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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, August 29, 2008
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, August 29, 2008
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved nine drugs for treatment of epilepsy since 1992. The new drugs have provided more options for patients who have epilepsy. They have also enabled many patients with epilepsy to have better control of their seizures. More than 2.5 million Americans have epilepsy and approximately 35% have poorly controlled epilepsy.
The new drugs are:
Other treatments for epilepsy include the vagus nerve stimulator (VNS). This pacemaker-like device is designed to provide a small electrical stimulus to the left vagus nerve (in the neck). Seizures may be reduced with this device. See the Epilepsy Foundation for more information.
Epilepsy surgery may be an option for patients with partial epilepsy. A recent trial showed that surgery was a better option compared to medication for patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. See the Epilepsy Foundation for more information.
There are other medications and stimulation devices currently in clinical trials. See ClinicalTrials.gov for more information.
Last Reviewed: Jan 30, 2008
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David M. Ficker, MD Associate Professor Department of Neurology College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
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Please note: only your personal physician or other health professional you consult can best advise you on matters of your health based on your medical history, your family medical history, your medication history, and how information from any of these databases may apply to you. Neither University of Cincinnati (NetWellness) nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this web site shall be liable for any damages arising out of access to or use of this web site, or any errors or omissions in the content thereof. (More) |