Once a patient receives the diagnosis of epilepsy, it is time to start considering treatment options. Since curing the disease is not possible, treatment focuses on controlling seizures. This is generally done in three ways: drug therapies, lifestyle changes, and surgery. There are many drugs available to treat epilepsy, many of which have been released recently, such as Perampanel, which is the first of a new class of drugs. drugs. It appears to cause an excitatory response in the brain and offers relief to drug addiction and epilepsy patients (Simon). There are many other relatively new drugs, and medical researchers are constantly developing new ones. All antiepileptic drugs act as anticonvulsants. There are several antiepileptic drugs such as phenytoin, carbamazepine and valproex, which are considered the first-line drugs, the ones that doctors try first; if patients don't respond well, doctors will switch to other drugs (Simon). When used consistently, over time, these medications can reduce or even prevent the patient's further seizures. Doctors are careful to monitor their patients, especially when they start taking antiseizure drugs, in case patients don't respond well. Patients should be sure to take their medications as directed and pay close attention to see if they may need to be changed to a different type if it causes them to act abnormally. All antiseizure medications may show side effects in some patients, including drowsiness and lethargy, suicidal thoughts, depression, liver damage, birth defects (if taken during pregnancy), and changes in behavior; however, these side effects often disappear after the patient has used them for a few weeks (Simon). Children who...... middle of paper ...... Exercise is helpful, not only in promoting well-being, but also in managing some of the side effects of medications (Simon). Researchers believe that a low-carb diet can help prevent seizures; so many patients are put on what is called a ketogenic diet, a diet low in protein and carbohydrates (Simon). As for prognosis, many people with epilepsy can stop taking medications after several years without seizures, and some types of childhood epilepsy go away completely or go away with age. However, for many people, epilepsy is a lifelong condition that they must learn to manage. Works CitedHealth Guide. February 20, 2013. The New York Times. November 20, 2013. Simon, Harvey, MD Epilepsy. March 7, 2013. University of Maryland Medical Center.November 20. 2013 .