UK anti-epileptic drugs list
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Last updated 23 Mar 2010, review date due 23 Sep 2010
The following information is taken mainly from British National Formulary (BNF) Number 59 (March 2010). Published by the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, it is updated twice a year. For the latest guidance, visit www.bnf.org.
The drugs listed are those usually prescribed for everyday seizure control. Other drugs, such as diazepam or midazolam, are available for emergency use. We have not included emergency drugs on this list.
Under the heading Indications in epilepsy, the main use of each drug is given. Sometimes drugs may be prescribed for other seizure types than those listed.
Anti-epileptic drugs are available in a number of different formulations such as tablets, capsules, chewtabs, sugar-free liquid, syrup, dispersible tablets, crushable tablets and sprinkle capsules.
For further information about anti-epileptic drugs, side-effects, dosages etc, please consult:
- your family doctor
- your specialist
- Medicine Guide
- the BNF, or
- Contact the Epilepsy Helpline: freephone 0808 800 5050; helpline@epilepsy.org.uk; text 07797 805 390
Word list
| adjunct/adjunctive | used with other anti-epileptic drugs |
| atypical | not typical or not usual |
| monotherapy | used on its own |
| partial-onset seizures | seizures which are started by epileptic activity in part of the brain |
| refractory seizures | seizures which are difficult to control with anti-epileptic drugs |
| secondary generalisation | epileptic activity that starts as a partial seizure, then spreads to the rest of the brain, causing a generalised seizure |
Click on the drug name for further information or scroll down for the full list:
Clicking on some of the drug names in either column one (generic name) or two (some brand names) will take you to the Medicine Guide website. This will give you more information about the drug and its side effects.
|
Generic name |
Some brand names |
Indications in epilepsy |
Date of UK licence |
|
Diamox, Diamox SR |
Has a specific role in treating epilepsy associated with menstruation. It can also be used with other anti-epileptics for tonic-clonic and partial seizures. It is occasionally helpful in atypical absence, atonic and tonic seizures |
1988 |
|
|
Tegretol, Carbagen SR
|
Partial and secondary generalised tonic-clonic seizures, primary generalised seizures |
1965 |
|
|
Adjunct in epilepsy |
1979 |
||
|
All forms of epilepsy |
1979 |
||
| eslicarbazepine acetate | Zebinix | Adjunctive treatment in adults with partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation | 2009 |
|
Typical absence seizures; it may also be used in atypical absence seizures. Rarely used for myoclonic or tonic seizures. |
1955 |
||
|
Monotherapy and adjunctive treatment of partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation |
1993 |
||
| lacosamide | Vimpat | Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation. (NHS Scotland: restricted to specialist use for patients from 16 years with refractory epilepsy) | 2008 |
|
Monotherapy and adjunctive treatment of partial seizures and primary and secondarily generalised tonic-clonic seizures; seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; monotherapy of typical absence seizures in children. |
1991 |
||
|
Monotherapy and adjunctive treatment of partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation and for adjunctive therapy of myoclonic seizures and generalised tonic-clonic seizures |
2000 |
||
|
Monotherapy and adjunctive treatment of partial seizures with or without secondary generalised tonic-clonic seizures |
2000 |
||
|
N/A |
All forms of epilepsy except absence seizures |
1912 |
|
|
All forms of epilepsy except absence seizures |
1938 |
||
|
Adjunctive therapy for partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation |
2004 |
||
|
All forms of epilepsy except absence seizures |
1952 |
||
| rufinamide | Inovelon | Adjunctive treatment of seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (NHS Scotland: restricted to use for patients 4 years and above and for when traditional anti-epileptic drugs are unsatisfactory.) | 2007 |
|
All forms of epilepsy |
1973 |
||
|
Adjunctive treatment for partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation not satisfactorily controlled with other anti-epileptics. |
1998 |
||
|
Monotherapy and adjunctive treatment of generalised tonic-clonic seizures or partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation; adjunctive treatment of seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome |
1995 |
||
|
Convulex |
All forms of epilepsy |
1993 |
|
|
Initiated and supervised by appropriate specialist, adjunctive treatment of partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation not satisfactorily controlled with other anti-epileptic drugs; monotherapy for management of infantile spasms (West’s syndrome) |
1973 |
||
|
Adjunctive treatment for refractory partial seizures with or without secondary generalisation |
2005 |
Epilepsy Helpline
- UK freephone 0808 800 5050
- International +44 113 210 8850
- Email: helpline@epilepsy.org.uk
- Txt msg: 07797 805 390 info
Twitter Updates
Epilepsy Action blog
Comments
Hi HannahRebecca
I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time at the moment. It can be confusing when doctors steadily increase your anti-epileptic drugs, without trying anything else. The reason they do this is because it’s really difficult to know how much of a drug an individual person needs to control their seizures. That’s why they start the drug at a low dose, and gradually increase it until either your seizures stop, or you start to have side-effects.
