Drug Resistance in Epilepsy: Which Prospect to Tame its Stubbornness?

Epilepsy is a major health problem, it being among the most common chronic neurologic pathologies. Its basic therapy via anti-seizure drugs (ASDs), of which nearly two dozen are currently available for symptomatic treatment epileptic seizures. But, notwithstanding increasing ASD options, about one-third patients remain drug-refractory, and this fraction did not diminish over decades. This paper reviews subject drug resistance in epilepsy (DRE), view exploring prospect to overcome its persistence. The survey various hypotheses DRE origin mechanisms notices that any them alone does fully account DRE, their multitude deriving from lack solution bad medical need. non-pharmacological (neurosurgical, brain stimulation, focal treatments dietary) approaches drug-intractable also surveyed, with sober conclusion that, predictable future, mainstay will likely drugs. vast multiplicity molecular changes associated suggests pharmacological resolution might arise only integrative, systemic approaches, beyond reductionist single-target paradigm dominated discovery, last several A conceivable lessening be brought by precision (personalized) medicine, assisted complex systems biology description individual pathology. In longer run, emergent network pharmacology led genuine innovative multi-potent antiepileptic drugs, able treat distinct subpopulations current refractory patients.