When should seizure medication be stopped?

Quitting medication suddenly can lead to a withdrawal seizure. Your doctor will lower your dose over time. Children may be completely off medication in as little as 1 month. For adults, it’s usually between 1 and 6 months, though some doctors think 3 months is the minimum.

Can a person become seizure free?

Many people can start treatment and become seizure free within a few years. Some of these people will never have any more seizures. Some others will have occasional breakthrough seizures or side effects of medicines, and some will continue to have uncontrolled seizures.

Can seizures disappear?

While many forms of epilepsy require lifelong treatment to control the seizures, for some people the seizures eventually go away. The odds of becoming seizure-free are not as good for adults or for children with severe epilepsy syndromes, but it is possible that seizures may decrease or even stop over time.

Can you outgrow epilepsy seizures?

Most children who have epilepsy — which by definition means that they’ve had more than one seizure — will outgrow the condition. Most children with epilepsy are perfectly healthy and normal in other ways. 70\% to 80\% of children with epilepsy can control the condition completely with medication.

What happens if you take epilepsy pills but don’t have epilepsy?

You may be having seizures, but something other than epilepsy is causing them. Taking antiepileptic drugs when you do not have epilepsy may not stop you from having seizures. If you do have epilepsy, the diagnosis of your seizure type may still be wrong. Seizures are hard to describe and hard to classify.

How long do you have to be seizure free?

Seizures are unpredictable, and even a small one at the wrong time can lead to an injury or death. The best solution, if possible, is to get them under control. In most states, you must be seizure-free for anywhere from 6 months to a year before you’ll be allowed to drive.

When are you considered seizure-free?

As a general rule, adult patients should have been seizure-free for at least two years before discontinuation is considered. In children with epilepsy where the prognosis is known to be good, discontinuation may be considered earlier.

How long do you have to be seizure-free?

Is it possible to have a seizure without medication?

Most people with well-controlled seizures would like to stop taking their seizure medicines. In some cases, this can be done with the supervision of your doctor. You have the best chance of remaining seizure-free without medication if: There are no guarantees, however.

How long do you have to take medication after a seizure?

Most doctors will consider tapering the dosage and discontinuing your seizure medicines after a seizure-free period of 2 to 4 years. If you have had only one seizure, some doctors will consider discontinuing the medicine if you have been seizure-free for 6 to 12 months.

How long does it take to become seizure free from epilepsy?

Twenty years after the diagnosis, 75 out of 100 people will have been seizure free for at least 5 years, although some may still need to take daily medication. People who have surgery and become seizure free may be able to come off seizure medicine.

When can a child stop having seizures on their own?

Certain types of seizures in children usually stop on their own by a certain age. For instance, the seizures of benign rolandic epilepsy are very unlikely to occur again after age 16 years, so many doctors will allow teenagers with this type to stop taking their seizure medicine at about that age.