[How and when to stop antiepileptic drugs?].

How and when to stop antiepileptic drugs? Antiepileptic drugs withdrawal can be considered in seizure-free patients with a 2-year minimum complete remission. Risk of seizure recurrence, which is related both to the epilepsy syndrome and individual characteristics, must be evaluated and may rely on the use of a computer-based risk calculator. Identifying epileptic abnormalities on EEG and cortical lesions on brain MRI could lead to reconsider drug discontinuation. Drug tapering must be progressive over 2 to 3 months, with a dose reduction every 2 weeks. Driving is not allowed during tapering and several months after withdrawal. Relapses mainly occur in the first year of withdrawal. A 2-year minimum follow-up of patients is recommended.