Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41496926›Full record

ReviewAnnals of medicine and surgery (2012)2026

Breaking the resistance: a narrative review of the evolution from traditional drugs to precision therapies in epilepsy.

Tirath Patel, Fathimathul Henna, Ashfaq Ahmad, Ayesha Ahmad, Noor Ul Huda, Syed Aaraiz Ul Hassan, Aiman Muhammad, Amna Javed, Maryem Filal, Arej Iltaf and 4 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Annals of medicine and surgery (2012), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Tirath PatelDepartment of Surgery, Trinity Medical Sciences University School of Medicine, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Fathimathul HennaDepartment of Medicine, Dubai Medical College for Girls, Dubai, UAE.
Ashfaq AhmadDepartment of Medicine, Gomal Medical College, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan.
Ayesha AhmadDepartment of Medicine, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Noor Ul HudaDepartment of Medicine, Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan.
Syed Aaraiz Ul HassanDepartment of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Aiman MuhammadDepartment of Medicine, Khyber Girls Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Amna JavedDepartment of Medicine, Khyber Girls Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Maryem FilalFaculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
Arej IltafDepartment of Medicine, Khyber Girls Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Aizaz Anwar KhalidDepartment of Medicine, Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Zoya Riyaz SyedaDepartment of Neurology, Khaja Bandanawaz Institute of Medical Sciences, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India.
Christopher HananiDepartment of Neurology, Henry Ford Health, Warren, Michigan, USA.
Nikhilesh AnandDepartment of Medical Education, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, affecting approximately 50 million individuals globally. While conventional antiseizure medications (ASMs) control seizures in 70-80% of patients, about 30% experience drug resistance or intolerable side effects, necessitating alternative approaches. Objective: To critically compare the efficacy, safety, and accessibility of conventional and emerging therapies for epilepsy, particularly in the context of treatment-resistant cases and global disparities in care. Methods: This narrative review synthesized evidence from 120 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025. Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus using predefined search terms related to epilepsy treatments. Comparative analysis included therapeutic mechanisms, clinical outcomes, and implementation barriers. Results: Conventional treatments such as phenytoin, valproate, levetiracetam, surgical resection, ketogenic diet, and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) offer 70-80% seizure control. However, emerging therapies are gaining prominence. Cannabidiol (CBD) demonstrates a 30-50% seizure reduction, while responsive neurostimulation (RNS) achieves 50-70% efficacy, especially in drug-resistant epilepsy. Despite these advancements, a 75% treatment gap persists in low-income countries due to limited resources, access, and trained personnel. Conclusion: Emerging therapies hold promise for managing refractory epilepsy, yet global disparities limit their reach. Precision medicine strategies must be coupled with efforts to improve access in underserved regions. This review provides practical insights for personalized care and advocates for increased investment in equitable treatment infrastructure.

Indexed as

antiseizure medicationsdrug resistanceepilepsyprecision medicineresponsive neurostimulation

Identifiers

PMID41496926
PMCPMC12768112

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.