The maximum dose of Keppra is 1500 mg twice each day. (British National Formulary, 59, March 2010) As you were on less than that, your doctor increased the dose, before trying anything else. Although this is frustrating, it really is the best way of finding the right dose for you. You can read more about this on the treatment section of our website. If you still have seizures at the highest dose, or get side-effects, your doctor is more likely to consider trying another drug.
If things don’t improve, it would be worth asking your GP to refer you to an epilepsy specialist nurse or consultant. If you don’t know whether there is a nurse in your area, please get back to us, and we’ll do our best to see if there is.
It must be worrying looking after a small child when you are still having seizures. There’s some information about caring for children on our website too.
If you would like to speak with someone about any of your concerns, one of our advisers will be happy to help you. You can either phone the helpline, freephone 0808 800 5050, or email any questions to helpline@eplepsy.org.uk
Kathy
Epilepsy Helpline Team
Hi i have been diagnosed with epilepsy since 2008.
my first seizure was on 23rd September '08, this also turned out to be the day i fell pregnant with my son, however i did not know this at the time, due to finding out i was pregnant after i had an mri i wasn't put on any medication until after my son was born in june 2009, however i did only have one other seizure during my pregnany, exactly one week before he was born by c-section, as they thought it was too much of a risk for me to give birth naturally.
I have been taking Keppra since june 09 and if anything my seizures have become more regular, i didnt have any the rest of 2009 but this year i have had 5 in total 2 in the past 2 weeks. I have go to my doctor everytime i have a fit and all that the specialist seems to say in response to my GP is just to up my Keppra dose higher, even when i asked if there was not anything else I could try they just told me that it was trial and error and they are going to keep just putting my dose higher, i am on 1000mg 2 times a day and they have just given me a 250 dose to top that up with aswell.
I am desperate to try and get the result i want as I live alone with my son and am terrified i will have one when he is awake and wondering around the house or i'm having a bath etc.
I don't know how i am supposed to explain myself to get the results i want, i.e try another type of medication???
Hi Katie,
I think you should be querying the impact keppra is having on your childs moods. I have experience of being low and withdrawn whilst taking keppra, and I have also heard others report simalar stories. It is an effective medication however a very common effect is mood disorder. Maybe you should discuss with your childs consultant.
regards
Leanne (Ireland)
To get some information for a friend I just clicked this link and found this which brought back my Epileptic days memories.
Late '60's and most '70's I had been having petite and grand seizures (tonic-clonic) and there was nothing in my brain and clean
EEG's. Every three months cycle I was having these seizures that depending on my mood and external factors that had been effecting me.
Then I had interested with Eastern medicine which was pretty weird thinking for 1970's Turkey, I have found this doctor in Moda, Istanbul, Dr. Nuzhet Ziyal whom was pioneer in Acupuncture in Turkey. After number of sessions it had disappeared. Last minor episode was on 1978 and since then there is nothing. Thank God. I hope this advice may help some sufferers and they may have same good results as well after acupuncture and/or other alternative medicine treatments.
Hi I`ve been taking tegretol retard for 13 yrs now . I take 500mgs in the morning & my night dose has been reduced from 800 to 500mgs. Since then I have had prblems with lightheadedness & blurred vision. Can this happen when a drug is reduced ?
Hi
After been diagnosed with the condtion, nearly 8 years ago and a long uphill struggle. I am currently taking 2 doses of this medication, of epilim 200 taking in 1200 mg per day.
The main at present is my career, for which i am a Branch Manager for a leading UK builders merchant as a condition of my employment, i have to retain a full driving licence. I would not however take the risk if i was under any doubt this medication was not working to it`s full extent. I would not put any member of the public or myself at risk of anything happening whilst i`m at the controls of a motor vehicle. This would be immediately be reported to my doctor and DVLA no matter how slight the occourence. Not putting myself first by any means.
