Treatment Strategy for Adult Epilepsy: A Current Approach

Abstract

The current treatment strategy for adult epilepsy will change significantly in the near future after monotherapy as well as adjunctive therapy using new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), which have been approved. These new AEDs have unique mechanisms of action with or without a broad spectrum. They have advantages of fewer adverse effects, including central nervous system manifestations and teratogenicity, and fewer or no pharmacokinetic drug interactions, although they lack enhanced efficacy compared to the current AEDs. In addition, the new AEDs do not result in adverse effects associated with the long-term use of the previous AEDs, such as osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia. The use of new AEDs is particularly recommended for elderly patients and young women with epilepsy. Further, their use does not result in seizures or cause adverse effects, which is the goal of epilepsy treatment.