List of Treatments for Epilepsy

Aptiom (Eslicarbazepine acetate)

Overview
Aptiom is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults who experience partial-onset seizures. Aptiom is indicated as an adjunct to existing medications when a… read more

Banzel (Rufinamide)

Overview
Banzel is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in people one year of age and older. Banzel is indicated as an… read more

Briviact (Brivaracetam)

Overview
Briviact is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures in people 16 years of age and older who have epilepsy. Briviact is used in combination… read more

Carbamazepine

Overview
Carbamazepine is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures with complex symptomatology, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and other… read more

Carbatrol (Carbamazepine)

Overview
Carbatrol is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of seizures. In people with epilepsy, Carbatrol is used to prevent most types of seizures except… read more

Carnexiv (Carbamazepine)

The Carnexiv brand name has been discontinued in the U.S. Generic alternatives may be available.

Overview

Carnexiv is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset…

Complementary and alternative therapies

Overview
Many people with epilepsy try incorporating non-traditional therapies into their treatment plan. These treatments may be in addition to (complementary) or instead of (alternative) traditional drug therapies and… read more

Corpus callosotomy

Overview

Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Depacon (Valproate sodium)

Overview
Depacon is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat several types of seizures. In some situations, Depacon is used as a monotherapy, but in some cases Depacon is used as an adjunctive therapy… read more

Depakene (Valproic acid)

The Depakene brand name has been discontinued in the U.S. Generic alternatives may be available.

Overview

Depakene is a prescription drug that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat seizures…

Depakote (Divalproex sodium)

Overview
Depakote is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control various types of seizures, including complex partial seizures and simple and complex absence seizures. Depakote… read more

Diastat AcuDial (Diazepam)

Overview
Diastat AcuDial is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients 2 years of age and older who are on stable antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) but require occasional use… read more

Dilantin (Phenytoin)

Overview
Dilantin is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) and complex partial-onset seizures. Dilantin is also referred to by its… read more

Elepsia XR (Levetiracetam)

Overview
Elepsia XR is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat partial-onset seizures in adults and children older than 12 years. Elepsia XR is also referred to by its drug name,… read more

Epidiolex (Cannabidiol)

Overview
Epidiolex is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome in individuals two years of age and older.… read more

Eprontia (Topiramate oral solution)

Overview
Eprontia is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and seizures associated with… read more

Extratemporal cortical resection

Overview

Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Felbatol (Felbamate)

Overview
Felbatol is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of severe epilepsy in adults when other drugs cannot effectively control seizures. Since Felbatol… read more

Fintepla (Fenfluramine)

Overview
Fintepla is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat seizures associated with Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in people at least 2 years old.… read more

Frontal lobectomy

Overview
Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Functional hemispherectomy

Overview

Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Fycompa (Perampanel)

Overview
Fycompa is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures and partial-onset seizures in people 12 years of age and older.… read more

Gabitril (Tiagabine)

Overview
Gabitril is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of partial seizures in people with epilepsy who are 12 years and older. Gabitril is usually… read more

Keppra (Levetiracetam)

Overview
Keppra is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Keppra is prescribed for the treatment of partial onset seizures in people with epilepsy ages one month and older;… read more

Ketogenic diet

Overview
The ketogenic diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. Doctors may recommend the ketogenic diet for children whose epilepsy does not respond to AEDs.

What does it involve?
The ketogenic focuses on a… read more

Klonopin (Clonazepam)

Overview
Klonopin is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat seizure disorders. Klonopin is most often used to treat absence seizures, myoclonic seizures, and… read more

Lamictal (Lamotrigine)

Overview
Lamictal is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut… read more

Lesionectomy

Overview

Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Lyrica (Pregabalin)

Overview
Lyrica is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005 as an adjunctive medication for the treatment of partial seizures in adults and children with epilepsy. Lyrica… read more

Melatonin

Overview

Melatonin is a hormone that promotes sleep. Melatonin is produced naturally by the body. Studies have shown that people with epilepsy have lower-than-normal levels of melatonin. It is unknown whether… read more

Multiple subpial transection (MST)

Overview

Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Mysoline (Primidone)

Overview
Mysoline is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control grand mal (tonic-clonic), psychomotor, and focal epileptic seizures. Mysoline is also referred to by its drug… read more

Nayzilam (Midazolam)

Overview
Nayzilam is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a short-term treatment for seizure clusters in people 12 years of age and older. Nayzilam is also known by its drug… read more

Neurontin (Gabapentin)

Overview
Neurontin is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures in people three years of age and older. Neurontin is usually prescribed in addition to… read more

Occipital lobectomy

Overview
Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Oxtellar XR (Oxcarbazepine)

Overview
Oxtellar XR is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures in people six years of age and older. Oxtellar XR may be prescribed as monotherapy (a… read more

Parietal lobectomy

Overview
Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Peganone (Ethotoin)

Overview
Peganone is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat tonic-clonic and complex partial seizures. Peganone is also referred to by its drug name, ethotoin.

Peganone is… read more

Phenobarbital

Phenobarbital is a prescription medication that has been sold since 1912 for the treatment of seizures. In people with epilepsy, Phenobarbital is used to prevent all types of seizures except absence seizures, and to… read more

Phenytek (Phenytoin)

Overview
Phenytek is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) and complex partial-onset seizures. Phenytek is also referred to by its… read more

Qudexy XR (Topiramate)

Overview
Qudexy XR is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut… read more

Responsive neurostimulation (RNS)

Overview
Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). For people with frequent, disabling partial onset seizures imperfectly controlled by… read more

Right frontal lobectomy

Overview
Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Sabril (Vigabatrin)

Overview
Sabril is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control spasms in infants one month to two years of age and, in combination with other medications, refractory complex… read more

Tegretol (Carbamazepine)

Overview
Tegretol is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures with complex symptomatology, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and other generalized… read more

Temporal lobe resection

Overview

Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Temporal lobectomy

Overview
Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Topamax (Topiramate)

Overview
Topamax is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut… read more

Tranxene (Clorazepate Dipotassium)

Overview
Tranxene is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures in people 10 years of age and older. Tranxene is used in combination with other… read more

Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine)

Overview
Trileptal is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of partial-onset seizures. Trileptal may be prescribed as monotherapy (a stand-alone drug) or as an… read more

Trokendi XR (Topiramate)

Overview
Trokendi XR is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and seizures associated with… read more

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

Overview
Approximately 20 percent of people with epilepsy cannot adequately control their seizures with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Other people experience serious side effects from AEDs that impact their quality of… read more

Valium (Diazepam)

Overview
Valium is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and convulsive disorders. In cases of epilepsy, Valium is sometimes prescribed off-label… read more

Valtoco (Diazepam nasal spray)

Overview
Valtoco is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat acutely adults and children 6 years of age and older for intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure… read more

Vimpat (Lacosamide)

Overview
Vimpat is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures in people 4 years of age and older. Vimpat may be prescribed alone or together with other… read more

Xcopri (Cenobamate tablets)

Overview
Xcopri is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with partial-onset seizures. Xcopri is also referred to by its drug name, cenobamate tablets.

Xcopri is… read more

Zarontin (Ethosuximide)

Overview
Zarontin is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control absence (petit mal) seizures in epilepsy. Zarontin is frequently prescribed for children with childhood absence… read more

Zonegran (Zonisamide)

Overview
Zonegran is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control partial-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. Zonegran is used in combination with other anticonvulsant… read more

Zonisade (Zonisamide oral suspension)

Overview
Zonisade is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an adjunctive therapy (a therapy used with a primary treatment) to control partial-onset seizures in people 16… read more