Epilepsy

Epilepsy - Treatments

How is epilepsy treated?

Medications

Anti-epileptic medications are the first-line of treatment. Different types of medication may be prescribed. The more common side effects include sleepiness and dizziness.

Surgery

Patients with focal seizures and are not responding to medications may consider surgery.

Article contributed by Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute; Neuroscience, Sengkang General Hospital

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

Assoc Prof Tan Nigel Choon Kiat

Senior Consultant

MBBS, FAMS, FRCP (Edinburgh), MHPEd

Clinical Interests: Epilepsy, General Neurology

TOP

[{"SHPageId":"122","BodyPart":"#Brain#, #Neck#, #Spine#, #Nerves and Nervous System#","BodyPartLst":["brain","neck","spine","nerves and nervous system"],"Institution":null,"SHDoctorConditionsTreatments":"#Epilepsy#","SHDoctorConditionsTreatmentsLst":["epilepsy"],"SHDoctorAwards":null,"SHDoctorAwardsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgDisp":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstText":"48d80a29-eabe-421e-aa61-202648168f9e|7fa68661-dddc-4d65-9b17-6039eca2c77f;Senior Consultant|7fa68661-dddc-4d65-9b17-6039eca2c77f;278548e2-0556-498e-a240-f825599e0485|0c39f8e0-8f88-4c35-bce7-aa4166190006;Visiting Consultant|0c39f8e0-8f88-4c35-bce7-aa4166190006;48d80a29-eabe-421e-aa61-202648168f9e|0c39f8e0-8f88-4c35-bce7-aa4166190006;Senior Consultant|0c39f8e0-8f88-4c35-bce7-aa4166190006;","ListSHDoctorClinicalDesgInst":[{"ClinicalDesgName":"Visiting Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"278548e2-0556-498e-a240-f825599e0485","ClinicalDesgInst":"Changi General Hospital","ClinicalDesgInstId":"0c39f8e0-8f88-4c35-bce7-aa4166190006"},{"ClinicalDesgName":"Senior Consultant","ClinicalDesgId":"48d80a29-eabe-421e-aa61-202648168f9e","ClinicalDesgInst":"Changi General Hospital","ClinicalDesgInstId":"0c39f8e0-8f88-4c35-bce7-aa4166190006"}],"ListSHDoctorClinicalDesg":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesgInstFirst":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorAltDesgDisp":"","SHDoctorEducation":null,"SHDoctorEducationFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfile":null,"SHDoctorProfileFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchInterests":"","SHDoctorResearchInterestsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrials":null,"SHDoctorResearchTrialsFullHtml":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointments":null,"SHDoctorProfAppointmentsFullHtml":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eSenior Consultant, Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eVisiting Consultant, Department of Medicine, Changi General Hospital\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eGroup Chief Education Officer (GCEDO), SingHealth\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eCo-Director, Academic Medicine Education Institute (AMEI)\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSenior Associate Dean, Education, Duke-NUS\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eVice-Chair (Education), Neuroscience Academic Clinical Programme, National Neuroscience Institute\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSenior Associate Dean, Education, Duke-NUS\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eAssistant Dean, Year 3, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eNHG Internal Medicine Education Committee (IMEC), 2010 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSingHealth Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC), 2012 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSingHealth College of Clinical Medicine Council, 2017 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMOH Training and Standards Assessment Committee (TASC) for PGY1s, 2014 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eNeurology Residency Advisory Committee (RAC) \u0026amp; Exam Chair, 2012 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eCommittee member, Chapter of Clinician-Educators, Academy of Medicine, 2013 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSingapore Medical Association – Council Member, 2014 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eSingHealth “Tomorrow’s Medicine” Clinician Advisory Panel, 2014 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember, Genetics Commission, International League Against Epilepsy, 2009 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember, Pharmacogenetics Task Force, International League Against Epilepsy, 2010 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eMember, Epilepsy Education Task Force, International League Against Epilepsy, 2014 - Present\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorPublications":null,"SHDoctorPublicationsFullHtml":null,"SHQualification":null,"SHQualificationFullHTML":"\u003cp\u003eMBBS, FAMS, FRCP (Edinburgh), MHPEd\u003c/p\u003e","SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoRender":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/nigel-tan-portrait.jpg","SHDoctorThumbnailPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/nigel-tan-thumbnail.