Medications for seizure disorders

Medications for Seizure Disorders
Brand Name
Potential* Adverse Reactions or Side Effects
Commonly Used For
(some are rare)
Lorazepam
ƒ Poor coordination ƒ Fatigue ƒ Behavior changes ƒ Unsteadiness Carbatrol Carbamazepine
ƒ Blurred or double vision ƒ Nausea ƒ Abnormal blood count (rare) ƒ Skin rashes Celontin Methsuximide
ƒ Appetite loss ƒ Clumsiness ƒ Rash ƒ Drowsiness ƒ Abnormal blood count (rare) ƒ Dizziness Depakene/
Valproic Acid
ƒ Menstrual irregularities ƒ Hair loss Depakote
Primary or Secondarily Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Diamox Acetazolamide
ƒ Appetite loss ƒ Kidney stones ƒ Drowsiness ƒ Confusion ƒ Numbness of extremities ƒ Frequent urination Diastat Diazepam
ƒ Poor coordination ƒ Fatigue ƒ Behavior change ƒ Unsteadiness Dilantin Phenytoin
Felbatol Felbamate
Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Gabitril
Tiagabine
ƒ Drowsiness, dizziness, lack of energy ƒ Muscle weakness ƒ Nausea ƒ Abdominal pain ƒ Tremulousness ƒ Difficulty concentrating ƒ Nervousness Klonopin Clonazepam
ƒ Poor coordination ƒ Fatigue ƒ Behavior changes ƒ Unsteadiness Keppra Levetiracetam
Lamictal Lamotrigine
Partial & Secondarily Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Brand Name
Potential* Adverse Reactions or Side Effects
Commonly Used For
(some are rare)
Mysoline Primidone
Neurontin Gabapentin
Partial & Secondarily Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures Phenobarbital
Tegretol Carbamazepine
Tegretol XR
Extended
Carbamazepine
ƒ Abnormal blood counts (rare) ƒ Skin rashes Topamax Topiramate
Tranxene Clorazepate
Trileptal Oxcarbazepine
ƒ Fatigue ƒ Dizziness children as young as 4 years in ƒ Double vision ƒ Nausea Valium Diazepam
ƒ Poor coordination ƒ Fatigue ƒ Behavior changes ƒ Unsteadiness Zarontin Exthosuximide
ƒ Stomach Cramps ƒ Appetite Loss ƒ Fatigue Zonegran Zonisamide

* IMPORTANT NOTES:
Side-effects are individual to each person. Some of these side-effects are very rare. Patients should be aware of and talk to their physician first if the pharmacist wants to switches them from a brand name to a generic and from one generic to another generic. This table is not a comprehensive or complete list of the possible side-effects or the uses of medications to control seizures. The table is only to be used as a very general overview or guide. Those who care for or are responsible for individuals with seizures in their home, school, clinic, day-care facility, hospital, college or residential facility should obtain more specific information about the medication(s) used by those in your care. Readers are encouraged to obtain other published, scientific information about these medications and their uses. Some of these medications are also prescribed for other purposes and in other age groups not included on this list. That is a decision of the treating physician. This table is provided as a service and should not be used to make decisions about treatment.

Source: http://www.end-epilepsy.org/public/File/Materials_-_Seizure_MEDS-English.pdf