In April 2004, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance to the NHS in England and Wales on the use of newer drugs for the treatment of epilepsy. Two guidelines were published: one on the treatment of epilepsy in adults and the other on the treatment of epilepsy in children.

Several members of the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC), of which Epilepsy Research UK is also a member, were involved in the consultation process. The guidance is intended for health care professionals, patients and their carers, to help them make decisions about treatment and health care.

More information can be found on the NICE website. Direct links to the guidelines (in various formats) are available here:

NICE guidelines for the use of the newer anti-epileptic drugs in adults

NICE guidelines for the use of the newer anti-epileptic drugs in children

NICE have also issued guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of adults and children in the UK - click here for more information.

Epilepsy Research UK, PO Box 3004, London W4 4XT Tel/Fax: (+44) (0) 20 8995 4781 • Registered Charity No. 1100394 Incorporating Epilepsy Research Foundation and Fund for Epilepsy