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Medications for Epilepsy

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 18, 2024.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder involving recurrent seizures. Anti-seizure medications can help prevent or stop seizures. The choice depends on the type of seizure, the age of the person, the potential side effects of the medication, other medications they may be taking, or concurrent health conditions. 

Various seizure types

Focal seizures

Focal and generalized seizures

Focal and epileptic spasms

Absence seizures

Infantile spasms

Drugs used to treat Epilepsy

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

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Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Lamictal XR 10 1 review for Lamictal XR to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
lamotrigine systemic
Drug class:
triazine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Mysoline 10 2 reviews for Mysoline to treat Epilepsy
Rx N N X
Generic name:
primidone systemic
Drug class:
barbiturate anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Phenytek 10 1 review for Phenytek to treat Epilepsy
Rx D N X
Generic name:
phenytoin systemic
Drug class:
hydantoin anticonvulsants, group I antiarrhythmics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
primidone 10 3 reviews for primidone to treat Epilepsy
Rx N N X
Generic name:
primidone systemic
Brand name:
Mysoline
Drug class:
barbiturate anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
clonazepam 9.8 7 reviews for clonazepam to treat Epilepsy
Rx D 4 X
Generic name:
clonazepam systemic
Brand name:
Klonopin
Drug class:
benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Gabitril 9.0 1 review for Gabitril to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
tiagabine systemic
Drug class:
gamma-aminobutyric acid reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
tiagabine 9.0 1 review for tiagabine to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
tiagabine systemic
Brand name:
Gabitril
Drug class:
gamma-aminobutyric acid reuptake inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
acetazolamide 8.5 2 reviews for acetazolamide to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N
Generic name:
acetazolamide systemic
Drug class:
carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Dilantin 7.9 30 reviews for Dilantin to treat Epilepsy
Rx D N X
Generic name:
phenytoin systemic
Drug class:
hydantoin anticonvulsants, group I antiarrhythmics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Carbatrol 7.8 8 reviews for Carbatrol to treat Epilepsy
Rx D N X
Generic name:
carbamazepine systemic
Drug class:
dibenzazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Felbatol 7.8 6 reviews for Felbatol to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
felbamate systemic
Drug class:
carbamate anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
phenytoin 7.7 36 reviews for phenytoin to treat Epilepsy
Rx D N X
Generic name:
phenytoin systemic
Brand names:
Dilantin, Phenytoin Sodium, Phenytek
Drug class:
hydantoin anticonvulsants, group I antiarrhythmics
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
felbamate 7.6 11 reviews for felbamate to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
felbamate systemic
Brand name:
Felbatol
Drug class:
carbamate anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Neurontin 7.5 4 reviews for Neurontin to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
gabapentin systemic
Drug class:
gamma-aminobutyric acid analogs
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Trileptal 7.5 8 reviews for Trileptal to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
oxcarbazepine systemic
Drug class:
dibenzazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Tegretol XR 7.3 11 reviews for Tegretol XR to treat Epilepsy
Rx D N X
Generic name:
carbamazepine systemic
Drug class:
dibenzazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
lacosamide 7.2 24 reviews for lacosamide to treat Epilepsy
Rx C 5 X
Generic name:
lacosamide systemic
Brand names:
Vimpat, Motpoly XR
Drug class:
miscellaneous anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
gabapentin 7.1 17 reviews for gabapentin to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
gabapentin systemic
Brand name:
Neurontin
Drug class:
gamma-aminobutyric acid analogs
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Vimpat 7.1 20 reviews for Vimpat to treat Epilepsy
Rx C 5 X
Generic name:
lacosamide systemic
Drug class:
miscellaneous anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Depakote ER 7.0 21 reviews for Depakote ER to treat Epilepsy
Rx D N X
Generic name:
divalproex sodium systemic
Drug class:
fatty acid derivative anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Keppra XR 7.0 8 reviews for Keppra XR to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
levetiracetam systemic
Drug class:
pyrrolidine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
eslicarbazepine 6.9 14 reviews for eslicarbazepine to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
eslicarbazepine systemic
Brand name:
Aptiom
Drug class:
dibenzazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Aptiom 6.8 13 reviews for Aptiom to treat Epilepsy
Rx C N X
Generic name:
eslicarbazepine systemic
Drug class:
dibenzazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
clobazam 6.8 22 reviews for clobazam to treat Epilepsy
Rx C 4 X
Generic name:
clobazam systemic
Drug class:
benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
carbamazepine 6.6 76 reviews for carbamazepine to treat Epilepsy
Rx D N X
Generic name:
carbamazepine systemic
Brand names:
Tegretol, Carbatrol, Tegretol XR, Epitol
Drug class:
dibenzazepine anticonvulsants
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Topics under Epilepsy

Learn more about Epilepsy

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.