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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
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Australian Prescriber Vol. 27 No. 5 2004
Withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs in seizure-free adults
People with epilepsy need medication to stop them having fits. If they have not had a fit for several years, they may be able to reduce their medication. Whether they can completely stop their medication depends on a number of factors. These factors include how old they were when they developed epilepsy, what kind of fits they had and whether their brain scan is normal.
Stopping the medication can make the fits come back. This could result in the person losing their driving licence or being injured. They may be unable to work until their fits are controlled again. People therefore need to talk to their doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of stopping treatment.
If a decision is made to try and stop treatment, the patient's medication should be gradually reduced over several months.
