RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To identify the epilepsy remission period in a primary care unit. METHODS: There were 330 patients with diagnosis of epilepsy in remission according to the international criteria treated in a Primary Care Unit of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Xalapa, Veracruz; There were 216 patients who were controlled (without epilepsy crisis) 150 of them were interviewed with a structure instrument designed for this purpose. RESULTS: The history of epilepsy was from five to nine years (49%). Partial crisis was identified in 54%. The age of diagnosis was established in 44% between one to ten years. The patients received drug treatment during a period of three to eight years in 51% of them. The monotherapy was used in 51% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Remission of epilepsy crisis can be obtained in most patients with two years drug treatment. However, we can not talk about definitive cure.