RT Book, Section
A1 Messinger, Mindl M.
A2 Kline, Mark W.
SR Print(0)
ID 1182923509
T1 Epilepsy Treatment: Antiepileptic Drug Therapy
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 23e
YR 2018
FD 2018
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259588594
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182923509
RD 2024/04/19
AB There  are  4  treatment  options  for  epilepsy:  medication,  vagus  nerve  stimulator,  ketogenic  diet,  and  epilepsy  surgery.  Unlike  other  chronic  disease  states  for  which  nonpharmacologic  therapy  may  be  considered  first  line,  in  patients  with  epilepsy,  medication  is  first-line  therapy.  Choosing  the  appropriate  medication  at  the  appropriate  dose  is  crucial,  as  patients  are  considered  to  have  refractory  epilepsy  if  they  fail  2  antiepileptic  drugs  (AEDs)  that  are  otherwise  appropriate  for  the  type  of  seizure  and  therapeutic  dose.  Once  refractory,  seizures  become  more  difficult  to  control  with  medication  alone,  and,  therefore,  the  first  and  second  choice  of  anticonvulsant  is  important.  It  is,  thus  imperative  to  know  what  type  of  seizure(s)  the  patient  is  having,  as  it  may  affect  the  choice  of  AED.  This  chapter  will  focus  on  the  when,  how,  and  what  to  choose  as  initial  AED  therapy  in  a  patient  with  epilepsy,  in  addition  to  other  important  factors  that  may  assist  the  pediatrician  in  caring  for  a  patient  with  epilepsy.