Introduction to epilepsy treatment options

The main goal of epilepsy treatment is for people to achieve seizure freedom with no significant side effects. If you have recently been diagnosed with epilepsy, it can be useful to know about the various ways of managing this condition. In this article, you will learn about some of the main epilepsy treatment options. If you have any questions about these treatments, speak with your physician.

Is there any treatment for epilepsy?

Yes. There are several epilepsy treatment options, many of which have shown success in helping people to control their seizures. For example, studies suggest that anti-seizure medication provides adequate seizure control for between 60% and 70% of people with epilepsy. 

However, not every epilepsy treatment will work for everyone. Speak to your doctor if your current treatment doesn't seem to be working for you.

What affects the epilepsy treatment you’re given?

There are a number of factors which may affect the epilepsy treatment your doctor recommends. These include:

• The type of epilepsy you have: For example, a physician uses different methods for focal epilepsy treatment versus generalized epilepsy. 

Learn more: What is the difference between generalized and focal seizures?

• Your age: Epilepsy may affect people in different ways depending on their age.
• Sex: Your epilepsy treatment may change depending on your biological sex. For example, there are some kinds of anti-seizure medications that are not suitable for women who are trying to become pregnant.‍
• Other health issues and medication: Your epilepsy treatment options may be affected by other health issues you may live with and medications you take, including for things like depression, anxiety or some kinds of birth control. Other medications can also interact with your anti-seizure medication too.

Epilepsy treatment options

Here are the some of the options for epilepsy treatment used today:

Anti-seizure medications (ASMs)

There is a wide range of anti-seizure medications that are used to treat seizures. These medications work in different ways and are sometimes used on their own (monotherapy) and other times in combination (known as polytherapy).

ASMs are usually the first method used to treat seizures and they work for about two thirds of people with epilepsy. Roughly one third of people find that ASMs do not help control their seizures - or they have unpleasant side effects. This is known as ‘drug resistant’ or ‘refractory’ epilepsy. 

If you have tried two or more ASMs and they do not control your seizures, speak to your doctor about alternative epilepsy treatment options.

Special diets

There are various diets that are known to change patterns of electrical activity in the brain and which may reduce the frequency of seizures. The best known epilepsy treatment of this kind is the ketogenic diet - where people eat a diet which is largely based on fats (there are other versions such as the Modified Atkins Diet). Learn more about diets for epilepsy in this blog.

Neurostimulation

Seizures are caused by uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the brain. Researchers have found that by placing implants in people’s bodies that send regular pulses of electricity into the brain, it may be possible to control or reduce the number of seizures they have.

Brain surgery

Some people’s seizures are caused by electrical activity that begins at a very specific location in the brain. It is sometimes possible to perform brain surgery to remove the affected area and stop seizures, or reduce the number of seizures people have.

CBD (Epidiolex)

Cannabidiol (known as CBD) is one of the newer epilepsy treatments that have been approved by the FDA. Derived from the marijuana plant, the medicine appears to help control seizures for some people.

It’s important to be aware that only prescription-grade CBD, under the brand name Epidiolex, is approved for epilepsy treatment. Using artisanal CBD oil may be risky. Read more.

Many epilepsy treatment options

Doctors, scientists and epilepsy organizations are continually investigating new epilepsy treatments that may help people to better manage their seizures. If you have any uncertainties about your epilepsy treatment or would like to hear about alternatives, speak with your doctor for advice and information.