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Treatment of Epilepsy - Drug Therapy

The main treatment for epilepsy is drug therapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). There are several AEDs available today, which are used to control or, for some patients, even stop seizures by reducing the sensitivity of the neurons that cause them.

Some AEDs are available in a range of doses and formats, e.g. tablets, liquid, nasal sprays, injections and suppositories to make taking your treatment as convenient as possible.

Almost all AEDs have two names:

  • Brand, or manufacturer's name, e.g. Epilim.
  • Generic, or basic chemical name, e.g. sodium valproate

You may come across some of the following, though the Brand name may change in different countries:

Brand name Generic name
Convulexvalproic acid
Diamox, Diamox SRacetazolamide
Emeside/Zarontinethosuximide
Epanutinphenytoin
Epilim, Epilim Chronosodium valproate
Frisiumclobazam
Gabitriltiagabine
Keppralevetiracetam
Lamictallamotrigine
Mysolineprimidone
Neurontingabapentin
Nootropilpiracetam
Phenobarbitonephenobarbital
Rivotrilclonazepam
Sabrilvigabatrin
Tegretol, Tegretol Retardcarbamazepine
Trileptaloxcarbazepine
Topamaxtopiramate
Zonegranzonisamide

In the following pages you will hear more about AEDs and how to get the most out of your treatment: