Opinion statement
Over the last one to two decades, several new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have become available. These medications have different mechanisms of action, metabolism, efficacy, and side effect profiles. Hence, it has become possible to customize medications for a particular patient. It has also become possible to use various combinations of treatments for refractory epilepsies. As medication options have increased, our goal has shifted to not only to maximize seizure control but also to minimize side effects. However, the older AEDs are still widely used. So the question arises—are newer medications better than older AEDs for the treatment of absence epilepsy? Based on a large multicenter class I study, older AEDs—ethosuximide and valproic acid—are more efficacious than newer AEDs. Due to reduced side effects, ethosuximide remains the first line treatment for childhood absence epilepsy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References and Recommended Reading
Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as:• Of importance•• Of major importance
Penry JK, Dreifuss FE. Automatisms associated with the absence of petit mal epilepsy. Arch Neurol. 1969;21(2):142–9.
Berg AT, Shinnar S, Levy SR, Testa FM, Smith-Rapaport S, Beckerman B, et al. Two-year remission and subsequent relapse in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2001;42(12):1553–62.
Fois A, Malandrini F, Mostardini R. Clinical experiences of petit mal. Brain Dev. 1987;9(1):54–9.
Loiseau P, Pestre M, Dartigues JF, Commenges D, Barberger-Gateau C, Cohadon S. Long-term prognosis in two forms of childhood epilepsy: typical absence seizures and epilepsy with rolandic (centrotemporal) EEG foci. Ann Neurol. 1983;13(6):642–8.
Sato S, Dreifuss FE, Penry JK, Kirby DD, Palesch Y. Long-term follow-up of absence seizures. Neurology. 1983;33(12):1590–5.
Sillanpaa M, Jalava M, Kaleva O, Shinnar S. Long-term prognosis of seizures with onset in childhood. N Engl J Med. 1998;338(24):1715–22.
Trinka E, Baumgartner S, Unterberger I, Unterrainer J, Luef G, Haberlandt E, et al. Long-term prognosis for childhood and juvenile absence epilepsy. J Neurol. 2004;251(10):1235–41.
Glauser TA, Cnaan A, Shinnar S, Hirtz DG, Dlugos D, Masur D, et al. Ethosuximide, valproic acid, and lamotrigine in childhood absence epilepsy: initial monotherapy outcomes at 12 months. Epilepsia. 2013;54(1):141–55. This article reports longer-term results from a large multi-center, randomized controlled study in children with CAE.
Glauser TA, Cnaan A, Shinnar S, Hirtz DG, Dlugos D, Masur D, et al. Ethosuximide, valproic acid, and lamotrigine in childhood absence epilepsy. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(9):790–9. This article reports initial results from a large multi-center, randomized controlled study in children with CAE.
Henkin Y, Sadeh M, Kivity S, Shabtai E, Kishon-Rabin L, Gadoth N. Cognitive function in idiopathic generalized epilepsy of childhood. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2005;47(2):126–32.
Levav M, Mirsky AF, Herault J, Xiong L, Amir N, Andermann E. Familial association of neuropsychological traits in patients with generalized and partial seizure disorders. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2002;24(3):311–26.
Pavone P, Bianchini R, Trifiletti RR, Incorpora G, Pavone A, Parano E. Neuropsychological assessment in children with absence epilepsy. Neurology. 2001;56(8):1047–51.
Vega C, Guo J, Killory B, Danielson N, Vestal M, Berman R, et al. Symptoms of anxiety and depression in childhood absence epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2011;52(8):e70–4.
Wirrell EC, Camfield CS, Camfield PR, Dooley JM, Gordon KE, Smith B. Long-term psychosocial outcome in typical absence epilepsy. Sometimes a wolf in sheeps’ clothing. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(2):152–8.
Berg AT, Shinnar S, Levy SR, Testa FM, Smith-Rapaport S, Beckerman B. How well can epilepsy syndromes be identified at diagnosis? A reassessment 2 years after initial diagnosis. Epilepsia. 2000;41(10):1269–75.
Jallon P, Loiseau P, Loiseau J. Newly diagnosed unprovoked epileptic seizures: presentation at diagnosis in CAROLE study. Coordination Active du Reseau Observatoire Longitudinal de l’ Epilepsie. Epilepsia. 2001;42(4):464–75.
Panayiotopoulos CP. Typical absence seizures and their treatment. Arch Dis Child. 1999;81(4):351–5.
Proposal for revised classification of epilepsies and epileptic syndromes. Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy. Epilepsia. 1989;30(4):389‒99.
Fisher RS, van Emde BW, Blume W, Elger C, Genton P, Lee P, et al. Epileptic seizures and epilepsy: definitions proposed by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). Epilepsia. 2005;46(4):470–2.
Mullen SA, Suls A, De Jonghe P, Berkovic SF, Scheffer IE. Absence epilepsies with widely variable onset are a key feature of familial GLUT1 deficiency. Neurology. 2010;75(5):432–40.