As for side effects ,increased appettite, strange dreams, body clock is a complete **** up late nights, waking early at 3am, i am tired easily, is this a normal side effect?, looking on google is a little vague
I am 61, and had my first tonic-clonic seizure nearly three years ago (highly relevant in driving terms), totally out of the blue (perhaps stress related, I was going through difficult job/career changes). My wife thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke, so I went to A&E .I was tested for everything, EEG, ECG, sleep tests. Nothing was found, Six month's later I had three more seizures approximately a month apart. I was given Epilim Chrono to take 400mg in the morning and 400mg in the evening. Over the next few years, these helped, but did not substantially reduce the seizures, even though a slight increase was made. I rarely went to A&E, the seizures were all tonic-clonic and in the early (sleeping) hours. In January this year, I had two or three in the same early hours and went to A&E again. After this I saw an epilepsy nurse, who gave me Episenta (1000mg). My own GP upped this to another 150mg, they worked well, I self prescribed another 150 mg (nurse and doctor post-consented). The reason was that I was obviously keen to get back to driving (1 year no seizures, or 3 years night-time only). The Episenta seems to be working much better, although hand tremors, depression and memory can be an issue. Being in steady work helps with the depression but previously this was a big issue.
My husband aged 58 takes Epilim 700mg morning & night for epilepsy due to Alzheimer's dementia. He started having seizures in December 2008, had 3 in total before being put on Epilim. He hasn't had any seizures since but has been having myoclonic jerks specially upon waking up. These myoclonic jerks have been present for a while, even before the epileptic seizures but at the time, I had no idea what it was. Because of these jerks, he has fallen several times, the latest fall happened 2 weeks ago while he was at a respite care facilty. Luckily the injuries were minor. The original dosage of Epilim was 500 mg morning & night. Because of the myoclonus the dose has been increased to 700mg morning & night. I am hoping that this amount of Epilim will be sufficient in controlling the jerks. Apparently it is common for Alzheimer's sufferers to end up with epilepsy.
Tthe nhs has changed the words that is on form to get free dentist ,drugs,etc. As i am on a low income , plus partner who has no job. So i have to hope that i get a tax exception card from the inland revenue . The words on the sheet last year was EPILEPSY UNDER THE HOSPITALOR DRUG CONTROL, NOW THERAPY NOT DRUGS OR THE HOSPITAL DOCTOR . So i think this is a trick to try to cut the drug bill that the goverment has to pay each year, and that the low income people has to hope to get the free drugs that we need to lead a normal life ,wih out sizures.
Hi Stacey,
We have information on this website about contraception.
If you need more information, you can contact our freephone helpline (UK) on 0808 800 5050 or email helpline@epilepsy.org.uk
Hope this helps
Andy
Epilepsy Action
i have photosensitive epilepsy and im on lamotrigine and i just want to know if i can go on any sort of contraceptive pill? my doctor's useless! thanks :)
hi
My daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 16 months old, she is now 10. She has been on epillim, epillim and tegretol, then tegretol and keppra. We tried to take her off of tegretol but she became really badly behaved and violent resulting in her being suspended from infant school at the age of 6 so our consultant put her back on it to calm her down, which seemed to work.
Her seizures generally last longer than 5 mins and I have to administer buccal midazelam which up untill this last sunday seemed to stop her seizures. As she has been on the same dose of this since she was 5 our consultant has incresed it from 0.5ml to 1ml. He has also incresed the tegretol 3 weeks ago from 100mg twice a day to 200mg twice a day to 200mg in the morning and 300mg in the evening. Her keppra has stayed the same at 750mg in the morning and 1000mg at night. This is the second increase in 3 weeks and i am starting to notice that she is becoming moody and emtional. I worry all the time about medication increses and what they are doing to her but I am now really worried about the emergency meds being increased. Has anyone had any experience with this.
thank you
Kate
I have been through about 1/3 of all the drugs in the list above and still cannot find one that works for my epilepsy. I'm currently taking Episenta, Keppra, Lamotrigine and Frisium (when I have seizures) and have tried several different combinations of dosage and still cannot find anything that works effectively. Before the current drugs I have also tried - Tegretol, Epilim and Topamax. I am starting to think that there is not a drug that can stop my seizures and will continue having them as I will not be 'growing out' of the condition either.
I have been taking Epilim at 2500/day for over two years. I have had hair loss,skin rashes, psuedo parkinsonism (shaking hands), total memory blocks, irrational / compulsive / erratic behaviour which has cost me a lot of money in just buying dumb things that I would never have bought before I got this drug.
I was on carbamazepine but I had severe rare reaction to it, my teeth chattered together like a sewing machine, really fast & even in my sleep. I was moved from carb. to valproate and the truth is that my Docot says, the type of hyperconvulsive events that I have, theres very few options on the market that are effective for me. More modern medicines have fewer side effects for most people, but for som seizure disorders valproate is the only solution that is a solid defense against the events.
I consider myself lucky really ,despite he side effects. Before I got Depakine and then the Epilim, I had hyperconvulsive seizures that broke : both hips, 6 ribs, both shoulders. Ive had lungs full of blood, and a 1.8 minute flatline. All just from banging against the floor. But since I got valproate 2 years ago I havent had a single seizure, despite the side effects.
