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stopping medicine for epilepsy

overview

if you haven't had a seizure in several years, you may ask your doctor if you can slowly stop or reduce your medicine. you and your doctor will need to weigh the benefits of stopping treatment against the risk that your seizures may return.

you have a lower risk of having a seizure after you stop medicine if:

  • you haven't had a seizure in 2 years or more.
  • you have only one type of seizure. (an exception is myoclonic seizures, which usually require lifelong treatment.)
  • your epilepsy started when you were a child or teen.
  • you had only a few seizures before starting treatment.
  • your seizures were easy to control with initial drug therapy using only one medicine.
  • your electroencephalogram (eeg) is consistently normal.
  • brain scans (mri or ct scan) don't show any problems.
  • you have a type of epilepsy that tends to go away (remit), such as benign focal childhood epilepsy.

related information

credits

current as of: december 20, 2023

author: healthwise staff
clinical review board
all healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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this information does not replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise, incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. your use of this information means that you agree to the terms of use and privacy policy. to learn more about healthwise, visit healthwise.org. © 1995-2022 healthwise, incorporated. healthwise, healthwise for every health decision, and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise, incorporated.

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