What Is the Main Medicine for Children With Seizures?

There are more than 20 prescription medications that may be use to treat seizures. However, not all of these medications are approved for the use in children. Doctors must assess each child's type of seizures and decide which medication is best.

Identification

• There are certain medications that may be used to treat absence seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, grand mal seizures and petit mal seizures. Many of these medications have unpleasant side effects, such as excess hair growth, associated with their use.

Treatment

• One of the most promising medicines that is being used in the treatment of seizures in children is valproic acid (generic name divalproex sodium). This medication is commonly used in monotherapy, meaning that it is the only epilepsy drug that is needed to treat a patient's seizures.

Side Effects

• Some of the side effects associated with the use of valproic acid are abdominal pain, abnormal thinking, bronchitis, difficulty breathing, bruising, constipation, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, emotional changes, fever, flu symptoms, hair loss, headache, loss of coordination, indigestion, infection, insomnia, loss of appetite, memory loss, nasal inflammation, nausea, nervousness, ringing in the ears, sleepiness, sore throat, tremor, vision problems, vomiting, weakness and weight loss or gain.

Warning

• There is a chance of developing severe liver damage while using this medicine. This is most common in children under 2 years of age, and within the first 6 months of use. Your doctor will monitor your child's liver function while taking this medication.

Considerations

• valproic acid is a medicine that is often used alone to treat seizures and migraine headaches. Your doctor will determine if this medicine is right for your child.