The Treatable Epilepsies

Abstract

Antiepileptic Drug TreatmentThe Start of TherapyAntiepileptic drug treatment is obligatory when a diagnosis of generalized or partial epilepsy has been made.³¹ The aim is to control epileptic seizures in the absence of systemic or neurologic toxicity. Treatment should be started with one antiepileptic agent, preferably a first-choice drug. Table 3 summarizes some of the pharmacologic properties of the antiepileptic drugs most commonly used as single agents (monotherapy). The practitioner should try to achieve plasma concentrations that are known to stop seizures (the therapeutic range). In general, because plasma clearance is initially lower in "naive" patients — i.e., those who have . . .