On-Going Treatment For Seizure
However, this does not say that all patients who are prescribed with first-line drugs respond very well. To a number of patients, additional drug options may prove very beneficial when previous therapies fail to reduce or control seizures.
Felbamate
It is not clear how Felbamate prevents the occurrence of seizure. Nevertheless, it is used in treatment of partial seizures in both children and audlt patients.
Caution is often observed when using Felbamate in children as this usually cause serious side effects such as stomach pain and chills to occur. This drug is most effective when used by adult patients and in very young patients who have Lennox-Gestaut syndrome, a type of severe epilepsy affecting children.
Common side effects of felbamate use include nausea, indigestion, vomiting and stomach pain, headache, sleep problems and loss of appetite and associated weight loss. Excluding insomnia and weight loss, all side effects usually go away once the body adjusts to the effects of the drug.
Gabapentin
The mechanism behind the effects of gabapentin is yet to be known. It is often used in adjunct with other epilepsy drugs. It is comparably less effective in treating epilepsy but it has fewer side effects which make it a good treatment option. Side effects of gabapentin use include dizziness, headache, fatigue, drowsiness, foot swelling and weight gain.
Lamotrigine
Lamotrigine is another drug for epilepsy whose exact mechanism for seizure prevention is poorly understood. Nevertheless, it is a very effective adjunctive treatment option for a wide range of seizures. It can be used to control symptoms of partial seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and absence seizures. It is most effective when used in secondary generalized partial seizures. It is also frequently added to the existing drug therapy of children with Lennox-Gestaut Syndrome.
Common side effects observed among users of this drug include rash, dizziness and drowsiness, insomnia, double vision, headache as well as nausea.
Levitiracetam
Levitiracetam is an add-on drug which is often used in combination with other AEDs or Anti-Epileptic Drugs that work to treat generalized seizures in adults. In rare cases, this is used for Lennox-Gestaut Syndrome as stand-alone drug therapy or as an adjunctive therapy. Unlike most AEDs, Levitiracetam is not known to cause adverse effects when used with other types of drugs.
Side effects of this drug are relatively mild. Common side effects include sleepiness, unsteadiness, weakness, dizziness, anxiety, mild agitation and depression.
Tiagabine
Tiagabine targets a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA to prevent any abnormal activities of neurons. It is an add-on drug that is often used by children older than 12 years old as well as adults who have partial seizures.
This drug is well-tolerated by most people who use it. Common side effects include headache, dizziness, inability to concentrate, tremor and shakiness and sleepiness.
Other additional AEDs often prescribed include, Topiramate, Zonisamide, Benzodiazepines, Phenobarbital, Primidone, Lacosamide and Refinamide.
By Anders Eriksson
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My Articles
Drug Therapy For Seizure Disorder – First Line Aeds For Seziure
Generalized Seizures – Types And Symptoms
How To Diagnose And Treat Seizures
Partial Seizures And Their Signs And Symptoms
Seizure And Its Long-Term Effects
Seizure Disorder Treatment Options
The Most Common Causes Of Seizures
Treatments And Medications For Epileptic Seizures
What You Need To Know About Seizures In Children
What Are The Two Main Types Of Seizures?
Understanding Tonic-Clonic Seizure
Understanding The Stages Of A Seizure
Types And Symptoms Of Partial Seizures
Signs And Symptoms Of Seizures
Absence Seizures – A Different Kind Of Seizure
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