Medications Used to Treat Seizures

Absence seizures when other antiseizure medications are ineffective

Kidney stones, dehydration, and chemical imbalances in the blood

Dravet syndrome

Tonic or atonic seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome*

Drowsiness, liver damage, loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, and diarrhea

Focal-onset seizures

Secondarily generalized-onset seizures (including focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures)

A low white blood cell count (neutropenia), production of too few blood cells (aplastic anemia, which can be fatal), a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), a severe rash, digestive upset, liver damage, slurred speech (dysarthria), lethargy, dizziness, and double vision

Focal-onset seizures with or without focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures†

Dizziness, double vision, sleepiness, fatigue and, rarely, suicidal thoughts

Absence seizures

Dravet syndrome

Focal-onset or focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures† when other antiseizure medications are ineffective

Sometimes tonic or atonic seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome*

Drowsiness, constipation, loss of coordination, thoughts of suicide, dependency on the medication, irritability, and difficulty swallowing

Atonic seizures

Atypical absence seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome*

Epileptic (infantile) spasms

Myoclonic seizures

Drowsiness, abnormal behavior, loss of coordination, and loss of effectiveness of the medication after 1 to 6 months

Divalproex‡

Absence seizures

Epileptic spasms

Febrile seizures

Focal-onset seizures

Generalized-onset tonic-clonic seizures

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Myoclonic seizures

Neonatal seizures

Tonic or atonic seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome*

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, temporary drowsiness, shaking (tremor), reversible hair loss, weight gain, and liver damage

A somewhat higher risk of spinal cord, spine, or brain birth defects (neural tube defects) than with other antiseizure medications

Focal-onset seizures

Dizziness or shakiness, double or blurred vision, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, a low sodium level in the blood, thoughts of suicide, and skin reactions, such as rash (sometimes serious)

Absence seizures

Nausea, lethargy, dizziness, headache, rash, and a low blood cell count (of all types of blood cells)

Used only when other antiseizure medications are ineffective

Atypical absence seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome*

Focal-onset seizures

Headache, fatigue, liver failure, and, rarely, aplastic anemia (which can be fatal)

Focal impaired-awareness seizures

Status epilepticus

Focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures†

Prevention of seizures after a head injury

Loss of coordination, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, itching, and tingling sensations

Focal-onset seizures

Focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures†

Drowsiness, dizziness, weight gain, and headache

In children, sleepiness, aggressive behavior, mood swings, and hyperactivity

Focal-onset seizures

Generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people 4 years or older

Dizziness, double vision, and thoughts of suicide

Focal-onset seizures

Generalized-onset seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome*

Generalized-onset tonic-clonic seizures

Nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, loss of coordination, double vision, tremor, abnormal menstrual periods, and rash

Focal-onset seizures

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Myoclonic seizures

Generalized-onset seizures

Status epilepticus

Dizziness, weakness, fatigue, loss of coordination, and changes in mood and behavior

Focal-onset seizures

Headache, abdominal pain, double vision, drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and low sodium levels in the blood

Focal-onset seizures

Generalized-onset tonic-clonic seizures

Aggressiveness, changes in mood and behavior, thoughts of suicide, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, falls, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, headache, weight gain, abdominal pain, and problems walking

Focal-onset seizures

Generalized-onset tonic-clonic seizures

Neonatal seizures

Status epilepticus

Drowsiness, abnormal eye movements (nystagmus), loss of coordination, anemia, and rash

In children, hyperactivity and learning difficulties

Focal impaired-awareness seizures

Focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures†

Prevention of seizures after a head injury

Swollen gums, a low red blood cell count (anemia), loss of bone density, excessive hairiness (hirsutism), rash, and swollen glands

Focal-onset seizures

Dizziness, drowsiness, loss of coordination, blurred vision, double vision, tremor, and weight gain

Focal-onset seizures

Drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, slow thinking, abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, and tremor

Atypical absence seizures

Dravet syndrome

Focal-onset seizures

Generalized-onset tonic-clonic seizures

Confusion, reduced concentration, difficulty finding words, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight, numbness or tingling, reduced sweating, and kidney stones

Valproate‡

Absence seizures

Dravet syndrome

Febrile seizures

Focal-onset seizures

Generalized-onset tonic-clonic seizures

Epileptic spasms

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Myoclonic seizures

Neonatal seizures

Tonic or atonic seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome*

Status epilepticus

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight gain, reversible hair loss, temporary drowsiness, tremor, and, rarely, liver damage

A somewhat higher risk of spinal cord, spine, or brain birth defects (neural tube defects) than with other antiseizure medications

Epileptic spasms

Focal-onset seizures

Drowsiness, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and permanent changes in vision

Focal-onset seizures

Sometimes tonic or atonic seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome*

Drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, difficulty finding words, loss of coordination, kidney stones, loss of appetite and weight, and nausea