title: Chronic management of seizures in the syndromes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
abstract: As a group, idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs) have the highest rates of complete seizure control with medication. However, there are little evidence-based data to guide drug choice for treatment. Examples of IGE include absence epilepsy, generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy, and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Generalized epilepsies seem to be particularly vulnerable to seizure aggravation, and medications that are primarily effective against partial seizures are more commonly involved in seizure aggravation than other medications. A review of current research has shown that only a few medications can control IGE without potentially causing seizure aggravation. Broad-spectrum antiepileptic drugs such as valproate (VPA), lamotrigine, and topiramate are extremely effective at controlling a variety of seizures without causing excessive seizure aggravation. Among these drugs, VPA has the longest clinical experience history and the largest body of published data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. blaise.bourgeois@tch.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Blaise F D
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D013577:Syndrome; D000077236:Topiramate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000077213:Lamotrigine