Treatment Options for Pediatric Epilepsy

Medication is the most common treatment for epilepsy. It is almost always the first line of treatment for children who have epilepsy. When we're able to determine the cause and type of epilepsy and the type of seizure, we use medication specifically suited to your child's seizures. We start by prescribing the lowest dosage of medication that effectively controls seizures.

During treatment, we regularly check medication levels and monitor the medication’s effectiveness to make sure the treatment is working as intended. If necessary, we change the dosage depending on levels and symptoms. We use a number of tests to determine whether your child’s medications are working well. These tests include:

• Blood tests to check medication levels in the body and to monitor how or if the medication is having negative effects on the organs of the body
• Urinalysis to find out how your child’s body is handling the medication
• Electroencephalography (EEG) to find out whether the medication is helping or altering the electrical activity in your child’s brain

For some children, we recommend a medical diet, called a ketogenic diet, to help control seizures when medication alone is not working. Ketogenic diets have been used to treat epilepsy since the 1920s, and have become more frequently prescribed since the 1990s. Despite the effectiveness and a relatively low occurrence of serious side effects, parents should not start a child on this medical diet without specific recommendation, instruction and supervision from the child's neurologist.

Surgery usually is not the first option for children who have epilepsy. However, we may recommend surgery when medications are not effectively controlling a child's seizures. For children who meet certain medical criteria, we offer a full range of surgical treatment options for pediatric epilepsy.

Some children with epilepsy experience psychological symptoms that may improve with treatment. If you think your child is experiencing psychological difficulties, we can perform tests to help diagnose the problems so we can help treat them. Our team includes neuropsychologists who can help determine the best course of evaluation and treatment.

Sometimes we recommend physical and/or occupational therapy for children who have epilepsy. If your child has trouble with physical or motor skills, our team will work together to come up with a plan to help your child improve function and get stronger.

Having epilepsy can be frightening for children and adults. Many children experience anxiety, worrying that they might have another seizure or wondering what will happen if they do. Sometimes children are teased because of their seizures. If your child has had seizures or has been diagnosed with epilepsy, our team can offer counseling and support. We have social workers and child life specialists on staff to help you, your child, and your family find healthy, effective ways to cope with epilepsy.