Safe to withdraw anti-seizure medication

ROCHESTER, Minn., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said it is generally safe to withdraw anti-seizure medications in children with epilepsy who have achieved seizure-freedom.

Study author Dr. Katherine Nickels, a Mayo Clinic pediatric neurologist, and colleagues reviewed the records of 241 children, ages 1 month to 16 years, who were diagnosed with new-onset epilepsy from 1990 to 2000. The researchers identified 152 children who were diagnosed and treated with anti-seizure medication and had at least five years of follow-up.

Of those, 56 children, or 37 percent, achieved seizure-freedom and were withdrawn from the medication. After an average follow-up of eight years, 20 children, or 36 percent, experienced at least one seizure recurrence.

Fifteen of these children re-started the anti-seizure medication, and eight, or 53 percent, achieved seizure-freedom within one year, while two, or 20 percent, developed intractable epilepsy.

Overall, 5 percent of the 56 children who withdrew from anti-seizure medication following seizure-freedom developed intractable epilepsy -- no seizure-free periods longer than three months.

The study was presented at the American Epilepsy Society's annual meeting in Seattle.