Seizure preventing drugs are also known as anti-seizure drugs or anticonvulsants. They do not work properly until they reach a certain level in the body and that level has to be maintained. There are more than 30 anti-seizure drugs currently approved to treat Epilepsy. About 6 in 10 people may control their seizures with the first or second medicine they try.
Certain types of surgery may be used for people whose seizures do not respond to medication. Surgery may be recommended when a seizure focus can be found and removed without hurting vital functions like speech or movement.
Dietary therapies can help control seizures in both children and adults, although they are used primarily in children and infrequently or rarely in adults. They are usually used when seizures do not respond to medicine. The most common diet therapy is the ketogenic diet. This is a medically supervised high fat and low carbohydrate diet. There are other diets that can help control seizures in some people, such as Medium-chain triglyceride diet (MCT), Modified Atkins Diet (MAD), and Low Glycemic Index Treatment (LGIT). Most people who use a diet therapy continue taking medicine.
A device to treat seizures that is implanted under the scalp in a small area of the skull or bone surrounding the brain. One or two wires from the device are placed under or on the surface of the brain where seizures start. The device is able to sense a seizure and sends small pulses of electrical current through the wires to help stop or lessen seizures. RNS also may help people who can’t have surgery or when surgery doesn’t work well enough. Like the VNS, the RNS does not cure epilepsy and it may not work right away. Yet it can help stop or lessen the number of seizures a person has by 40% to 60% after one to three years.
A small device (generator) is implanted under the skin in the left side of the chest. A small thin wire or electrode goes from the generator and is attached to the vagus nerve in the neck. VNS may be an option if surgery doesn’t work or is not right for you. The benefits of the VNS appear to improve over time. For example, about 45% of people have seizures decreased by 50% or more within one to two years.
DBS is a newer type of device that also helps control seizures when surgery doesn’t work or cannot be done. Electrode wires are placed in a specific area of the brain. The device is programmed, like VNS, to give stimulation to interrupt or stop seizures.
Try using earplugs or headphones in noisy or crowded places. Listen to relaxing music or sounds and distance yourself by singing or focusing on another activity.
Use polarized or tinted glasses. Use natural light indoors. Avoid flickering lights or patterns, such as strobe lights or flashing holiday lights
Try to keep a consistent sleep schedule and get enough sleep.
Avoid recreational drugs and talk to your doctor about use of alcohol. Avoid alcohol completely if you’re going through high-risk times or have recently had surgery. Consider carefully what you drink and the pace at which you drink it.
Both men and women may notice a cyclical pattern to their seizures. Record seizures on a calendar and track in relation to changes in your hormones. The use of hormonal medicines, such as contraceptives or birth control pills, as well as hormonal replacement therapy, may affect seizures. Be sure to talk to your doctor about all contraceptive use.
Emotional stress is a common trigger and can be a symptom of mood problems such as anxiety or depression. During stressful times, consider ways to modify your lifestyle and manage stress better.
Working closely and regularly with your doctor can prevent many seizures. However, there is no guarantee that seizures will not occur. Knowing what may trigger your seizures can help you recognize when a seizure may be coming and help you prepare to lessen the chance.
Seizures in Epilepsy may be related to brain injury, genetics, immune, brain structure, or metabolic cause, but most of the time the cause is unknown.
Some people find that their seizures occur in a pattern or are more likely to occur in certain situations, called a trigger. Examples of triggers are stimuli such as flashing lights or noises, stress, sleep deprivation, alcohol or drug use, low blood sugar, hormonal changes, and caffeine.
A trigger is something that occurs fairly consistently before seizures and more often than by chance. One way to identify triggers is to keep a seizure diary in which you note the time of day, what was taking place at the time of the seizure, describe the environment, and note if commonly reported triggers were present. Share and discuss your seizure diary with your doctor.
Epilepsy does not discriminate. It affects children and adults, men and women, and people of all races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and social classes. Epilepsy is most often diagnosed in either childhood or after the age of 65, but it can occur at any age. It is the 4th most common neurological disease.
About 3.4 million people in America have Epilepsy. 1 in 26 people in the United States will develop Epilepsy at some point in their lifetime.
Each time a seizure occurs it has the potential to be fatal. People who continue to have seizures are at greater risk of complications, the most serious of which are injuries and dying. One of the more common causes of dying from seizures is known as SUDEP, Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. In SUDEP, no other cause of death is found when an autopsy is done. This is the leading cause of death with uncontrolled seizures and the best way to prevent SUDEP is to lower your risk by controlling seizures.