Bouma PA, Westendorp RG, van Dijk JG, Peters AC, Brouwer OF. The outcome of absence epilepsy: a meta-analysis. Neurology. 1996;47(3):802–8.
Bartolomei F, Roger J, Bureau M, Genton P, Dravet C, Viallat D, et al. Prognostic factors for childhood and juvenile absence epilepsies. Eur Neurol. 1997;37(3):169–75.
Chaix Y, Daquin G, Monteiro F, Villeneuve N, Laguitton V, Genton P. Absence epilepsy with onset before age three years: a heterogeneous and often severe condition. Epilepsia. 2003;44(7):944–9.
Grosso S, Galimberti D, Vezzosi P, Farnetani M, Di Bartolo RM, Bazzotti S, et al. Childhood absence epilepsy: evolution and prognostic factors. Epilepsia. 2005;46(11):1796–801.
Sillanpaa M, Jalava M, Shinnar S. Epilepsy syndromes in patients with childhood-onset seizures in Finland. Pediatr Neurol. 1999;21(2):533–7.
Sinclair DB, Unwala H. Absence epilepsy in childhood: electroencephalography (EEG) does not predict outcome. J Child Neurol. 2007;22(7):799–802.
Wirrell E, Camfield C, Camfield P, Dooley J. Prognostic significance of failure of the initial antiepileptic drug in children with absence epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2001;42(6):760–3.
Wirrell EC, Camfield CS, Camfield PR, Gordon KE, Dooley JM. Long-term prognosis of typical childhood absence epilepsy: remission or progression to juvenile myoclonic epilepsy [see comments]. Neurology. 1996;47(4):912–8.
Wirrell EC, Camfield PR, Camfield CS, Dooley JM, Gordon KE. Accidental injury is a serious risk in children with typical absence epilepsy [see comments]. Arch Neurol. 1996;53(9):929–32.
Yoshinaga H, Ohtsuka Y, Tamai K, Tamura I, Ito M, Ohmori I, et al. EEG in childhood absence epilepsy. Seizure. 2004;13(5):296–302.
Caplan R, Siddarth P, Stahl L, Lanphier E, Vona P, Gurbani S, et al. Childhood absence epilepsy: behavioral, cognitive, and linguistic comorbidities. Epilepsia. 2008;49(11):1838–46.
Masur D, Shinnar S, Cnaan A, Shinnar RC, Clark P, Wang J, et al. Pretreatment cognitive deficits and treatment effects on attention in childhood absence epilepsy. Neurology. 2013;81(18):1572–80.
Shinnar S, Berg AT, Moshe SL, Kang H, O'Dell C, Alemany M, et al. Discontinuing antiepileptic drugs in children with epilepsy: a prospective study. Ann Neurol. 1994;35(5):534–45.
Loiseau P, Duche B, Pedespan JM. Absence epilepsies. Epilepsia. 1995;36(12):1182–6.
Dreifuss FEND. Classification of epilepsies in childhood. In: Pellock JMDW, Bourgeois BF, editors. Pediatric epilepsy: diagnosis and therapy. 2nd ed. New York: Demos Medical Publishing; 2001. p. 74–5.
Wolf P, Inoue Y. Therapeutic response of absence seizures in patients of an epilepsy clinic for adolescents and adults. J Neurol. 1984;231(4):225–9.
Tovia E, Goldberg-Stern H, Shahar E, Kramer U. Outcome of children with juvenile absence epilepsy. J Child Neurol. 2006;21(9):766–8.
Berg AT, Berkovic SF, Brodie MJ, Buchhalter J, Cross JH, van Emde BW, et al. Revised terminology and concepts for organization of seizures and epilepsies: report of the ILAE Commission on Classification and Terminology, 2005‒2009. Epilepsia. 2010;51(4):676–85.
Senbil N, Soyer O, Turanly G, Gurer YK. Fixation-off sensitivity and generalized epileptic EEG induced by eyes closed. Pediatr Neurol. 2006;35(5):363–6.
Striano S, Capovilla G, Sofia V, Romeo A, Rubboli G, Striano P, et al. Eyelid myoclonia with absences (Jeavons syndrome): a well-defined idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndrome or a spectrum of photosensitive conditions? Epilepsia. 2009;50 Suppl 5:15–9.
Panayiotopoulos CP. Typical absence seizures and related epileptic syndromes: assessment of current state and directions for future research. Epilepsia. 2008;49(12):2131–9.
Glauser T, Ben-Menachem E, Bourgeois B, Cnaan A, Chadwick D, Guerreiro C, et al. ILAE treatment guidelines: evidence-based analysis of antiepileptic drug efficacy and effectiveness as initial monotherapy for epileptic seizures and syndromes. Epilepsia. 2006;47(7):1094–120.
