There is no known cure for epilepsy. But medications can control seizures in most people. These medicines do not actually "fix" the problems that cause seizures. Instead, they work by stopping the seizures from occurring. Before suggesting treatment with a seizure medicine (also called an antiepileptic drug or AED), your doctor usually has made a diagnosis of epilepsy. It is important to openly discuss with your doctor the pros and cons of the different medicines that are available to treat your kind of epilepsy.

What are the goals of treatment with medication?

• No seizures
• No unwanted side effects

How do I reach these goals?

While these goals cannot be achieved in everyone, improve your chances by following these steps:

• Be open and honest with your doctor about your seizures and their impact on your life.
• Be open and honest with your doctor about troublesome effects from medication and their impact on your life. Don't just accept unwanted effects.
• Follow your doctor's instructions faithfully. Do not stop taking any seizure medicine or change the amount you take unless the doctor tells you to do that. If you often forget to take your medicine, be honest with the doctor about that, too.
• If you cannot communicate with your doctor comfortably or if you are not satisfied with the outcome after following your doctor's instructions for a reasonable period, get a second opinion from another doctor.

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, M.D.
Last Reviewed:11/20/06