Epilepsy Prognosis

When a patient has been seizure-free for several consecutive years, it may be possible to discontinue medication, depending on the patient's age and the type of epilepsy. This is only done under the supervision of a physician. As many as three-quarters of adults who have been free of seizures for 3 years remain seizure free after discontinuing drug therapy. More than one-half of children can stop medication without developing seizures.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Epilepsy/Seizures
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The prognosis is not as encouraging for those who have a known focal brain injury, take more than one antiepileptic drug, have a family history of epilepsy, experience partial seizures, or continue to have abnormal EEGs while on medication.

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Physician-developed and -monitored.
Original Date of Publication: 01 Feb 2002
Reviewed by: Gordon R. Kelley, M.D., Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 01 Aug 2008