What are the treatment options for epilepsy?
Diet Therapy for Epilepsy, Including Ketogenic Diet. High fat, very low-carbohydrate diets, when calibrated and administered by a doctor and followed precisely, can help ease recurrent seizures in some cases. Johns Hopkins offers diet therapy for epilepsy for both pediatric and adult patients, using the ketogenic diet and the modified Atkins diet.
What is the treatment for anaphylactic shock?
This treatment involves surgically implanting a small gadget called a neurostimulator. Your doctor puts it under your skull bone. It looks for patterns in your brain activity that can lead to a...
What should I do if I have status epilepticus?
Epilepsy may be treated with antiepileptic medications (AEDs), diet therapy and surgery. Medications are the initial treatment choice for almost all patients with multiple seizures. Some patients who only have a single seizure and whose tests do not indicate a high likelihood of seizure recurrence may not need medications.
What kind of surgery do they do for seizures?
What's the Most Common Treatment for Epilepsy? Medication remains the most common treatment for people with epilepsy. Most epilepsy syndromes and the vast majority of genetic syndromes that cause...
How to get rid of epilepsy?
Nerve Stimulation. Surgery. After you’re diagnosed with epilepsy, you have several ways to get treatment. Medication, a special diet, an implant that works on your nerves or brain, and surgery could all help you feel better.
Do you need a blood test for epilepsy?
While you’re taking it, the doctor will want you to get blood tests to see how your body handles the treatment. How often you need them depends on your type of epilepsy medication, other drugs you take, and any health conditions you might have.
What are the side effects of a syringe?
More serious side effects can be: 1 Severe rash 2 Inflammation in organs like your liver 3 Depression
How does a vagus nerve stimulator work?
Your doctor will put a small device called a vagus nerve stimulator under the skin of your chest, and connect it to the nerve. The device sends small bursts of electricity through the nerve to your brain. You’ll probably still have to take medication.
How does a neurostimulator work?
It looks for patterns in your brain activity that can lead to a seizure. When the neurostimulator sees one of these patterns, it sends out a little pulse to interrupt it.
Where does the vagus nerve go?
This nerve runs from your chest and abdomen, through your neck, and up to the lower part of your brain. It controls things that are automatic in your body, like your heartbeat. Your doctor will put a small device called a vagus nerve stimulator under the skin of your chest, and connect it to the nerve.
What is the best diet for epilepsy?
Diet therapy may be utilized in some patients with specific forms of epilepsy. The most common diets utilized are the ketogenic diet and the modified Atkins diet. The ketogenic diet is a special high-fat, adequate protein and low carbohydrate diet that is initiated over three to four days in the hospital.
What is the most common type of epilepsy surgery?
Removal of one of the temporal lobes — called a temporal lobectomy — is the most common type of epilepsy surgery performed. Other types of lobectomies may rely on more specialized testing and surgery to prove a lack of vital function (such as speech, memory, vision, motor function). Multilobar resection.
What is epilepsy disorder?
Check out the new videos at the bottom of the page. Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by repeated seizures. A seizure is usually defined as a sudden alteration of behavior due to a temporary change in the electrical functioning of the brain.
How does epilepsy affect the brain?
In epilepsy the brain's electrical rhythms have a tendency to become imbalanced, resulting in recurrent seizures.
How many people have epilepsy?
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy affects three million people in the U.S. and 50 million worldwide. Epileptic seizures may be tied to a brain injury or genetics, but for 70 percent of epilepsy patients, the cause is unknown.
Can epilepsy be caused by brain damage?
Brain injury or infection can cause epilepsy at any age. The Epilepsy Foundation also reports that 70 percent of children and adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy can be expected to enter remission after having gone five years or more without a seizure while on medication.
What causes epilepsy in children?
Children may be born with a defect in the structure of their brain or they may suffer a head injury or infection that causes their epilepsy. Severe head injury is the most common known cause in young adults. For middle-age individuals, strokes, tumors and injuries are more frequent catalysts.
What are the best treatments for epilepsy?
When epilepsy isn't being controlled by medication and surgery isn't an option, we turn to devices. There are two on the market now: 1 vagus nerve stimulator (VNS). 2 NeuroPace - a reactive neurostimulator
Can epilepsy be cured?
