Objective To compare the efficacy and side effects between early add ⁃ on Nitrodiazepam （NZP）to Lamotrigine（LTG）and sodium valproate（VPA）only on absence epilepsy in children. Methods The children with epilepsy diagnosed by typical clinical manifestations and video electroencephalogram were divided into VPA group（n = 26）and LTG+NZP group（n = 26）. The children were treated with VPA or early add⁃on NZP to LTG respectively（NZP tailed off at 4th month within one month）. The patients were followed up for 1 year to observe seizure control and adverse reactions of the patients. Results In VPA group and LTG+NZP group，12 cases （48.0%）and 10 cases（41.7%）were completely controlled at the first month；14 cases（56.0%）and 12 cases （50.0%）at the 3rd month；15 cases（60.0%）and 14 cases（58.3%），at the 6th month；and 17 cases（68.0%）and 16 cases（66.7%），at 12 months，indicating no statistical significance（P > 0.05）. The total effective rate of VPA group and LTG + NZP group was 68.0% and 66.7% 1 month after treatment，72.0% and 66.7% 3 months after treatment，76.0% and 75.0% 6 months after treatment，and 84.0% and 79.2% 12 months after treatment，respec⁃ tively，showing no significant difference（P > 0.05）. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between 2 groups（P > 0.05）. Conclusion Early add⁃on NZP to LTG onchildren with absence epilepsy has nearly the same efficacy as sodium valproate. Early add ⁃ on NZP to LTG on children with absence epilepsy might take both curative effect and onset time into consideration.