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Nigel Tan from National Neuroscience Institute","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorThumbnailPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/thumbnail-photos/nigel-tan-thumbnail.jpg","Description":"Dr Nigel Tan from National Neuroscience Institute"},"SHDoctorPortraitPhoto":{"ImageUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/nigel-tan-portrait.jpg","Hyperlink":"","OpenHyperlinkInNewWindow":false,"Alignment":"","AlternateText":"Dr Nigel Tan from National Neuroscience Institute","BorderWidth":0,"Height":0,"HorizontalSpacing":0,"VerticalSpacing":0,"Width":0},"SHDoctorPortraitPhotoUrl":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/sites/shcommonassets/Assets/doctors/portrait-photos/nigel-tan-portrait.jpg","Description":"Dr Nigel Tan from National Neuroscience Institute"},"Email":"","SHDoctorRole":"Doctor;#","SHDoctorSalutation":"Assoc Prof","SHDoctorFirstName":"Nigel Choon Kiat","SHDoctorLastName":"Tan","SHDoctorOtherName":"","SHDoctorHideProfile":false,"SHDoctorPrimarySpecialty":"Neurology","SHDepartmentLink":null,"SHSpecialtyLink":null,"SHSubSpecialtyLink":null,"ListDoctorAcademic":null,"ListDoctorClinical":[{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"122","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"National Neuroscience Institute","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/NNI-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/NNI-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"http://www.nni.com.sg","Description":"http://www.nni.com.sg"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"Department of Neurology","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":{"Url":"https://www.nni.com.sg/patientcare/neurology/Pages/Home.aspx","Description":"https://www.nni.com.sg/patientcare/neurology/Pages/Home.aspx"},"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"nigel-tan-choon-kiat","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1000},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"122","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Visiting Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Changi General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/cgh-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/cgh-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.cgh.com.sg/Pages/Home.aspx","Description":"https://www.cgh.com.sg/Pages/Home.aspx"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"nigel-tan-choon-kiat","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":1000},{"SHDoctorClinAppPageItemId":"122","SHDoctorCorporateDesg":"","SHDoctorClinicalAltDesgText":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDesg":"Senior Consultant","SHDoctorClinicalInst":"Changi General Hospital","SHDoctorClinicalInstLogo":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/cgh-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/cgh-logo.jpg"},"SHDoctorClinicalInstUrl":{"Url":"https://www.cgh.com.sg/Pages/Home.aspx","Description":"https://www.cgh.com.sg/Pages/Home.aspx"},"SHDoctorClinicalDept":"NNI @CGH","SHDoctorClinicalDeptLogo":null,"SHDoctorClinicalDeptUrl":null,"SHDoctorClnicApptsFURL":"nigel-tan-choon-kiat","SHDoctorClinicalDisplayOrder":3}],"ListDoctorSpecialty":[{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Neurology","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"Epilepsy","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"122","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"nigel-tan-choon-kiat"},{"SHSpecialtyLink":"Neurology","SHSubSpecialtyLink":"General Neurology","SHSpecialtyLinkDisplayOrder":1,"SHDoctorSpecPageItemId":"122","SHDoctorSpecialityFURL":"nigel-tan-choon-kiat"}],"ListDoctorInstitution":[{"SHDepartmentLink":"#NNI @CGH#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":null,"SHInstitutionLink":"#Changi General Hospital#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/cgh-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/cgh-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.cgh.com.sg/Pages/Home.aspx","Description":"https://www.cgh.com.sg/Pages/Home.aspx"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":2,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"122","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"nigel-tan-choon-kiat"},{"SHDepartmentLink":"#Department of Neurology#","SHDepartmentLogoLink":null,"SHDepartmentUrlLink":{"Url":"https://www.nni.com.sg/patientcare/neurology/Pages/Home.aspx","Description":"https://www.nni.com.sg/patientcare/neurology/Pages/Home.aspx"},"SHInstitutionLink":"#National Neuroscience Institute#","SHInstitutionLogoLink":{"Url":"http://authoring.sppub.healthgrp.com.sg/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/NNI-logo.jpg","Description":"/_catalogs/masterpage/HealthXChange/images/logos/NNI-logo.jpg"},"SHInstitutionUrlLink":{"Url":"http://www.nni.com.sg","Description":"http://www.nni.com.sg"},"SHInstLinkDisplayOrder":1000,"SHDoctorInstPageItemId":"122","SHDoctorInstitutionFURL":"nigel-tan-choon-kiat"}],"DoctorProfileInstitutionString":null,"DoctorProfileDepartmentString":null,"DoctorProfileSpecialtyString":null,"DoctorProfileSubSpecialtyString":null,"ListDoctorResearchAppointment":null,"DoctorResearchAppointmentItem":null,"StartDate":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","Path":"/profile/nigel-tan-choon-kiat","LastUpdatedOn":"\/Date(-62135596800000)\/","LastUpdatedOnString":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgLogo":null,"SHDoctorAcademicProgURL":null,"SHContentTagType":null,"SingHealthInstitution":"","SingHealthSpecialty":"","TypeOfContent":null,"DoctorFriendlyUrl":"nigel-tan-choon-kiat","DoctorSpecialtyFriendlyUrl":null,"SHDoctorResearchEmail":null}]

Discover articles,videos, and guides afrom Singhealth's resources across the web. These information are collated, making healthy living much easier for everyone.