Alternative approaches to conventional antiepileptic drugs in the management of paediatric epilepsy

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2006-11, Vol.91 (11), p.936-941
• Main Authors: Kneen, R, Appleton, R E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACTH; Acupuncture; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; adrenocorticotrophic hormone; AED; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; alternative treatment; antiepileptic drug; Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; CBT; Child; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Cognition & reasoning; cognitive behaviour therapy; Complementary Therapies; complementary treatment; Convulsions & seizures; Diet; Drug dosages; electrical status epilepticus during slow wave sleep; Epilepsy; Epilepsy - psychology; Epilepsy - therapy; Epilepsy in children; ESES; Evaluation; Families & family life; Female; GABA; gamma butyric acid; General aspects; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulins - therapeutic use; Integrative medicine; intravenous immunoglobulin; IVIG; ketogenic diet; Landau-Kleffner syndrome; Life Style; LKS; Male; MCT; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; medium chain triglyceride; Melatonin - therapeutic use; Miscellaneous; NCSE; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Neurosurgical Procedures; non-convulsive status epilepticus; non-pharmacological treatment; oligoantigenic diet; Pediatric epilepsy; Prevention and actions; psychological treatment; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; randomised controlled trial; Rasmussen’s syndrome; RCT; Review; Seizures; Side effects; Surgery; Surgical techniques; Vitamins - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2005.080002

Over the last two decades, there has been a rapid expansion in the number and types of available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), but there is increasing concern amongst parents and carers about their unwanted side effects. Seizure control is achieved in approximately 75% of children treated with conventional AEDs, but non-conventional (or non-standard) medical treatments, surgical procedures, dietary approaches, and other non-pharmacological treatment approaches may have a role to play in those with intractable seizures or AED toxicity. Many of the approaches are largely common sense and are already incorporated into our current practice, including, for example, avoidance techniques and lifestyle advice, while others require further investigation or appear to be impractical in children.