Epilepsy treatment: how to control seizures and stay safe

Have seizures started to shape your life? Good epilepsy care can cut seizures, lower risks, and help you feel more in control. This guide focuses on real choices—medicines, safety moves, and when to ask for specialist care—so you can act, not just worry.

Choosing the right medication

Most people start with one anti-seizure medicine. Common options include valproate (Depakote), levetiracetam, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and newer drugs. Each drug works differently and has different side effects. For example, valproate can be very effective but raises risks in pregnancy and needs careful discussion if you can become pregnant. Lamotrigine may cause a dangerous rash in rare cases, while levetiracetam sometimes affects mood. Your neurologist will pick a drug based on your seizure type, age, other health issues, and possible drug interactions.

If one drug doesn't stop seizures, doctors usually try a second medicine. If seizures persist after two appropriate drugs, ask about an epilepsy center. That’s the point where tests like video EEG, high-resolution MRI, or specialist review can point to surgery or device options.

Options beyond pills

Surgery can cure or greatly reduce seizures for some people, especially when seizures start from a single brain area. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) are devices that reduce seizure frequency when surgery isn’t an option. The ketogenic diet—high fat, low carb—can be very helpful for some children and adults who don’t respond to drugs. Each option comes with trade-offs; a specialist can explain risks and likely benefits for your case.

Practical safety tips matter every day. Keep a seizure diary with date, length, trigger, and recovery. Wear medical ID if you have convulsive seizures. Avoid clear triggers: don’t skip sleep, limit alcohol, and treat stress. If you know you’re photosensitive, use screen filters and avoid flickering lights.

Know emergency rules: call for help if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, if breathing doesn’t return to normal, or if seizures repeat without recovery. Never try to stop a seizure with force; keep the person safe from injury, roll them onto their side, and time the event.

Medication safety: take doses on schedule, don’t stop suddenly, and discuss side effects with your doctor. Some anti-seizure drugs change how birth control works or affect bone health and liver tests; blood tests and checks are often needed. Be cautious buying meds online—use licensed pharmacies and get scripts from your doctor.

If seizures are affecting school, work, or driving, bring this up. Small changes—treatment tweaks, therapy for mood or sleep, or workplace adjustments—can make a big difference. Talk openly with your neurologist about goals: fewer side effects, fewer seizures, or quality-of-life improvements. That makes a real plan, not just a prescription.