changing drug treatment

Last reviewed 01/2018

Anti-epileptic medication is changed if:

  • unacceptable side effects
  • failure of treatment
  • on an inappropriate drug

When changing to a new drug:

  • start at initial dose and slowly increase until in the middle of its therapeutic range
  • when new drug in middle of therapeutic range then it is possible to slowly withdraw old drug - over a period of about 6 weeks