Common Medications
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Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which there is abnormal brain activity, leading to seizures (convulsions), unusual behaviors and sensations, and occasionally, loss of awareness. Epilepsy symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. For example, one person with epilepsy may have staring spells, another may have temporary confusion, while yet another person may have uncontrolled twitching of the arms and legs.
The occurrence of a single unprovoked seizure does not necessarily mean you have epilepsy. The diagnosis is usually made after a person has had at least two unprovoked seizures. Unprovoked seizures are seizures that occur without any identifiable cause such as sleep deprivation, high or low blood sugar, fever, alcohol or drug withdrawal, brain concussion, etc.
Epilepsy is a treatable condition. Medications and surgery can help control seizures in the majority of patients. When epilepsy begins in childhood, some children outgrow the condition over time. However, some people require long-term or even lifelong treatment to control their recurrent seizures.
Treatment of epilepsy is important because seizures can put the patient and others in danger. For example, a person having an epileptic seizure can fall and break a bone or suffer a head injury. Seizures can lead to drowning and car accidents. Also, people with epilepsy have a higher risk of suffering from psychological problems like depression and anxiety. Status epilepticus is a condition in which seizure activity lasts for more than 5 minutes and it can lead to permanent brain damage and death.
Medications for Epilepsy
There are many antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) available to treat epilepsy. Newer anticonvulsants have been developed in the past few decades that have good efficacy and fewer side effects and are therefore better tolerated. Many of the newer AEDs can be used safely in pregnant women without increasing the risk of birth defects, making it possible for women with epilepsy to carry healthy babies to term. Anti-epileptic drugs work by modifying the various processes that are involved in the development of a seizure. Essentially, they promote inhibition of neurons instead of excitation, and thereby stop seizure activity. Examples of common anti-epileptic drugs are listed below:
- Sodium channel blockers like phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), lamotrigine (Lamictal), and zonisamide (Zonegran).
- Calcium channel blockers like gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), and pregabalin (Lyrica).
- GABA enhancers like benzodiazepines (Valium, Ativan, Versed), valproate (Depakote), and phenobarbital (Luminal).
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors like acetazolamide (Diamox) and methazolamide (Neptazane).
- Anticonvulsants like levetiracetam (Keppra).
Over-the-Counter Medications for Epilepsy
Medications used to treat epilepsy are prescription drugs and they should be used as instructed by your doctor.
It is worth noting that certain over-the-counter medications which are used to treat colds, allergies, and insomnia (for example, diphenhydramine or Benadryl) can increase seizures in epilepsy patients or even trigger a seizure for the first time. Also, some OTC cold medications can lower the threshold for seizures. Other common medicines available over-the-counter can increase unwanted side effects of antiepileptic drugs. Therefore, if you have a diagnosis of epilepsy, you should talk to a doctor before starting any over-the-counter herbal or dietary supplements or cold medications.
Common Side Effects of Epilepsy Medications
Possible side effects of sodium channel blockers include headache, dizziness, unsteadiness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, lack of coordination, loss of balance, insomnia, and tremors (shaking).
Neurontin can cause dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty speaking, memory problems, and unsteadiness. Common side effects of topiramate include fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea, and weight loss. Pregabalin can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision.
Side effects of phenobarbital include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Valproate can cause fatigue, headache, diarrhea, stomachache, tremors (shakes), thinning hair, and weight gain. Common side effects of benzodiazepines include dizziness, sedation, unsteadiness, and weakness.
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors can cause ringing in the ears, tingling in the hands and feet, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, vision changes, and increased urination.
Anticonvulsants like levetiracetam can cause side effects such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, loss of appetite, stuffy nose, and irritability.
Common Questions
What causes epilepsy?
Some types of epilepsy have a genetic basis and tend to run in families. Other risk factors for epilepsy include head trauma, conditions like stroke or tumors that can cause brain damage, and infectious diseases of the nervous system like meningitis or viral encephalitis. Brain damage before birth due to oxygen deficiency, poor nutrition, or maternal infection can also result in epilepsy. Epilepsy is sometimes associated with developmental disorders like autism.
Can I drive a car if I have epilepsy?
Most states in the US do not issue a driver’s license to people with epilepsy unless they can provide medical documentation that they have not had a seizure for a specified amount of time. This seizure-free period varies from state to state and can range from a few months to more than a year.
Can I get a discount on antiepileptic drugs with BuzzRx?
Yes, you can get discounts on some medicines—including medications to treat epilepsy—as long as you have a signed prescription from your doctor.
References:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093#
2. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1187334-overview#a2
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28523600/
4. https://www.rxlist.com/dilantin_vs_lamictal/drugs-condition.htm
5. https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-08/Chapter25Sills2015.pdf
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15638774/
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23514045/
8. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/triggers-seizures/over-counter-medications
Common Epilepsy Health Medications
Epilepsy
Get the latest information on common prescription and over-the-counter epilepsy medication.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which there is abnormal brain activity, leading to seizures (convulsions), unusual behaviors and sensations, and occasionally, loss of awareness. Epilepsy symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. For example, one person with epilepsy may have staring spells, another may have temporary confusion, while yet another person may have uncontrolled twitching of the arms and legs.
