Medicating Seizures in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Practical Guide

Epilepsy and intellectual disability often go hand in hand, making treatment a unique challenge. Understanding how to manage seizures in people with intellectual disabilities requires a well-rounded approach. Unlike others, these individuals often deal with complex symptoms and higher resistance to treatment. However, guidelines for choosing anti-seizure medications (ASMs) are scarce. This review aims to update the current knowledge on prescribing ASMs for people with intellectual disabilities. By combining both evidence and expert opinions, it presents a simple "Traffic Light System" to make things easier.The review also looks at new data from the Cornwall UK Ep-ID Research Register, which has been collecting information for over a decade, and discusses its findings. It offers practical tips for selecting ASMs based on their effects and specific clinical characteristics. Additionally, it highlights newer, more specialized ASMs and potential future options. To round things off, non-pharmacological interventions, such as surgeries, are also explored to help manage epilepsy effectively.