[Prognosis of epilepsy and withdrawal of treatment: withdrawal of treatment in childhood and adolescents].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the pharmacodynamic principles of withdrawal of long term treatment in children and adolescents with epilepsy.

DEVELOPMENT

After considering the clinical (toxicity of antiepileptic drugs, relapses of seizures when long term treatment is stopped), social and economic factors which justify withdrawal of long term treatment, the best time to start the withdrawal of treatment is decided, bearing in mind factors related to the patient, his illness and the antiepileptic drugs themselves.