Antiepileptic drug therapy: when to start, when to stop.
We are fortunate to practice in an era in which multiple antiepileptic drug (AED) options are available for use in the treatment of epilepsy and seizures. However, clinical decisions regarding when AED therapy should be initiated and when discontinuation can be considered remain complex. It is known that not every patient presenting with a seizure will suffer a recurrence, and some will do well without treatment. It is also known that a certain proportion of patients with a past history of seizures will enter remission, in which case AEDs can be discontinued. In this chapter, the subjects of AED initiation and discontinuation will be reviewed.
Jeffrey W
JW
Britton