Hello everyone (PMS-hormonal imbalance)
I developed epilepsy during my pregnancy and I am living with it for 3 years and 6months. During pragnancy I had proper seizures grand mal after I had and still have only small seizures I have tried many medication keppra, lamotrigine, something else and now I am on combination of tegretol and lamotrigine I can tell you none of these drugs work. After trying medication and no results now I have seizure where I go blank for 30 sec max 1 min and I am awake but don't understand a think someone is saying don't understand english and my home language eighter. And it is always happening before my period 1-2 weeks
I became desperate really so I saw neurologist in Slovakia one of the best. Firstly she was horrified how much medication I was taking it was around 1500mg a day of both tegretol and lamotrigine. After consultation she changed my lowered my dosage to only 500mg a day (she said that 1500mg is for people who have more than 1 seizure a day) I can tell you my seizures improved rapidly. I am obsessed with research but mainly curing my type of epilepsy which I think is linked to my hormonal changes because it happens only around my period.
I also found the fantastic nutritionist who researched the links of food and how it build our brain and how high dosage of vitamins and right diet stopped children who had epilepsy from birth from proper grand mal seizures PATRICK HOLFORD - OPTIMUM NUTRITION FOR YOUR CHILD'S MIND there is a chapter dedicated to epilepsy in children. I asked about the vitamins and nutrition my nurologist by she just said it has no effect on epilepsy I have it and that's it. Doctors are not much bothered to help you with this, they fob you off with drugs which don't work and when you go for check up ask you how are you. They can ask you that over the phone you are just wasting your time. Patrick Holford has his brain bio centre in London or see his website patrickholford.com
Let's find the cure together because medical drugs don't help at all they weaken symptoms a bit or change the type of seizures but won't help. Personally I think this is curable but the answer has to be found somwhere else i.e change of diet and nutritionist's help who helps us with vitam dosage, change of lifestyle, less stress, and excercise of course, not drugs offered by nurologists! If only nurologists would cooperate with nutritionists and people who understand nature and its healing power.
Good luck
How long does it take to find the right medication for you?
My 6 year old son suffers from absence epilepsy. He has always been hyperactive and quite aggressive, he started on Epilim and was very up and down but it didn't really help him. He is now on Emeside syrup and we can't get him to take it any more. We "hide" it in juice but short of forcing him to have it we are at the end of our tethers, we have been given tablets to try but he won't even entertain the idea!! Apart from the usual stroppiness, agressiveness, tears and tantrums that we now live with he is now not eating his dinners. He asks for something he wants then cries and says he didn't ask for it and doesn't like it, he refuses to eat or recently is spitting it in to tissues when he thinks we are not watching. Has any one else experienced this or do you have any ideas? We are in regular touch with his doctor but he doesn't seem to be much help apart from upping the dose in the hope that he gets at least 10ml morning and night.
Justine,
I have been taking Glucosame & Condroitin for my joints for nearly a year now with no effect. I am on Tegretol, Clobazam and Topiramate. Hope this helps.
I was wondering if anyone could help me with a dilema I have found myself in I have been seizure free for 3 years nearly, since they finally got my medication right and put me back on Epilim and a new drug 3years + ago called topamax. However I am now going through the process of being test for Arthritis and unfortunately cannot take anti- inflammatories. My sister has recommended GLUCOSAMINE as she takes it for her r..... arthritis and says it really helps. What I wanted to know was is there anyone that has had experience with this and could tell if its ok to take and wont interfere with our meds, as ive been stung like that before. Any help and advice would be gratefully received. Stay safe
Hi, I've been having seizure, i devloled epilpesy and been having Contic tonic seizures. But i know when im going have a seizure and i know where i am and the surrounds and know if someones helping me At the moment im taking lamotrigine (Lamictal) And clozam i learned that i have epilpsy a year ago when i started having 'these' seizures.
At times of been wondering why is this happing to me, and people make fun of my seizures... and the worst thing is im only 17 years old well thxs ~elliot~
My son started taking Epilim a week ago and seem to be generally ok but I have started noticing some aggression and withdrwal. I was initialy reluctant to start him on medicine but he kept having seiures and because he is Autistic, he cannot communicate so I thought may be medicine will ease his pain. Reading comments from other people I get a mix bag and I am still questioning myself as to the decision to start medication. It would be nice to know what people think about alternative treatment and if so what has worked and not.
