What Is Involved in Anticonvulsant Therapy?

Anticonvulsant therapy is therapy for seizures, such as in patients with epilepsy and other disorders that causes convulsions. Usually it involves the use of one or more anticonvulsant medications whose dosages are carefully adjusted to a therapeutic maintenance dose. The goal of anticonvulsant therapy is to keep the patient seizure-free. There are a number of different drugs used to treat epilepsy, available by prescription only in most countries and known by different trade names, according to manufacturer.

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by the recurrence of seizures or fits, caused by a surge or disruption in the electrical impulses in the brain. Epilepsy is divided into various sub-types and will be diagnosed by the treating specialist. In some cases epilepsy may manifest as "blanking out" and in others it may cause fitting. The choice of anticonvulsant therapy will be determined by the doctor according to the type of epilepsy and the clinical picture of each patient.

Establishing the best anticonvulsant therapy regimen may involve the introduction of different medications at various doses under the supervision of the doctor, until the best regimen is found. There is not one regimen that is suitable for everybody and the process may take time. During this time the doctor will monitor both the patient's response to the medication and their tolerance to potential adverse side effects. In non-responsive or severely affected patients, more than one medication may be required.

There are numerous medications which may be used for anticonvulsant therapy, each with their own possible interactions, contraindications and potential for side effects. Dosages and the interval between dosages may also differ between the different drugs. It is essential that the prescribed dosage and dosage interval is maintained to prevent breakthrough seizures in the case of under-dosing or potential toxicity, in the case of over-dosing. The choice of anticonvulsant therapy may also be influenced by pregnancy, desired pregnancy and lactation, so these should be discussed with the prescribing doctor.

When a person is epileptic and on anticonvulsant therapy, they should be aware of the potential interactions with other medications. These include over-the-counter, homeopathic and complementary medicines. The addition of any of these, or prescribed medications, should be discussed with the doctor or pharmacist. The use of alcohol in epileptic patients should also be avoided or minimized, as it may affect both the condition and the medication. A Medic Alert bracelet is recommended in case of seizures.