Patient's question:
I have been taking lamotrigine and sodium valproate for three years, but it still frequently flares up. Should I switch medications? Please help from the doctor.Doctor's answer:
Hello, in terms of efficacy, lamotrigine's overall effectiveness is better than sodium valproate, but these are all based on clinical studies. Some patients experience more pronounced side effects from lamotrigine compared to sodium valproate, and their efficacy is also inferior. The specific choice of treatment medication needs to consider multiple factors, such as the patient's condition, constitution, age, and more. It's not just about choosing new or expensive drugs; it's about whether the patient is suitable for them. It is recommended to seek treatment from physicians who specialize in epilepsy.We recommend traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating epilepsy. Modern medicine, as well as most doctors, advises taking Western medicine. However, we believe that Western medicine cannot completely cure this disease; it only controls its recurrence and requires long-term or lifelong use. The long-term side effects of medication can lead to new diseases, causing patients to lose confidence in treatment and making the condition harder to cure. But Western medicine is not without its uses—it holds significant clinical importance during frequent episodes of the disease.
Traditional Chinese medicine is the essence of clinical experience accumulated over thousands of years and the clinical insights of generations of physicians. It has made undeniable contributions to treating epilepsy. Although some doctors now claim that TCM cannot treat epilepsy, the main reason is that they lack understanding of TCM and do not appreciate its principles. TCM treats diseases based on syndrome differentiation and the principle of addressing the root cause, which is unmatched by Western medicine. The proven efficacy and lack of side effects of TCM make it the preferred choice for treating epilepsy.