ABSTRACT
The question of when to withdraw antiepileptic medication in an epileptic patient whose seizures appear well controlled is a common clinical problem. The advice such a patient will receive is very variable, whether from general practitioner, pediatrician, neurologist, psychiatrist, or physician. The need for clear answers to the questions surrounding withdrawal of medication is underlined by changing views about the prognosis of epilepsy and increasing awareness of the chronic toxic effects of antiepileptic drugs. The most striking observation that emerges from studies is that the prospect for successful withdrawal of medication is much greater in children than in adults; only Callaghan et at. disagree. Several authors studying both adults and children suggest that the duration of epilepsy before the onset of remission has a significant influence on subsequent relapse rate; the longer the illness, the higher the relapse rate.
