Antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy, the mainstay of treatment for most patients, has four goals: to

eliminate seizures or reduce their frequency to the maximum degree possible, to evade the adverse
effects associated with long-term treatment, and to aid patients in maintaining or restoring their usual
psychosocial and vocational activities, and in maintaining a normal lifestyle. 4 The decision to start AED
therapy should be based on an informed analysis of the likelihood of seizure recurrence, the
consequences of continuing seizures for patients, and the beneficial and adverse effects of the
pharmacological agent chosen.13

In January 2010, the FDA approved lamotrigine extended-release tablets as once-daily, add-on therapy
for epilepsy in patients 13 years of age and older with primary generalized tonicclonic seizures 22 and
with partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalization.
Newer AEDs are more expensive than the older drugs; this is clearly a problem for some individuals who
must pay for their own medications. Common older drugs include valproic acid, phenytoin,
carbamazepine, primidone, ethosuximide, clonazepam, and phenobarbital. Newer agents are
gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine, levetiracetam, zonisamide, oxcarbazepine, pregabalin,
eslicarbazepine, vigabatrin, lacosamide, and rufinamide.

Newer AEDs are more expensive than the older drugs; this is clearly a problem for some individuals who
must pay for their own medications. Common older drugs include valproic acid, phenytoin,
carbamazepine, primidone, ethosuximide, clonazepam, and phenobarbital. Newer agents are
gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine, levetiracetam, zonisamide, oxcarbazepine, pregabalin,
eslicarbazepine, vigabatrin, lacosamide, and rufinamide.