Update on the newer antiepileptic drugs in child neurology: advances in treatment of pediatric epilepsy.

The goal of epilepsy treatment is the prevention of recurrent seizures, and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the mainstay. Uncontrolled seizures may cause medical, developmental, and psychologic disturbances. Treatment advances include 1) identification of the basic mechanisms of epilepsy and action of AEDs, 2) the introduction of many new AEDs, and 3) the use of neurostimulation, starting with vagus nerve stimulation. We must balance the efficacy of an AED versus its side effects, which if persistent, lead to patient discontinuation of the AED. Although all AEDs have a proven efficacy, they are differentiated by their efficacy for a given seizure type or epilepsy syndrome versus the side effects or tolerability. The many new AEDs give us a larger armamentarium for epilepsy treatment. We refer to studies and expert opinion consensus.