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Treatment is most often done with medicine. Many types of medicines used to treat seizures and epilepsy. The child's healthcare provider will need to identify the type of seizure they are having. Medicines are selected based on the type of seizure, age of the child, side effects, cost, and ease of use.
The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (aka Essential Medicines List for Children [1] or EMLc [1]), published by the World Health Organization (WHO), contains the medications considered to be most effective and safe in children up to twelve years of age to meet the most important needs in a health system. [2] [3]
Both newer and older drugs are generally equally effective in new onset epilepsy. [42] The newer drugs tend to have fewer side effects. [42] For newly diagnosed partial or mixed seizures, there is evidence for using gabapentin, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine or topiramate as monotherapy. [42]
The most effective anti-epileptic medication for JME is valproic acid (Depakote). [41] [12] Due to valproic acid's high incidence of fetal malformations, [42] [41] women of child-bearing age may be started on alternative medications such as lamotrigine or levetiracetam.
It is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of certain types of epilepsy in developing countries. [8] In the developed world, it is commonly used to treat seizures in young children, [9] while other medications are generally used in older children and adults. [10] It is also used for veterinary purposes. [11]
The choice of anticonvulsant is based on seizure type, epilepsy syndrome, other medications used, other health problems, and the person's age and lifestyle. [147] A single medication is recommended initially; [ 148 ] if this is not effective, switching to a single other medication is recommended. [ 106 ]
Starting anti-seizure medications is not typically recommended if it was a provoked seizure that can be corrected. [3] Examples of causes of provoked seizures that can be corrected include low blood sugar, low blood sodium, febrile seizures in children, and substance/medication use. Starting anti-seizure medications is usually for those with ...
Valproate has a broad spectrum of anticonvulsant activity, although it is primarily used as a first-line treatment for tonic–clonic seizures, absence seizures and myoclonic seizures and as a second-line treatment for partial seizures and infantile spasms. [21] [22] It has also been successfully given intravenously to treat status epilepticus ...