VNS Therapy™ is Safe for Children

VNS Therapy is safe and effective for treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children as young as 4 years old with partial onset seizures.

VNS Therapy is safe and effective for treating uncontrolled seizures in children as young as 4 years of age.

Early Treatment is Critical

Every day, 30 children will begin to have seizures that cannot be controlled with medication alone. Consequently, there are more than 10,000 new cases of drug-resistant epilepsy in children every year.

Uncontrolled seizures in children can have an impact on development and memory long term and can increase the risk of ER visits, hospitalizations and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. It's important to treat drug-resistant epilepsy as early as possible.

Proven Safe and Effective for Children

VNS Therapy™ has been shown to safely help children with drug-resistant epilepsy gain control over seizures. Use of VNS Therapy™ in children offers long-term outcomes for children at a critical time in their development.

  • VNS Therapy™ has been used in more than 35,000 children worldwide. 
  • VNS Therapy™ is the #1 prescribed neuromodulation device for drug-resistant epilepsy in children.
  • Children treated with VNS Therapy™ have been shown to have fewer seizures, shorter and less severe seizures, and better recovery after seizures.

VNS Therapy™ Benefits

In a study that compared the effects before and after being treated with VNS Therapy for 2 years, many children experienced

63% of children have fewer seizures

63% of children had fewer seizures

N=83
42% of children have less severe seizures

42% of children had less severe seizures

N=195
48% of children have shorter seizures

48% of children had shorter seizures

N=195
40% of children have better recovery after seizures

better recovery after seizures

Bella's Mom

"Life has changed significantly - not just for Bella, but the whole family"

Bella's Mom

Quality of Life Improvements

In addition to its seizure-reducing benefits, VNS Therapy™ may offer your child meaningful quality-of-life improvements. 

Alertness

Alertness

Energy

Energy

Mood

Mood

Memory

Memory and Thinking Skills

What do patients think about VNS Therapy?

View patient testimonials

Could your child benefit from VNS Therapy™?

If your child has tried two or more anti-seizure medications yet continue to have uncontrolled seizures, it's time to question their epilepsy seizure treatment. Talk to your doctor about Drug-Resistant Epilepsy so alternative treatment options can be explored.

Take our assessment to find out if VNS Therapy™ could be suitable for your child

VNS Therapy Safety Profile

The most common side effects of VNS Therapy include:

Hoarseness
Shortness of breath
Sore throat
Coughing

These side effects generally only occur during stimulation and usually decrease over time. Children (ages 4-11) may have a greater risk of infection than those 12 years of age and older and may be more likely to experience lead damage due to higher activity levels and the potential to manipulate the lead. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to avoid these complications.

Infection is the most common side effect of the procedure.

Talk to your physician about warnings, precautions, side effects, and hazards. Ask about risks that you should know about as well as any other issues that might be appropriate to discuss, such as status epilepticus and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. You can find more safety information here.