Adults

Approximately 55,000 adults in Finland have epilepsy. Each year, about 3,000 adults start epilepsy medication, of which most are elderly adults. For the majority, epilepsy symptoms are managed with medication. However, in about one-third of cases, seizures persist despite medication.

Treatment for epilepsy is essential, as recurrent seizures pose risks. Epilepsy is managed with long-term and regular seizure-preventive medication, initiated based on a diagnosis made by a specialist. Typically, medications are used for several years, sometimes throughout a person’s life.

About one-fifth of adults with epilepsy have severe epilepsy. Severe epilepsy is a condition where symptoms restrict daily life regardless of appropriate medication. These symptoms may be recurring seizures, cognitive or behavioural problems, developmental delays or side effects of treatment. Appropriate medication refers to the stage where well chosen medication with the right doses (based on two seizure-type or epilepsy-type medication) have not been able to stop seizures.