Epilepsy Treatment

Epilepsy Treatment questions and answers

Learn About Epilepsy Treatment You Can Afford.

Q: Is there a good place I can go for epilepsy treatment in Michigan?
I currently go to the neurology center at U of M, but I want someone that specializes in epilepsy.

A: You are not that far from the Cleveland Clinic... they have an incredible program for epilepsy evaluation and treatment... if you are looking for a second opinion.

Q: Does anyone know any good doctors for Epilepsy treatment in Texas?
Yeah, my younger sis has had epilepsy for now the better part of a decade, and I think it's progressing. Anyone know any good doctors? Her current doctors answer to everything is to up the dosage.

A: Depends on where in Texas you are talking about. I know for Dallas, "D Magazine" puts out this special edition around Oct or Nov called Dallas Top Docs. You can probably go to their website and download the list of top docs from this past issue. They may charge a little, but might be worth it. You could also try to search for doctors through the AMA site in specialties in your area.

Q: What is the best treatment for epilepsy combined with diabetes?
Being my son has to give himself insulin injections,and now has been diagnosed with with epilepsy,what is the best treatment to stop his seizures,maintain insulin levels and stop his depression & sleepless nights?

A: Follow this for the diabetes, and do extra anulom vilom(stimulates left and right brain) to help with the epilepsy.You will have better sleep in 9 days. These pranayam exercises will help control the diabetes and the side effects.Build up the timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume later(after about a minute).The benefits will be noticed in weeks as the sugar level is checked daily.Over the long term the diabetes will be in full control. Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day. Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently. Anulom Vilom – Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril. This is one cycle of anulom vilom. Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day. Children under 15 years - do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day. You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed. Also everyday, press the centre point of the palm of both your hands 40 times with the thumb and press the tips of all fingers 40 times each. To stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin: mandukasan - kneel down(with feet pointing inwards,and sit on the ankles/heels, Vajrasan position), breathe in and breathe out completely and hold your breath, pull the stomach in, press both your hands on stomach, bend forward as much as possible keeping the head straight, hold for 5 to 15 seconds and come back up while breathing in. Repeat this 3 times daily to stimulate the kidney and pancreas.Mandukasan2 - Repeat the whole process,but this time with with fists of both hands pressing against the stomach.Mandukasan can be done sitting on a chair, if you cannot bend the legs. Continue the breathing exercises once a day, after the diabetes is in full control.

Q: What is the best Natural, Safe and Effective treatment for Epilepsy?
Particularly for the treatment of Juvinile Occipital lobe Epilepsy. Yes I checked a lot of sites and got plenty of data on it. Really looking for an opinion from a Naturopath or other expert.

A: Not sure. This site might help, below: http://www.advancesinepilepsy.com/?spg=PPC&sky=hgy|yah|aie|epilepsy|adv-epilepsy|epilepsy|

Q: What is Epilepsy and what is the treatment for it?
What is epilepsy and what is the treatment for it I do take medication I do suffer from migraines as well. I have grand mal seizures. I also have petti Mal and partical seizures. What are all the treatmeats for my condition.

