Treating epilepsy

Reviewed by Dr Dan Rutherford, GP

Reducing the medication
If attacks have been successfully controlled for a few years (about five for adults and two to three for children), it is common practice to gradually reduce the amount of medicine taken.

If the attacks recur, it is usually possible to control them by recommencing the medicine.

Patients should never stop taking their medicine without consulting a doctor, due to the risk of increased attacks.

Is an operation possible?
If it is impossible to gain control of the epilepsy using medicine, an operation should be considered. This kind of treatment is normally used in cases of epilepsy of the temporal lobe.

Nevertheless, surgery can only be considered in cases where there is only one focus for the epilepsy, and when it can be removed without any risk of permanent injury (paralysis, speech disturbances etc). This, unfortunately, is only possible in a minority of cases.

Support groups

Epilepsy Action

National Society for Epilepsy

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