Medication for Seizures in Children

A seizure occurs when the brain suddenly has a surge of electrical activity. Seizures often result from an underlying disorder. A child who has a seizure may jerk their body uncontrollably or lose consciousness. To control seizures, various seizure medications provide beneficial results

Function

Medication for seizures lessen the activity in the brain which decreases the likelihood of a child having a seizure.

Time Frame

Children generally take seizure medications daily for months or years at a time. The amount of time and frequency depends on factors such as how well children respond to these medications.

Types

Types of seizure medications prescribed to children include carbamazepine, ethosuximide and valproate.

Side Effects

The numerous side effects of many seizure medications include fatigue, nausea, weight loss and dizziness.

Misconceptions

These medications will not cure the underlying problems causing seizures in children. However, they reduce the frequency of seizures from occurring.

Warning

Seizures may indicate a serious medical condition in a child such as epilepsy. Before prescribing medications, a doctor will evaluate whether a child has any of these serious medical conditions and then determine the benefits of using seizure medications.

References

• Epilepsy- Introduction
• Traumatic Brain Injury Survial Guide- Function
• WebMd- Time Frame, Types, Side Effects, Misconceptions,Warning