people with well-controlled epilepsy. Until clinical studies resolve the issue, they generally advise sticking with brand-name epilepsy drugs, if you can afford them.