[Medical Q&A] Can I stop taking medication when epilepsy attacks are no longer occurring?

Author: Guo Yanli, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

Reviewer: Deng Wenjing, Chief Physician, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

When there is no seizure, it does not mean that you can stop taking the medication at will. Before considering stopping the medication, the doctor needs to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the patient, including the type of seizure, frequency of seizures, cause, treatment process, and EEG status. The longer the seizure-free period, the lower the risk of recurrence after stopping the medication. However, even if a certain seizure-free period is met, the medication withdrawal process is usually gradual, rather than suddenly stopping the medication completely.

Sudden discontinuation of medication may lead to a recurrence of epilepsy or even a more serious state of epilepticus, which will have a serious impact on the patient's health and quality of life, and may even be life-threatening. Therefore, when considering discontinuation of medication, epilepsy patients must follow the doctor's advice and proceed under the doctor's guidance.

In addition, epilepsy patients need to pay attention to the following points during treatment:

Take the medicine on time and in the prescribed amount as directed by your doctor, and do not stop taking the medicine or change the dosage on your own.

Maintain good living habits, including a healthy diet, moderate exercise and adequate sleep.

Avoid factors that may trigger epileptic seizures, such as excessive fatigue, mood swings, drinking, etc.

Regular follow-up examinations and EEG tests are performed so that doctors can understand changes in the patient's condition in a timely manner.