Anti-epileptic drugs with minimal side effects

Epilepsy is a type of brain dysfunction that is prone to recurring and is a neurological disease. The onset of epilepsy is closely related to age. Usually, the incidence is highest in children under one year old, and the incidence decreases after one year old. As long as you are diagnosed with epilepsy, you will inevitably face treatment. There are many kinds of treatment methods, among which drug treatment is very commonly used. Then which anti-epileptic drug has the least side effects becomes a concern for patients.

1. Anti-epileptic drugs with the least side effects are often used for major seizures and localized seizures: phenytoin sodium, phenobarbital, primidone, diazepam, and chlordiazepoxide are often used for minor seizures: 1. Ethosuximide: The first choice for absence seizures. However, it can aggravate severe seizures, and patients with severe seizures should be treated with phenobarbital or phenytoin sodium. Do not stop suddenly. 2. Phensuximide (Milontin): Similar to ethosuximide, it is used for absence seizures and psychomotor seizures. 3. Trimethadione (Tridione): It reduces the excitability of the cerebral cortex and diencephalon, shortens their subsequent discharge activities, and has a significant effect on minor seizures, but the effect is slow (it takes 2 to 4 days to show effect), and is only used for prevention. Long-term use can easily lead to accumulation; it is highly toxic and gastrointestinal reactions are a precursor to serious reactions. 4. Vanillin: It is an extract from Gastrodia elata. It can counteract convulsions caused by pentylenetetrazol and the epileptic-like brain waves it induces. It is effective for all types of epilepsy, especially minor seizures. Adverse reactions are mild. 5. Acetazolamide (Diamox): It is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, which increases the excretion of Na+, K+, and HCO3- in urine, artificially causing acidemia and hypokalemia, increasing the production of inhibitory neurotransmitter g-aminobutyric acid in the brain and hyperpolarizing membrane potential, thus reducing neuromuscular excitability and alleviating cerebral edema. It is more effective for minor seizures, and also has significant effects on major seizures and psychomotor seizures. This product has cross allergic reaction with sulfonamides and should not be used by such patients.

2. Medication principles 1. Start with a small dose and gradually adjust to the limit of controlling the onset; 2. Single medication, only consider combined use when ineffective, generally not more than 3 types; 3. Take medication regularly; 4. Do not change medication casually. When it is necessary to change, the dose of the original medication should be gradually reduced while the dose of the new medication should be gradually increased to prevent inducing attacks; 5. Adhere to long-term treatment to reduce recurrence. Generally, the dose is gradually reduced within 1 to 2 years until the medication is stopped; 6. Adhere to the principle of gradual reduction and discontinuation of medication; 7. Pay attention to adverse reactions when taking medication, such as rash, dermatitis, etc., and check blood, urine and liver function regularly; 8. If there are symptoms of drowsiness during medication, caffeine (0.02-0.04g/time, 3 times/day) or ephedrine (25mg/time, 3 times/day) should be added; 9. Patients should have a regular life, avoid smoking and drinking, eat a low-salt and low-water diet, do not eat too much, avoid excessive tension, avoid intense exercise, avoid working at high altitudes, near water and near mechanical motors, so as to avoid danger when the disease occurs. 10. Pregnant women should be careful as there is a potential risk of teratogenicity when taking medication.

3. Prevention of epilepsy 1. To prevent the occurrence of epilepsy, a detailed family investigation should be conducted to understand whether the patient's parents, siblings and close relatives have epileptic seizures and the characteristics of the seizures. For some serious genetic diseases that can cause mental retardation and epilepsy, prenatal diagnosis or neonatal screening examinations should be performed to decide on termination of pregnancy or early treatment. Preventing delivery accidents. Neonatal birth trauma is one of the important causes of epilepsy. Avoiding birth trauma is of great significance in preventing epilepsy. 2. Epilepsy patients should be diagnosed promptly and treated early. The earlier the treatment, the smaller the brain damage, the fewer relapses, and the better the prognosis. Eliminating or alleviating the primary diseases that cause epilepsy, such as intracranial space-occupying diseases, metabolic abnormalities, infections, etc., is also of great significance for cases of recurrent seizures. 3. Epilepsy is a chronic disease that can last for years or even decades, and can therefore have serious adverse effects on the patient's physical, mental, marital, and socioeconomic status. The misfortunes and setbacks that patients experience in family relationships, school education and employment, as well as restrictions on cultural and sports activities, can not only cause patients to feel ashamed and pessimistic, but can also seriously affect their physical and mental development. This requires all sectors of society to understand and support epilepsy patients.