Drug treatment of epilepsy: a review.

Once a decision to treat epilepsy has been made it is necessary to have a thorough knowledge of the benefits, disadvantages, toxic effects, pharmacokinetics and interactions associated with each anticonvulsant. However, by determining the serum concentration and manipulating it within the therapeutic range it should be possible to find a regimen that adequately controls seizures without introducing unnecessary toxic effects. There are special considerations in choosing anticonvulsants to treat epilepsy in pregnancy, febrile convulsions and status epilepticus.