Epilepsy: treatment withdrawal
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Epilepsy: treatment withdrawal. It leads to a better quality of life. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Benefits of AED withdrawal
- It leads to a better quality of life
- It does not impair the long-term outcome of epilepsy
Seizure relapse risk after AED withdrawal
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Consequences of failed AED withdrawal
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References
- Lamberink HJ, Otte WM, Geerts AT, et al. Individualised prediction model of seizure recurrence and long-term outcomes after withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs in seizure-free patients: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. Lancet Neurol 2017; 16:523-531.
- Zou X, Hong Z, Chen J, Zhou D. Is antiepileptic drug withdrawal status related to quality of life in seizure-free adult patients with epilepsy? Epilepsy Behav 2014; 31:129-135.
- Chadwick D, Taylor J, Johnson T. Outcomes after seizure recurrence in people with well-controlled epilepsy and the factors that influence it. The MRC Antiepileptic Drug Withdrawal Group. Epilepsia 1996; 37:1043-1050.
- Schmidt D, Sillanpää M. Stopping epilepsy treatment in seizure remission: good or bad or both? Seizure 2017; 44:157-161.
- Mesraoua B, Perucca E, Tomson T, Asadi-Pooya AA. Should antiseizure medications be withdrawn after an extended period of seizure freedom in individuals with adult-onset epilepsy? Epilepsy Behav 2023; 142:109205.
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