Treating children and adolescents

Choice of treatment for epilepsy in children must take into account various age-specific and ethical considerations. Brain development is rapid in childhood. Thus, children's brains may be more susceptible to drug damage. Metabolic disorders, which may be precipitated rarely by drug treatment, are often unexpected, In early life, pharmacokinetics are influenced by differences in rates of absorption and metabolism. There are few available studies on new drugs for the treatment of children. Studies of efficacy must take into account variations in the normal biochemical reference ranges with age, and the types of seizures that are common in children, Some studies in children, using the relatively new anti-epileptic drugs, lamotrigine and vigabatrin, are reported.