A Caregiver’s Guide to Seizure Medications

Presented by DEEP in partnership with CDKL5 in Color

Seizure medications are one of the most common and important tools used in epilepsy care, yet many families find themselves trying to understand unfamiliar medication names, treatment plans, side effects, and frequent medication changes. Learning how anti-seizure medications work and why they are prescribed can help caregivers feel more confident when making decisions alongside their healthcare team.

Join DEEP and CDKL5 in Color for an educational webinar with Heather Nichols, Neurology PharmD from Children’s Hospital Colorado. This session will provide caregivers with a foundational understanding of anti-seizure medications (ASMs), including how they work in the brain, the major medication classes, and the many factors clinicians consider when developing an individualized treatment plan.

In addition to clinical expertise, this webinar will feature lived experience perspectives from caregivers who have firsthand experience navigating seizure medication journeys. Parent panelists will share the realities of trialing medications, balancing seizure control with quality of life, managing side effects, and advocating for their child’s unique needs.

Designed for caregivers of children living with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) and other complex epilepsies, this beginner-friendly session will help families better understand the role medications play in epilepsy care and prepare them for more informed conversations with their healthcare team.

You’ll Learn

• The major classes of anti-seizure medications (ASMs)
• How seizure medications work to reduce seizures
• Why medication selection differs based on seizure type, epilepsy syndrome, age, and other individual factors
• How clinicians approach medication combinations and treatment adjustments
• Common side effects, monitoring, and medication safety
• Treatment goals beyond seizure reduction, including quality of life
• Questions families can ask when discussing medications with their healthcare team

Whether your child is starting their first anti-seizure medication or has tried many different therapies over time, this webinar will provide practical, evidence-based information to help you better understand your child’s treatment journey.

Featured Speaker

Clinician

Heather Nichols, Neurology PharmD is a pediatric neurology pharmacist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She specializes in anti-seizure medications and works alongside neurology teams to help optimize medication therapy for children with epilepsy. Full bio coming soon.

Parent Voices

Parent panelists to be announced.