Epilepsy Meds for Children

Epilepsy is a condition that occurs when electrical signals within the brain misfire, resulting in seizures. Seizures may be barely noticeable (petit mal seizures) or seizures may cause violent convulsions (grand mal seizures). In most cases, seizures in children are treated with prescription medications.

Significance

• According to the Epilepsy Foundation, approximately 300,000 children under the age of 14 are affected by epilepsy in the U.S.

Time Frame

• Some children will outgrow epilepsy before adulthood; others will have epilepsy for the durations of their lifetimes.

Prescription Medications

• According to the Epilepsy Foundation, children take the same types of epilepsy drugs that are prescribed to adults. However, the dosages may be less and the medications may be given as tablets, capsules, sprinkles or syrups.

Drug Side Effects

• Common side effects of epileptic medications include nausea, weight gain, dizziness, vision problems and fatigue. Side effects may subside as a child's body gets used to taking the medications. Common epilepsy medications include Carbatrol, Cerebyx, Depakote, Diamox, Dilantin, Epitol, Felbatol, Keppra, Mebaral, Paraione, Phenytoin, Phenytek and Tegretol.

Other Treatment Options

• If medicines do not successfully treat epilepsy or if medications cause bothersome side effects, other treatments may be considered. Possible treatments include ketogenic diets, surgery and vagus nerve stimulation.