This review in the BMJ focuses on new drugs for focal epilepsy in adults. The review starts with the case of a patient presenting to their GP and covers the following:

• What are the newer antiepileptic drugs?

• How well do the newer antiepileptic drugs work?

              - Add-on therapy

              - Monotherapy

• How safe are the newer antiepileptic drugs?

• What are the precautions?

• How are the newer antiepileptic drugs taken and monitored?

• How cost effective are the newer antiepileptic drugs?

• How do the newer antiepileptic drugs compare with the established ones?

• Choice of drug in newly diagnosed epilepsy

• Choice of drug in uncontrolled epilepsy

• Our case scenario

A related article describes the experience of a patient who was diagnosed with epilepsy in her twenties; the patient describes how she has grown up alongside the seizures.