Home Health Center
Epilepsy
Epilepsy - Treatment
Treatments for Epilepsy
Treatments for epilepsy may involve medication or surgery depending on the underlying cause of the condition. Medicines called anti-convulsants may control the amount and severity if seizures. Doctors prescribe dosages and all medications come with their own sets of risks and complications. If the side effects are too uncomfortable, speak to your doctor about trying an alternative but never stop taking any medication on your won.
A more drastic form of
treatment for epilepsy is surgery. Surgical procedures are used to remove abnormal brain cells. This has proved successful in some patients. Implanting a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VGS) can also help reduce the number of seizures in severe cases.
Frequently asked questions
References
- Danielle A.J.E. Lambrechts, Laura H.P. Wielders, Albert P. Aldenkamp, Fons G.H. Kessels, Reina J.A. de Kinderen, Marian J.M. Majoie, The ketogenic diet as a treatment option in adults with chronic refractory epilepsy: Efficacy and tolerability in clinical practice, Epilepsy & Behavior, Volume 23, Issue 3, March 2012, Pages 310-314, ISSN 1525-5050, 10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.01.002. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525505012000066)
- Srishti Nangia, Roberto H. Caraballo, Hoon-Chul Kang, Douglas R. Nordli, Ingrid E. Scheffer, Is the ketogenic diet effective in specific epilepsy syndromes?, Epilepsy Research, Volume 100, Issue 3, July 2012, Pages 252-257, ISSN 0920-1211, 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2012.01.015.