Acetazolamide (a SEET a ZOLE a mide) has been FDA-approved for the treatment of, along with other drugs, centrencephalic epilepsies (absence, generalized seizures).
Brivaracetam (briv a RA se tam) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal (partial) onset seizures in patients 1 month of age and older.
Cannabidiol (KAN a bi DYE ol) has been approved by the FDA to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex in patients 1 year of age and older.
Carbamazepine (kar ba MAZ e peen) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal (partial) seizures with complex symptomatology (psychomotor, temporal lobe). Patients with these seizures appear to show greater improvement than those with other types.
Cenobamate (SEN oh BAM ate) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal onset seizures in adult patients.
Clobazam (KLOE ba zam) has been approved by the FDA as adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients 2 years of age or older.
Clonazepam (kloe NAZ e pam) has been approved by the FDA to treat Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (tonic-clonic variant), akinetic, and myoclonic seizures, both alone or as adjunctive treatment. In patients with absence seizures (petit mal) who have failed to respond to succinimides, clonazepam may be useful.
Clorazepate (klor AZ e pate) has been approved by the FDA as adjunctive therapy to treat focal seizures.
Corticotropin (KOR ti koe TROE pin) has been approved by the FDA as monotherapy in the treatment of infantile spasm in infants and children under 2 years of age.
Diazepam is a member of a group of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are commonly used in epilepsy as a rescue medicine on an “as needed” basis.
Eslicarbazepine acetate (ES li Kar BAZ e peen) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older.
Ethosuximide (ETH oh SUX i mide) has been approved by the FDA to control absence (petit mal) epilepsy.
Ethotoin (ETH-oh-toin) has been approved by the FDA to control tonic-clonic (grand mal) and focal-onset impaired awareness (psychomotor) seizures.
Felbamate belongs to a class of medicines called anticonvulsants. It acts in the brain to prevent seizures. However, this medicine cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it.
Fenfluramine (fen FLUR a meen) has been approved by the FDA to treat seizures associated with Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older.
Fosphenytoin sodium (fos FEN i toyn) has been approved by the FDA to treat tonic-clonic status epilepticus and as prevention and/or treatment of seizures occurring during neurosurgery.
Gabapentin (GA ba PEN tin) has been approved by the FDA as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of focal onset seizures, with and without secondary generalization, in pediatric patients 3 years and older with epilepsy.
Lacosamide (la KOE sa mide) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older and for use with other anti-seizure medications for patients 4 years and older with primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Lamotrigine (la MOE tri jeen) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, or generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, used together with other anti-seizure medications (ASM) in patients 2 years and older.
Levetiracetam (LEE ve tye RA se tam) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal-onset seizures in patients 1 month and older, myoclonic seizures in patients 12 years and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 6 years and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
(Brand names: Ativan (also Injection and Intensol), Tavor (EU), Tempesta (UK), generics)
Lorazepam (lor A ze pam) has been approved by the FDA to treat status epilepticus as a component of the management of seizure emergencies (injectable only).
Methsuximide (meth SUX i mide) has been approved by the FDA to control absence (petit mal) seizures that are not helped by other drugs.
Midazolam (my DAZ oh lam) has been approved by the FDA for the acute treatment of intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity (i.e., seizure clusters, acute repetitive seizures) that are distinct from a patient’s usual seizure pattern in patients with epilepsy 12 years of age and older (nasal spray only).
Oxcarbazepine (ox kar BAY zeh peen) has been approved by the FDA as monotherapy OR adjunctive therapy in the treatment of focal seizures in adults, as monotherapy in the treatment of focal seizures in children 4–16 years old, and as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of focal seizures in children 2–16 years old. Extended-release tablets are also available to treat focal-onset seizures in patients 6 years or older.
Perampanel (per AM pa nel) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal-onset seizures (with or without secondarily generalized seizures) in patients 4 years and older and as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 12 years and older.
Phenobarbital (FEE noe BAR bi tal) is used as an anticonvulsant. This labeling has not been approved by the FDA and it has not been found by the FDA to be safe and effective.
Phenytoin (FEN i toyn) has been approved by the FDA to treat tonic-clonic (grand mal) psychomotor (temporal lobe) seizures, as well as for the prevention and treatment of seizures occurring during or following neurosurgery.
Pregabalin (pre GAB a lin) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal-onset seizures in patients 1 month or older.
Primidone (PRIM i done) has been approved by the FDA to treat tonic-clonic (grand mal), temporal lobe, and focal seizures. It may also control tonic-clonic seizures that are resistant to other anticonvulsant treatments.
Rufinamide (roo FIN a mide) has been approved by the FDA to control seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in pediatric patients 1 year of age and older (when used with other anti-seizure medications) and in adults.
Stiripentol (STIR i PEN tol) has been approved by the FDA to treat seizures associated with Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older taking clobazam.
Tiagabine (tye AG a been) has been approved by the FDA as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of focal seizures in both adults and children over the age of 12.
Topiramate (toe PYRE a mate) has been approved by the FDA as initial monotherapy for focal-onset or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients 2 years and older, and as adjunctive therapy for focal-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, or seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older.
Valproic acid (val PRO ik) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal impaired awareness seizures, absence seizures, and in patients with multiple seizure types (that include absence seizures).
Vigabatrin (vye GA ba trin) has been approved by the FDA as adjunctive therapy in refractory focal onset impaired awareness seizures in patients 2 years or older. In this instance, vigabatrin is not indicated as a first-line agent and should only be used on patients who have responded inadequately to several alternative treatments.
Zonisamide (zoe NIS a mide) has been approved by the FDA to treat focal-onset seizures in adults with epilepsy.