This is a question most Persons With Epilepsy (PWEs) will never get tired of asking. It strikes at the very heart of our hope: the dream of one day getting rid of seizures forever. I’ve asked myself this question many times, and I know how deeply it matters to every PWE.
The truth is, the answer isn’t simple. For many people—especially those diagnosed with epilepsy later in life—the condition tends to stay with them. Whether epilepsy can be “cured” often depends on what caused it in the first place.
Epilepsy that develops after a brain injury, infection, or accident may have a different outlook compared to epilepsy with a genetic predisposition. Similarly, people with idiopathic epilepsy (where the cause is unknown) face a different journey. Each case is unique, and so are the possibilities.
That said, I have personally seen PWEs who have successfully stopped taking anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) and remained seizure-free for good. The evidence is there: for some people, it really is possible. Many doctors, when they see a patient who has been seizure-free for years, will carefully attempt to taper them off medication. For some, this works and becomes a permanent freedom from ASDs. But for many others, seizures come back—sometimes with devastating consequences.
That’s why at Seizure Support, our message is focused on management, not miracle cures. We encourage PWEs to aim for seizure freedom through two main pillars:
- Disciplined adherence to ASDs
- Correct lifestyle decisions
With these, it is absolutely possible to live a seizure-free and fulfilling life. This is exactly what I emphasize in the Epilepsy Management Guide (EMG): stability comes from daily discipline.
As for whether a seizure-free PWE should ever try stopping their medication—that is a deeply personal decision. It should only ever be made in consultation with a doctor, after careful consideration of risks and benefits.
So, can epilepsy be cured? For some, maybe. For most, the more realistic path is long-term management and seizure control. And while that might not sound like a cure, it can give you something just as valuable: a life of dignity, independence, and freedom from seizures.
This issue is discussed in detail in the Epilepsy Management Guide, which you can download for free. To participate in the discussion on this topic, visit the Global Epilepsy Forum. To know more about what we do, please click HERE. We also have a donation page where those who feel compelled can give whatever they can afford by clicking HERE.