A: Epilepsy (sometimes referred to as a seizure disorder) is a common chronic neurological condition that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked epileptic seizures. It affects approximately 50 million people worldwide.[1] It is usually controlled, but not cured, with medication – although surgery may be considered in difficult cases. Treatment Epilepsy is usually treated with medication prescribed by a physician; primary caregivers, neurologists, and neurosurgeons all frequently care for people with epilepsy. In some cases the implantation of a stimulator of the vagus nerve, or a special diet can be helpful. Neurosurgical operations for epilepsy can be palliative, reducing the frequency or severity of seizures; or, in some patients, an operation can be curative. [edit] Responding to a seizure In most cases, the proper emergency response to a generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizure is simply to prevent the patient from self-injury by moving him or her away from sharp edges, placing something soft beneath the head, and carefully rolling the person onto his or her side to avoid asphyxiation. Should the person regurgitate, the material should be allowed to drip out the side of the patient's mouth by itself. If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, Emergency Medical Services should be contacted. Prolonged seizures may develop into status epilepticus, a dangerous condition requiring hospitalization and emergency treatment. Objects should never be placed in a person's mouth during a seizure as this could result in injury to the person's mouth or obstruction of the airway. Despite common folklore, it is not possible for a person to swallow their own tongue during a seizure. After a seizure, it is typical for a person to be confused, disoriented, and possibly agitated or sleepy. It is important to stay with the person until this passes; people should not eat or drink until they have returned to their normal level of awareness, and they should not be allowed to wander about unsupervised. Many patients will sleep deeply for a few hours after a seizure; this is not dangerous. In about 50% of people with epilepsy, headaches may occur after a seizure. These headaches share many features with migraines, and respond to the same medications. If it seems to have been a first seizure, it is likely to be noticeably helpful to make a written or otherwise recorded note of the sequence and nature of events. The doctor deciding on further management will probably find this helpful. [edit] Pharmacologic treatment Some medications can be taken daily in order to prevent seizures altogether or reduce the frequency of their occurrence. These are termed "anticonvulsant" or "antiepileptic" drugs (sometimes AEDs). All such drugs have side effects which are idiosyncratic and others which are dose-dependent; it is not possible to predict who will suffer from side effects or at what dose the side effects will appear. Some people with epilepsy will experience a complete remission when treated with an anticonvulsant medication. If this does not occur, the dose of medication may be increased, or another medication may be added to the first. The general strategy is to increase the medication dose until either the seizures are controlled, or until dose-limiting side effects appear; at which point the medication dose is reduced to the highest amount that did not produce undesirable side effects. Serum levels of AEDs can be checked to determine medication compliance and to assess the effects of drug-drug interactions; serum levels are generally not useful to predict anticonvulsant efficacy in an individual patient, though in some cases (such as a seizure flurry) it can be useful to know if the level is very high or very low. If a person's epilepsy cannot be brought under control after adequate trials of two different drugs, that person's epilepsy is generally said to be 'medically refractory.' Various drugs may prevent seizures or reduce seizure frequency: these include carbamazepine (common brand name Tegretol), clobazam (Frisium), clonazepam (Klonopin), ethosuximide (Zarontin), felbamate (Felbatol), fosphenytoin (Cerebyx), flurazepam (Dalmane), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), levetiracetam (Keppra), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), mephenytoin (Mesantoin), phenobarbital (Luminal), phenytoin (Dilantin), pregabalin (Lyrica), primidone (Mysoline), sodium valproate (Epilim), tiagabine (Gabitril), topiramate (Topamax), valproate semisodium (Depakote), valproic acid (Depakene, Convulex), and vigabatrin (Sabril). Other drugs are commonly used to abort an active seizure or interrupt a seizure flurry; these include diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan). Drugs used only in the treatment of refractory status epilepticus include paraldehyde (Paral) and pentobarbital (Nembutal). Bromides were the first of the effective anticonvulsant pure compounds, but are no longer used in humans[6] due to their toxicities and low efficacy. [edit] Surgical treatment Surgical treatment can be an option for epilepsy when an underlying brain abnormality, such as a benign tumor or an area of scar tissue (e.g. hippocampal sclerosis) can be identified. The abnormality must be removable by a neurosurgeon. Surgery is usually only offered to patients when their epilepsy has not been controlled by adequate