Fattore C, Boniver C, Capovilla G, Cerminara C, Citterio A, Coppola G, et al. A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of levetiracetam in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed absence epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2011;52(4):802–9. This article reports results from a recent Class III study evaluating the efficacy of levetiracetam in patients with absence epilepsy.
Genton P. When antiepileptic drugs aggravate epilepsy. Brain Dev. 2000;22(2):75–80.
Guerrini R, Belmonte A, Genton P. Antiepileptic drug-induced worsening of seizures in children. Epilepsia. 1998;39 Suppl 3:S2–S10.
Somerville ER. Some treatments cause seizure aggravation in idiopathic epilepsies (especially absence epilepsy). Epilepsia. 2009;50 Suppl 8:31–6.
Trudeau V, Myers S, LaMoreaux L, Anhut H, Garofalo E, Ebersole J. Gabapentin in naive childhood absence epilepsy: results from two double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter studies. J Child Neurol. 1996;11(6):470–5.
Arya R, Greiner HM, Lewis A, Mangano FT, Gonsalves C, Holland KD, et al. Vagus nerve stimulation for medically refractory absence epilepsy. Seizure. 2013;22(4):267–70. This article reports results from a small retrospective study, evaluating seizure outcomes in patients with absence epilepsy being treated with VNS.
Groomes LB, Pyzik PL, Turner Z, Dorward JL, Goode VH, Kossoff EH. Do patients with absence epilepsy respond to ketogenic diets? J Child Neurol. 2011;26(2):160–5.
Coppola G, Auricchio G, Federico R, Carotenuto M, Pascotto A. Lamotrigine versus valproic acid as first-line monotherapy in newly diagnosed typical absence seizures: an open-label, randomized, parallel-group study. Epilepsia. 2004;45(9):1049–53.
Coppola G, Licciardi F, Sciscio N, Russo F, Carotenuto M, Pascotto A. Lamotrigine as first-line drug in childhood absence epilepsy: a clinical and neurophysiological study. Brain Dev. 2004;26(1):26–9.
Frank LM, Enlow T, Holmes GL, Manasco P, Concannon S, Chen C, et al. Lamictal (lamotrigine) monotherapy for typical absence seizures in children. Epilepsia. 1999;40(7):973–9.
Verrotti A, Cerminara C, Domizio S, Mohn A, Franzoni E, Coppola G, et al. Levetiracetam in absence epilepsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008;50(11):850–3.
Pina-Garza JE, Schwarzman L, Wiegand F, Hulihan J. A pilot study of topiramate in childhood absence epilepsy. Acta Neurol Scand. 2011;123(1):54–9.
Wheless JW, Clarke DF, Carpenter D. Treatment of pediatric epilepsy: expert opinion. J Child Neurol. 2005;20 Suppl 1:S1–S56. quiz S9‒60.
Wheless JW, Clarke DF, Arzimanoglou A, Carpenter D. Treatment of pediatric epilepsy: European expert opinion, 2007. Epileptic Disord. 2007;9(4):353–412.
Appleton RE, Panayiotopoulos CP, Acomb BA, Beirne M. Eyelid myoclonia with typical absences: an epilepsy syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1993;56(12):1312–6.
Striano P, Sofia V, Capovilla G, Rubboli G, Di Bonaventura C, Coppola A, et al. A pilot trial of levetiracetam in eyelid myoclonia with absences (Jeavons syndrome). Epilepsia. 2008;49(3):425–30.
Sato S, White BG, Penry JK, Dreifuss FE, Sackellares JC, Kupferberg HJ. Valproic acid versus ethosuximide in the treatment of absence seizures. Neurology. 1982;32(2):157–63.
Callaghan N, O'Hare J, O'Driscoll D, O'Neill B, Daly M. Comparative study of ethosuximide and sodium valproate in the treatment of typical absence seizures (petit mal). Dev Med Child Neurol. 1982;24(6):830–6.
Martinovic Z. Comparison of ethosuximide with sodium valproate as monotherapies of absence seizures. Advances in Epileptology: XIVth Epilepsy International Symposium, New York: Raven Press; 1983.
Buoni S, Grosso S, Fois A. Lamotrigine in typical absence epilepsy. Brain Dev. 1999;21(5):303–6.
Holmes GL, Frank LM, Sheth RD, Philbrook B, Wooten JD, Vuong A, et al. Lamotrigine monotherapy for newly diagnosed typical absence seizures in children. Epilepsy Res. 2008;82(2–3):124–32.
Compliance with Ethics Guidelines
Conflict of Interest
Jeffrey R. Tenney has received grant support from Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE). Sejal Jain declares that she has no conflict of interest.
Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent
This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Epilepsy
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tenney, J.R., Jain, S.V. Absence Epilepsy: Older vs Newer AEDs. Curr Treat Options Neurol 16, 290 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-014-0290-9
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-014-0290-9