if epilepsy not controlled by drug therapy

Last reviewed 01/2018

If anti-epileptic medication has not been successful, consider whether:

  • the correct diagnosis has been made
  • the patient is on the correct drug
  • the drug is at its maximum dose

Appropriate paths to follow might be:

  • if patient is not on appropriate drug then change it - see menu
  • if seizures are not controlled consider using more than one drug then seek expert advice
  • if patient has refractory disabling temporal lobe epilepsy then neurosurgical referral for possible temporal lobectomy may be appropriate