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Medications for Seizures (Convulsions)

Other names: Absence Seizure; Complex Partial Seizure; Fits

About Seizures

A seizure or convulsion can be a sudden, violent, uncontrollable contraction of a group of muscles. A seizure can also be more subtle, consisting of only a brief "loss of contact" or a few moments of what appears to be daydreaming.

See also: sub-topics

Drugs used to treat Seizures

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

Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Keppra 5.9 149 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: levetiracetam systemic

Drug class: pyrrolidine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

levetiracetam 6.1 193 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: levetiracetam systemic

Brand names:  Keppra, Keppra XR, Elepsia XR, Roweepra, Spritam, Roweepra XR …show all

Drug class: pyrrolidine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

topiramate 7.0 17 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: topiramate systemic

Brand names:  Trokendi XR, Topamax, Qudexy XR

Drug class: carbonic anhydrase inhibitor anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Diastat 7.0 1 review
Rx D 4 X

Generic name: diazepam systemic

Drug class: benzodiazepine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Dilantin 7.4 40 reviews
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

Aptiom 6.8 24 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: eslicarbazepine systemic

Drug class: dibenzazepine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Oxtellar XR 10 1 review
Rx C N X

Generic name: oxcarbazepine systemic

Drug class: dibenzazepine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Trokendi XR Rate Add review
Rx D N X

Generic name: topiramate systemic

Drug class: carbonic anhydrase inhibitor anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Valtoco Rate Add review
Rx D 4 X

Generic name: diazepam systemic

Drug class: benzodiazepine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Vimpat 7.0 122 reviews
Rx C 5 X

Generic name: lacosamide systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Briviact 5.6 10 reviews
Rx C 5 X

Generic name: brivaracetam systemic

Drug class: pyrrolidine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Fycompa 4.9 15 reviews
Rx C 3 X

Generic name: perampanel systemic

Drug class: AMPA receptor antagonists

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Nayzilam Rate Add review
Rx D M X

Generic name: midazolam systemic

Drug class: benzodiazepines

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Sabril Rate Add review
Rx C N X

Generic name: vigabatrin systemic

Drug class: gamma-aminobutyric acid analogs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

vigabatrin Rate Add review
Rx C N X

Generic name: vigabatrin systemic

Brand names:  Sabril, Vigadrone

Drug class: gamma-aminobutyric acid analogs

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Xcopri 10 1 review
Rx 5 X

Generic name: cenobamate systemic

Drug class: carbamate anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

phenobarbital 8.8 21 reviews
Rx D 4 X

Generic name: phenobarbital systemic

Drug class: barbiturates, barbiturate anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Trileptal 7.3 20 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: oxcarbazepine systemic

Drug class: dibenzazepine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

phenytoin 7.4 51 reviews
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: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

zonisamide 5.4 77 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: zonisamide systemic

Brand name:  Zonegran

Drug class: carbonic anhydrase inhibitor anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

diazepam 9.0 11 reviews
Rx D 4 X

Generic name: diazepam systemic

Brand names:  Diastat, Valtoco, Valium, Diastat AcuDial, Diazepam Intensol, Diastat Pediatric …show all

Drug class: benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

oxcarbazepine 7.5 31 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: oxcarbazepine systemic

Brand names:  Oxtellar XR, Trileptal

Drug class: dibenzazepine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Zonegran 6.6 39 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: zonisamide systemic

Drug class: carbonic anhydrase inhibitor anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Keppra XR 7.8 8 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: levetiracetam systemic

Drug class: pyrrolidine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Valium 9.7 3 reviews
Rx D 4 X

Generic name: diazepam systemic

Drug class: benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine anticonvulsants

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Topics under Seizures

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.
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
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.

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Further information

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