The occurrence of a single unprovoked seizure does not necessarily mean you have epilepsy. The diagnosis is usually made after a person has had at least two unprovoked seizures. Unprovoked seizures are seizures that occur without any identifiable cause such as sleep deprivation, high or low blood sugar, fever, alcohol or drug withdrawal, brain concussion, etc.
Epilepsy is a treatable condition. Medications and surgery can help control seizures in the majority of patients. When epilepsy begins in childhood, some children outgrow the condition over time. However, some people require long-term or even lifelong treatment to control their recurrent seizures.
Treatment of epilepsy is important because seizures can put the patient and others in danger. For example, a person having an epileptic seizure can fall and break a bone or suffer a head injury. Seizures can lead to drowning and car accidents. Also, people with epilepsy have a higher risk of suffering from psychological problems like depression and anxiety. Status epilepticus is a condition in which seizure activity lasts for more than 5 minutes and it can lead to permanent brain damage and death.
Medications for Epilepsy
There are many antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) available to treat epilepsy. Newer anticonvulsants have been developed in the past few decades that have good efficacy and fewer side effects and are therefore better tolerated. Many of the newer AEDs can be used safely in pregnant women without increasing the risk of birth defects, making it possible for women with epilepsy to carry healthy babies to term. Anti-epileptic drugs work by modifying the various processes that are involved in the development of a seizure. Essentially, they promote inhibition of neurons instead of excitation, and thereby stop seizure activity. Examples of common anti-epileptic drugs are listed below:
- Sodium channel blockers like phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), lamotrigine (Lamictal), and zonisamide (Zonegran).
- Calcium channel blockers like gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), and pregabalin (Lyrica).
- GABA enhancers like benzodiazepines (Valium, Ativan, Versed), valproate (Depakote), and phenobarbital (Luminal).
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors like acetazolamide (Diamox) and methazolamide (Neptazane).
- Anticonvulsants like levetiracetam (Keppra).
Over-the-Counter Medications for Epilepsy
Medications used to treat epilepsy are prescription drugs and they should be used as instructed by your doctor.
It is worth noting that certain over-the-counter medications which are used to treat colds, allergies, and insomnia (for example, diphenhydramine or Benadryl) can increase seizures in epilepsy patients or even trigger a seizure for the first time. Also, some OTC cold medications can lower the threshold for seizures. Other common medicines available over-the-counter can increase unwanted side effects of antiepileptic drugs. Therefore, if you have a diagnosis of epilepsy, you should talk to a doctor before starting any over-the-counter herbal or dietary supplements or cold medications.
Common Side Effects of Epilepsy Medications
Possible side effects of sodium channel blockers include headache, dizziness, unsteadiness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, lack of coordination, loss of balance, insomnia, and tremors (shaking).
Neurontin can cause dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty speaking, memory problems, and unsteadiness. Common side effects of topiramate include fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea, and weight loss. Pregabalin can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision.
Side effects of phenobarbital include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Valproate can cause fatigue, headache, diarrhea, stomachache, tremors (shakes), thinning hair, and weight gain. Common side effects of benzodiazepines include dizziness, sedation, unsteadiness, and weakness.
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors can cause ringing in the ears, tingling in the hands and feet, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, vision changes, and increased urination.
Anticonvulsants like levetiracetam can cause side effects such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, loss of appetite, stuffy nose, and irritability.
Common Questions
What causes epilepsy?
Some types of epilepsy have a genetic basis and tend to run in families. Other risk factors for epilepsy include head trauma, conditions like stroke or tumors that can cause brain damage, and infectious diseases of the nervous system like meningitis or viral encephalitis. Brain damage before birth due to oxygen deficiency, poor nutrition, or maternal infection can also result in epilepsy. Epilepsy is sometimes associated with developmental disorders like autism.
Can I drive a car if I have epilepsy?
Most states in the US do not issue a driver’s license to people with epilepsy unless they can provide medical documentation that they have not had a seizure for a specified amount of time. This seizure-free period varies from state to state and can range from a few months to more than a year.
Can I get a discount on antiepileptic drugs with BuzzRx?
Yes, you can get discounts on some medicines—including medications to treat epilepsy—as long as you have a signed prescription from your doctor.
References:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093#
2. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1187334-overview#a2
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28523600/
4. https://www.rxlist.com/dilantin_vs_lamictal/drugs-condition.htm
5. https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-08/Chapter25Sills2015.pdf
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15638774/
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23514045/
8. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/triggers-seizures/over-counter-medications
Common Epilepsy Health Medications
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