In a prospective study of the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in children wi
th severe, refractory epilepsy, data were collected on medication changes o
ver 1 year. Cost reductions in medications were calculated over the first y
ear and estimated for a second year. Fifty-seven percent of the children st
ayed on the diet for 1 year, and 74% of these children had their number of
medications reduced. Forty-eight percent of children who stayed on the diet
were on no medications at 12 months follow-up. Daily medication costs were
reduced by nearly 70%.