My son had one tonic-clonic seizure. Does he need antiepileptic medication?
Many children have seizures during their childhood. Not all seizures need to be treated with medication. In deciding whether to treat a seizure, the doctor generally will look at the chances that it will happen again. If the doctor finds abnormalities in an examination or in tests like an EEG or a CT scan, a recommendation for treatment is more likely. The decision also depends to some extent on factors in your child’s life. For instance, children who participate in some sports could be injured if they had another seizure. These children may benefit more from treatment. On the other hand, seizure medicines can cause side effects such as problems with thinking or behavior that need to be considered. There is no simple answer. The decision about whether to prescribe medicine after one tonic-clonic seizure will require you and your doctor to consider and discuss many factors.
