Epilepsy
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with epilepsy, then you know that epilepsy is a seizure disorder. But you may not understand what in the brain triggers a seizure, or how seizures can be controlled. Explore the features below to learn more about how you or your loved one can live well with epilepsy.
Seizure Control: What Can You Take for Epilepsy?
Deciding on treatment for the seizure disorder epilepsy involves balancing several factors, including the kinds of seizures being treated and antiseizure medication side effects. Doctors agree that being on one drug at the lowest possible dose, called monotherapy, is the best plan for minimizing drug interactions and reducing medication side effects. Watch Video >>Read Transcript >>
Tailoring Treatment for Epilepsy
The landscape of epilepsy treatment has changed dramatically over the last 15 years, with seven new drugs hitting the market since 1990. To ensure that people living with epilepsy receive the medication that best meets their needs, treatment guidelines were recently released by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. Read Article >>
Pregnancy Planning for Women with Epilepsy
For many years, women with epilepsy were discouraged from getting pregnant. But the majority of pregnancies in women with epilepsy have a good outcome. Find out why experts say it's critical that women with epilepsy seek pre-conception counseling from a neurologist. Read Article >>
Unique Concerns for Women and Girls with Epilepsy
Hormones have the power to take men and women of all ages on emotional and physiological rollercoasters that, at times, they'd like to get off. Epilepsy adds a number of twists and turns to this ride. Epilepsy and its treatment can have a major impact on the reproductive health of women and girls. Read Article >>
Epilepsy Genetics: A Guide for Patients and Families
A few months ago, one of my patients, Ms. C, who has epilepsy, came into my office and sat down with a worried look on her face. She was six months pregnant. "Doctor," she said, "what I really want to know is...will my baby have seizures?" Read Article >>
Epilepsy in Children
The majority of epilepsies begin in childhood. The brain is less mature during this time and is therefore less able to protect itself from abnormal electrical discharges. Read Article >>
Epilepsy Surgery
Few people with epilepsy know that it is actually possible to cure the disease with surgery. As many as 80-90% of carefully and appropriately selected patients can be seizure-free after a surgical therapy. Read Article >>
Seizure Control in Kids
While living with the likelihood you will have a seizure is challenging for anyone, it is particularly difficult for children and teenagers. Educating parents and kids, as well as teachers and fellow students, about epilepsy can help ensure children's safety and comfort level. Read Article >>
Stopping Seizures
Watching someone have a seizure can be a terrifying experience. One minute you may be chatting with a colleague and the next minute, they have lost consciousness and begun making jerky movements. While not all seizures are this severe, some people with epilepsy find that their daily lives are seriously affected by the possibility that they might have a seizure. Read Article >>
Pot-pourri: Cannabis Preparations for Pain
While little research is being done on the medical uses of marijuana, a new study suggests that a drug modeled on a cannabinoid chemical in marijuana may help ease the pain associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) and perhaps provide a safer alternative to smoked marijuana. Read Article >>
Reliable neurology information straight from the experts
Portrait of a Child with Epilepsy
Tailoring Treatment for Epilepsy