Aurora BioScience Neurology

VNS Therapy for Pharmacoresistant Epilepsy

 

This resource is intended to provide specific information regarding VNS Therapy™ and pharmacoresistant epilepsy for physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

 

 

Based on the evidence suggesting that VNS Therapy is safe and effective for long-term seizure control and has quality-of-life benefits, Wheless and Maggio developed a rational treatment algorithm for using VNS Therapy in patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. The algorithm limits the number of AED trials to 2 monotherapy and 1 polytherapy trial before nonpharmacologic options are considered. This approach is based on evidence that initial response to AEDs is predictive of pharmacoresistant epilepsy, that early treatment with VNS Therapy improves seizure control and quality-of-life, and that considering nonpharmacologic options sooner may avoid unnecessary attempts with AEDs that are associated with untoward side effects and cognitive impairment.¹