List of anti-seizure medication

Here is a list of anti-seizure medication (ASM)s.

Each medication listed below includes a link to information about which types of seizures the ASMs are used for, doses, and possible side effects from the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC), where you can view the patient information leaflet (PIL).

You can find further information in the NICE guideline. NICE is an independent organisation that provides national guidance to improve health and social care services in England.

Click on the links below to search for information about ASMs:

• by the generic name of the ASM
• by the brand name of the particular type of ASM.

Generic names with brand names

• Acetazolamide also available as Diamox
• Brivaracetam available as Briviact
• Cannabidiol available as Epidyolex 
• Carbamazepine also available as Curatil, Tegretol, Tegretol Prolonged Release
• Cenobamate available as Ontozry
• Clobazam also available as Frisium, Perizam, Tapclob, Zacco
• Clonazepam
• Eslicarbazepine also available as Zebinix
• Ethosuximide also available as Emeside, Epesri
• Everolimus
• Fenfluramine available as Fintepla
• Gabapentin also available as Neurontin
• Lacosamide also available as Vimpat
• Lamotrigine also available as Lamictal
• Levetiracetam also available as Desitrend, Eltam, Keppra
• Oxcarbazepine also available as Trileptal
• Perampanel
• Phenobarbital 
• Phenytoin also available as Epanutin, Phenytoin Sodium Flynn
• Piracetam available as Nootropil
• Pregabalin also available as Alzain, Lyrica
• Primidone also available as Enodama
• Rufinamide 
• Sodium valproate (important information for people with epilepsy under the age of 55) also available as Dyzantil, Epilim, Epilim Chrono, Epilim Chronosphere, Episenta, Epival, 
• Stiripentol available as Diacomit
• Tiagabine available as Gabitril
• Topiramate also available as Topamax
• Valproic acid also available as Convulex, Dyzantil, Epilim Chrono, Epilim Chronosphere
• Vigabatrin also available as Kigabeq, Sabril
• Zonisamide also available as Desizon, Zonegran, 

Please note:

• Valproate: Sodium valproate, Valproic acid and Topiramate must not be used in females of childbearing potential unless the conditions of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme are met and alternative treatments are ineffective or not tolerated. During pregnancy, they must not be used for epilepsy unless it is the only possible treatment.
• A first line ASM is an ASM that is tried first. Some ASMs added to a first line ASM are called second line ASMs.
• ASMs are not split into first and second line for treating children age 12 and under. 
• Treatment of neonatal seizures (from birth to 28 days of age) is not covered.
• ‘Effective’ means the seizures it works for. ‘Monotherapy’ means the ASM is taken on its own. ‘Adjunctive' or 'Add-on therapy’ means the ASM is taken alongside other ASM. ‘Tolerance’ means that a drug becomes less effective the longer you take it. A 'tertiary epilepsy specialist' is a specialist with particular expertise and training in epilepsy. 'idiopathic epilepsy' is where someone's epilepsy is genetic or inherited.
• Information for this page comes from the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC). 
• Every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct at time of publishing but information may change after publishing. This information is a guide only and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor. Epilepsy Society is not responsible for any actions taken as a result of using this information.

Information updated: March 2026. Review date: March 2028