New Guidance on Treatment after First Seizure

New guidelines may help decide who should take medicine after a first seizure. About 10% of people in the world have at least 1 seizure in a lifetime. But the risk of having more seizures varies. The updated guidelines come from the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. They outline how to estimate the risk that someone will have another seizure. Taking anti-epileptic drugs can help prevent seizures, but they have side effects. After a first seizure, the chance of having another one is highest in the next 2 years. The chance is 21% to 45%, the guidelines say. Risk varies based on each person’s medical history and test results. Two groups have the highest risk of another seizure, the guidelines say. They include people who have had another brain problem, such as a stroke or head injury, and those whose test results show signs of epilepsy.