For most people with epilepsy, treatment with medications called anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) is recommended. About 70% of people with the condition are able to control their seizures with AEDs.
These medications cannot cure epilepsy, but they are often very effective in controlling seizures. Examples of commonly used AEDs include sodium valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, ethosuximide and topiramate.
There are many different AEDs. Generally, they work by changing the levels of the chemicals in your brain that conduct electrical impulses. This reduces the chance of a seizure.
Sometimes they may cause side effects, such as drowsiness, agitation or rashes.
If surgery is not an option for the type of epilepsy you have, you may be offered an alternative procedure called a Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS) that can help control seizures.
It involves 3 parts, implanting a small electrical device under your skin; a wire that is wrapped around your vagal nerve in your neck and a magnet.
A ketogenic diet a diet high in fats and low in carbohydrates and protein, and it is thought that it may make seizures less likely by altering the chemical composition of the brain.
