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Newer Anticonvulsant Medications in Pediatric Neurology

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Neurology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the mainstay of treatment for recurrent seizures. Uncontrolled seizures may cause medical, developmental, and psychological disturbances. The medical practitioner should thus strive to eliminate or minimize seizures. Treatment advances in epilepsy include 1) identification of the basic mechanisms of epilepsy and action of AEDs, 2) the introduction of new AEDs, and 3) the use of neurostimulation, including vagus nerve stimulation. Treatment with AEDs involves balancing each AED’s efficacy against its side effects. In some patients, effective AEDs must be discontinued because of intolerable side effects. Although all AEDs have a proven efficacy, the choice of AEDs should be based on better efficacy for individual seizure types or epilepsy syndromes. Side effects also differ from drug to drug and must be taken into account. This article focuses on studies and expert opinion consensus to guide the choice of AEDs.

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References and Recommended Reading

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin, CC1250, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Michael M. Quach MD & James J. Riviello Jr MD

  2. Section of Pediatric Neurology, University of Chicago, 5721 South Maryland Avenue, MC 3055, Rm. C-391, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Abdul Mazin MD

Authors
  1. Michael M. Quach MD
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  2. Abdul Mazin MD
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  3. James J. Riviello Jr MD
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Correspondence to Michael M. Quach MD.

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Quach, M.M., Mazin, A. & Riviello, J.J. Newer Anticonvulsant Medications in Pediatric Neurology. Curr Treat Options Neurol 12, 518–528 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-010-0094-5

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