A patient with a form of epilepsy that may have spontaneous remission has been taking an AED for a year. The patient reports being seizure free for 6 months and asks the nurse when the drug can be discontinued. What will the nurse tell the patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most important rule about withdrawing AEDs is that they should be withdrawn slowly over 6 weeks to several months to reduce the risk of status epilepticus (SE). AEDs need not be taken for life if seizures no longer occur. Substituting one AED for another to withdraw AED therapy is not recommended. Stopping an AED abruptly increases the risk of SE.

A Patient with a Form of Epilepsy That May Have