attempts with multiple medications. Before surgery is offered, the medical team conducts many tests to assess whether removal of brain tissue will result in unacceptable problems with memory, vision, language or movement, which are controlled by different parts of the brain. These tests usually include a neuropsychological evaluation, which sometimes includes an intracarotid sodium amobarbital test (Wada test). Resective surgery, as opposed to palliative, successfully eliminates or significantly reduces seizures in about 50-90% of the patients who undergo it (the exact percentage depends on the particulars of the case in question.) Many patients decide not to undergo surgery owing to fear or the uncertainty of having a brain operation. The most common form of resective surgical treatment for epilepsy is to remove the front part of either the right or left temporal lobe. A study of 48 patients who underwent this operation, anterior temporal lobectomy, between 1965 and 1974 determined the long-term success of the procedure. Of the 48 patients, 21 had had no seizures that caused loss of consciousness since the operation. Three others had been free of seizures for at least 19 years. The rest had either never been completely free of seizures or had died between the time of the surgery and commencement of the study.[7] Palliative surgery for epilepsy is intended to reduce the frequency or severity of seizures. Examples are callosotomy or commissurotomy to prevent seizures from generalizing (spreading to involve the entire brain), which results in a loss of consciousness. This procedure can therefore prevent injury due to the person falling to the ground after losing consciousness. It is performed only when the seizures cannot be controlled by other means. Resective surgery can be considered palliative if it is undertaken with the expectation that it will reduce but not eliminate seizures. Hemispherectomy is a drastic operation in which most or all of one half of the cerebral cortex is removed. It is reserved for people suffering from the most catastrophic epilepsies, such as those due to Rasmussen syndrome. If the surgery is performed on very young patients (2-5 years old), the remaining hemisphere may acquire some rudimentary motor control of the ipsilateral body; in older patients, paralysis results on the side of the body opposite to the part of the brain that was removed. Because of these and other side effects it is usually reserved for patients who have exhausted other treatment options. [edit] Other treatment Ketogenic diets may occasionally be effective in controlling some types of epilepsy; although the mechanism behind the effect is not fully understood, shifting of pH towards a metabolic acidosis and alteration of brain metabolism may be involved. Ketogenic diets are high in fat and extremely low in carbohydrates, with intake of fluids often limited. This treatment, originated as early as the 1920s at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, was largely abandoned with the discovery of modern anti-epileptic drugs, but recently has returned to the anti-epileptic treatment arsenal. Ketogenic diets are sometimes prescribed in severe cases where drugs have proven ineffective. There are several downsides to what initially seems a benign therapy, however. The ketogenic diet is not good for the heart or kidneys and medical problems resulting from the diet have been reported. In addition, the diet is extremely unpalatable and few patients are able to tolerate it for any length of time. Since a single potato chip is adequate to break the ketosis, staying on the diet requires either great willpower or perfect control of a person's dietary intake. People fed via gastrostomy or young children who receive all their food in the presence of a caregiver are better candidates. Vagus nerve stimulation is a recently developed form of seizure control which uses an implanted electrical device, similar in size, shape and implant location to a heart pacemaker, which connects to the vagus nerve in the neck. Once in place the device can be set to emit electronic pulses, stimulating the vagus nerve at pre-set intervals and milliamp levels. Treatment studies have shown that approximately 50% of those treated in this fashion will show significant seizure reduction. Some people with epilepsy receive a special dog which has the rare talent of sensing the onset of a seizure and is trained to alert the human so they can reach a safe location before their seizure puts them in danger. Other epilepsy care dogs do not sense seizures, but serve as companions and guardians during the loss of consciousness accompanying a seizure. The Institutes for The Achievement of Human Potential promulgate a home program consisting of a healthy diet, clean air, and respiratory training. This alternative approach is regarded as dangerous and without value by most medical practitioners. Magnesium and vitamin B6 exerted a positive non-specific influence on the mental states of patients with epilepsy, depression and anxiety during an experiment.[8] A number of systematic reviews by the Cochrane Collaboration into treatments for epilepsy looked at acupuncture[9], psychological interventions[10], vitamins[11] and yoga[12] and found there is no reliable evidence to support the use of these as treatments for epilepsy. More on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilepsy#Treatment

