Treatment

If you’re diagnosed with epilepsy, you’ll need to look at your treatment options with your doctor. The first step is usually to find an epilepsy medicine which works for you.

But if your seizures are hard to treat with epilepsy medicine, there are other treatments that could help.

Read on for more information about the different treatments for epilepsy.

A senior man wearing glasses looking at a bottle of medicine
A hand holding two packets of medical pills

Epilepsy medicines

Taking medicines to stop or reduce your seizures is the main treatment for epilepsy.

For information about medicine shortages or delays, you can visit our ‘Drugwatch’ pages.

About epilepsy medicines Side effects of epilepsy medicines Epilepsy medicines and pregnancy Switching between different versions of epilepsy medicine Medical cannabis Drugwatch - the latest news on epilepsy medicines

Surgery

For children and adults surgery is sometimes offered as a form of epilepsy treatment.

Children’s Epilepsy Surgery Service in England (CESS) Epilepsy brain surgery for adults
A group of three surgeons performing surgery on patient in operating room
a doctor showing a epilepsy treatment leaflet to their patient

Other treatment  options

There are additional treatments that may be offered to people if they are appropriate.

VNS therapy (VNS) Ketogenic diet

Finding the right treatment  

Getting the best treatment to manage your epilepsy is key.

Find out more about what to expect from healthcare services in your area.

England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
A doctor giving their patient a diagnosis
Why are there differences across UK countries?

In some countries, there are different laws and rules that may affect they way that treatment programmes are managed. This is particularly relevant to people living with epilepsy in Northern Ireland.

A selection of medicinal herbs

Complementary treatments

Complementary treatments may be used alongside epilepsy medicines but should not replace them.

This information explains what some of the most used complementary treatments are, and whether there is any evidence about their usefulness in treating epilepsy. It also looks at whether there are any safety concerns.

Find out more

Useful links

What is epilepsy? About seizures Taking epilepsy medicines Epilepsy medicines and pregnancy Epilepsy Surgery Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and epilepsy Ketogenic diet Complementary treatments Living with epilepsy The Epilepsy Action helpline More support for you
What is epilepsy? About seizures Taking epilepsy medicines Epilepsy medicines and pregnancy Epilepsy Surgery Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and epilepsy Ketogenic diet Complementary treatments Living with epilepsy The Epilepsy Action helpline More support for you
We're here to help

Got any questions?

Our expert advisors can help you with any questions you might have about treatment or anything else related to living with epilepsy.

Contact the helpline