I will reinforce that every body is different and one side effect to one person might not be the same to another so I would not encourage people follow what other people are doing.
i have had epilepsy now for around 10 years... i am a 21 year old female and i take a high dose of epilim chrono... i am on 1500ml morning AND night... my epilepsy is controled to a certain extent but i am still having my fits and due to this, its making me very forgetful... does anyone have any advise that i can take on board coz i seem to be running out of ideas and my fits to say the least are getting worse... Thanku. x
I swopped from Epilim to Keppra and although my epilepsy was controlled, Keppra initially sent me straight to sleep (was extremely drowsy on it for a while), then I got mood swings and one day (when I should have been extremely happy) I was all over the place, from giggling, to sobbing my heart out, to really angry. I couldn't understand what was going on and thought I was going mad - my friends and family told me to come swop back to Epilim. Epilim is brilliant bar weight gain & thinking about having babies in the future & it's side effects, so I'm trying again, to swop onto Carbamazepine - see how it goes! I'm hoping not as badly as Keppra, I sent in a yellow card report about Keppra so that the side effects were noted. I hope that this will work for me, it's not easy - every medication has it's side effects - it's just trying to find the right one for you! x
Hi, I am just waiting to see a specialist for my 20mth old son who has 3 sezuires now, he had the first one at 14mths old, an with him having a temperature at the time, it was thought to be a febriel convultion.(this may have not been the case) He suffered another seziure at easter (18mths old )and then 6 weeks later (last week) suffered another.
He completely stops breathing, turns pale white/grey his lips turn blue, his whole body goes stiff and his arms and legs 'lock' his body dos'nt jerk violently just jerks alittle, and his eyes roll back to show the whites, and the tiny bit of the blue that you can just see, in the corner of his eye is in a rolling/shaking motion. Afterwards when he starts to breath again he just stares into space, like hes in a trace, and then eventually comes round looking sleepy/dozy and confused, giving me lots of cuddles.
I am so worried if they diognose him with epilepsy, espcially after reading eveyones storys about their medication. Does this sound like an epileptic fit to you guys? I am soo scared and dont know much about it. The only experience I have is that a girl someone from my school and my brother-in-law's nephew both died after having an epileptic fit. I dont want anything like that to happen to my baby boy, can anyone offer and advice. I know I still have to wait to see the specialist and have the scans and test done, but I have a feeling that they are going to say hes epileptic. I am so upset and stressed and just want it to go away, I love my lil lad to bits and just want him to be happy and healthy.
I wonder if you can help me, my husband is on lamotragine 400mg per day and Sodium Valporate (Epilim) 900mg a day. Is there any homeopathic medicines he should not take. I was giving him Feverfew, Enchinacea and Glucosamine but I have stopped them because he was having trouble standing up sometimes, he didn't feel giddy but his legs would not work. I was afraid of him falling downstairs. Can anyone advise me?
Since my auras returned 3 years ago my life has been hell as the drugs stop me being me. I tried Keppra which was great for weightloss! Howver it made me snappy and gave me totally uncharacteristic suicidal thoughts. So that was stopped pretty quick. Tried Topiramide, so confused. Now I am on lamotrigine, works ok. However I am irritable, can't sleep, forgetful, muddles, too emotional... If only I could change it. I am in a trap, to change it would inevtably mean a driving ban, not good in a rural area. Anyone know any good jokes!!!!!
hello everyone,
I live outside the US and my daughter has had 2 febrile convulsions so far 6 months apart. She is only a year and 4 months. we had a pediatric neurologist see her only to prescribe Atemperator (sodium valproate) to her. Seeing all of the side effects that can occur along with her age, I really don't want to medicate her. My wife thinks different and we are her a tough time deciding what's best for her. I don't want to see my daughter like a zombie or with any mood swings. I think logically if its because of a high fever the best way to treat this is to first find out what is causing the fever and fight it with antibiotics at the same time control the fever. If my way of thinking is wrong somebody please let me know or give me some helpful advise or alternative. i really think she is too young to be experimenting with mind altering drugs.
Also is there any website for children with these type of problems that can give me more information
Hi Dawn
I was told I had eplipesy when I was 7 years old (I am now 29) and at first I was given carbamezaphine but this has no effect on my seizures at all. When I was 12 I was given epilim but this turned me into a different child over night. I became very bad tempered, moody, angry and babyish. It was only after numerous visits to the hospital and having to pay to see a private doctor that I was given Lamotrigine when I was 15 and I have never looked back. I still take it now and have been seizure free for about 3 years with hardly any side effects. I believe I wasn't given it earlier as it was quite new then and expensive.
I would deffinatly push your doctor to take you seriously and try and get the medication changed as this won't be helping your daughter at all
Kate