Q: what is the best place in india for the treatment of epilepsy?
i have a younger brother aged 16 who is having such attacks despite of having medication...for the first year of medication he didnt had any attacks but since then i.e from last six months he has had around 4 minor n 2 major attacks..whos the best to treat such problems in india?

A: We have treated epilepsy very effectively through acupuncture / acupressure in Hyderabad. We also train the patient to prevent future attacks.You may consult an experienced acupuncture specialist who can diagnose the problem by pulse diagnosis. The treatment period varies from six months to one year for complete control of the problem.

Q: Is there a treatment for Canine Epilepsy other than Potassium Bromide?
My dog suffers from cluster seizures that are getting worse. He has been taking Potassium Bromide but the side effects are causing him to lose his muscle control and his ability to walk. The only other treatment I know of is Phenobarbitol but my vet says this drug will cause liver damage over time. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

A: There are numerous meds that are used in people for seizures. Ask about dilantin, depakote, neurontin, etc. Phenobarb may still be an option if liver function tests are done frequently. Best of luck.

Q: what is the best alternative for carbamazepine (tegretol) in the treatment of epilepsy?
I have to discontinuing the carbamazepine (tegretol) because of side effects.then searching for a good alternative.

A: It really depends on the individual patient as well as the type of epilepsy. Talk to your family doctor or neurologist about which ones are best for YOU.

Q: My 2years son suffering epilepsy, is there any treatment to be he cure? i want to know absolute treatment?
His age 2years , can his early age any chance for treatment to be he become out of this?

A: We all wish there was an absolute treatment, but there isn't. Please see a good neurologist, or an epileptologist, who will observe his symptoms and work with you to find the best medicine or treatment to control his symptoms. The website below is a good way to learn about new treatments, and to learn from other families with the same problems. The more you learn, the more you can help your son.

Q: why cant you get a ride to treatment centers by ACS if you have epilepsy and cancer?
I have Epilepy and cant Drive the American Cancer Society Will not drive me to doctors office and treatments at the hospital because I have epilepsy that is under control. My boyfriend will have to quit his job and wont be able to pay the bills. We need help and answers PLEASE!

A: CANCER: There's a new Swedish study which shows that human breast milk kills cancer. On the news this guy who drank human breast milk (with a prescription) beat cancer. It was discovered by Swedish scientists that human breast milk (spilled into a petri dish) kills cancer. People who drink it have had some success in fighting off cancer. You need a prescription and it's about $3 an ounce at a breast milk bank, but it works. http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061209/bob8.asp http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4187697.stm

Q: What is the most effective treatment currently available to patients suffering from epilepsy?
My sixteen year daughter faces a bleak future due to the affliction of epilepsy disease which had made it difficult for her to attend school normally. She strongly desires to go to school but appears to have difficultiy in organizing her self and her thoughts. I am seriously searching for a solution to her affliction in order to afford her the opportunity to study and be useful to herself and society. I feel really sad to be reminded always that epilepsy is noncurable - meaning that is sufferers are doomed to a life of eternal misery!

A: Have you ever heard of a Vagus Nerve Stimulator? I work with a child who has epilepsy and he has one and he has benefited from it. Basically it's a device that is implanted under the skin and is set by the doctor to stimulate the vagus nerve at a set interval. Then, if she were to have a seizure, you get the special magnet and swipe it over the device in her skin to activate it right at that moment. I'm not sure exactly why it works. Then, if the seizure doesn't stop after that, the kid I work with uses diastat. It's been pretty effective for the family.

Q: What is the best treatment for a dog that has epilepsy attack every month?


A: My vet told me when my dog started having seizures a month or less apart that it was time to start him on Phenobarbital. He was on it for six months before he had another seizure. About 18 months after starting, we did have to up his dosage a little bit because he started having seizures again. Since then he's been seizure free (8 months and counting). The meds are very reasonably priced. I get 200 pills for $8. He gets them twice a day and I've made such a big deal about them that he actually reminds me when it's time for his pills because he thinks he's getting a treat. More information on canine epilepsy here: http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/

Q: is there a home testing kit for blood levels FOR THE TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY?


A: There are no blood tests for epilepsy. If you're asking about tests of drug levels, then no. They have to be done in a real lab.

Q: Ayurvedic Treatment for Epilepsy?
My brother has been suffering from Epilepsy for 8 years. He is taking english medicines but there is no result. Now we want to give a chance for Ayurvedic treatment. Can anybody let me know is it suggested. And also please tell me the best ayurvedic center for Epilepsy in India. Are there any in Hyderabad. Are there anybody who got relief from ayurvedic treatement?

A: The Ayruvedic treatment for epilepsy is known as "watching them have a seizure"

Q: should alcohol induced seizures receive the same long term treatment as epilepsy?


A: Having a seizure doesn't mean you have epilepsy. A person isn't diagnosed with epilepsy unless they have more than one "unprovoked" seizures. Having a seizure from drinking too much would probably be considered a "provoked" seizure. Long term treatment: control your drinking.