Surgery can lead to long-term remission. It can be a true cure for epilepsy. One study came out in 2001 that showed that about 60% of people who had a temporal lobectomy (in which the temporal lobe located on the side of the brain is removed) had no seizures, or at most, a few auras afterward.
How many people have epilepsy?
This all adds up to a good prognosis for the nearly 3,4 million people with epilepsy in the U.S. With proper treatment, most people with epilepsy can live healthy lives without seizures.
Can you have seizures with epilepsy?
That's what we're aiming for: no seizures, no side effects. If you're still having seizures or side effects with treatment, then you have to seek expert care.
Can temporal lobectomy cure epilepsy?
One study came out in 2001 that showed that about 60% of people who had a temporal lobectomy (in which the temporal lobe located on the side of the brain is removed) had no seizures, or at most, a few auras afterward.
Is keto diet safe for epilepsy?
The Ketogenic Diet for Epilepsy. It can be a valuable tool in certain children with catastrophic epilepsy. About a quarter of the people who go on it get good control of the seizures. The problem is that the safety of the diet for long-term use is in question.
Is Epidiolex a drug?
They're easier to use and more predictable. That's helpful, since we know that drug interactions are the bane of many patients. The drug Epidiolex, which is made from cannabidiol ( CBD) a form of medical marijuana, has been found to be effective in treating very severe or hard-to-treat seizures.
What to do if you have anaphylactic shock?
What to do in cases of anaphylactic shock. If you’re experiencing severe anaphylaxis, seek emergency care immediately. If you have an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), use it at the onset of your symptoms. Don’t try to take any type of oral medication if you’re having difficulty breathing.
What happens if you don't treat anaphylactic shock?
When your body goes into anaphylactic shock, your blood pressure suddenly drops and your airways narrow, possibly blocking normal breathing. This condition is dangerous. If it isn’t treated immediately, it can result in serious complications and even be fatal.
What happens when you are allergic to something?
For some people with severe allergies, when they’re exposed to something they’re allergic to, they may experience a potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. As a result, their immune system releases chemicals that flood the body. This can lead to anaphylactic shock. When your body goes into anaphylactic shock, ...
What are the symptoms of anaphylaxis?
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include: skin reactions such as hives, flushed skin, or paleness. suddenly feeling too warm. feeling like you have a lump in your throat or difficulty swallowing. nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. abdominal pain. a weak and rapid pulse.
How do you know if you have anaphylaxis?
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include: skin reactions such as hives, flushed skin, or paleness. suddenly feeling too warm. feeling like you have a lump in your throat or difficulty swallowing. nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. abdominal pain. a weak and rapid pulse. runny nose and sneezing.
What does it feel like to have a lump in your throat?
feeling like you have a lump in your throat or difficulty swallowing. nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. abdominal pain. a weak and rapid pulse. runny nose and sneezing. swollen tongue or lips. wheezing or difficulty breathing. a sense that something is wrong with your body. tingling hands, feet, mouth, or scalp.
What does it mean when you have a weak pulse?
a weak and rapid pulse. runny nose and sneezing. swollen tongue or lips. wheezing or difficulty breathing. a sense that something is wrong with your body. tingling hands, feet, mouth, or scalp. If you think you’re experiencing anaphylaxis, seek medical attention immediately.
What is the best treatment for a seizure?
Healthcare providers may use anti-seizure drugs to treat the problem, including: Diazepam. Lorazepam.
How long does an epilepsy seizure last?
Individuals who have epilepsy must take their medicine as directed. A seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 within a 5 minute period is an emergency that requires immediate medical care.
Can epilepsy cause seizures?
Many problems can cause you to have a seizure. These include high fever, brain infections, abnormal sodium or blood sugar levels, or head injuries. If you have epilepsy, you may have seizures repeatedly. A seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 seizure within a 5 minutes period, without returning to a normal level ...
How long does it take for a seizure to go away?
If you have epilepsy, you may have seizures repeatedly. A seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 seizure within a 5 minutes period, without returning to a normal level of consciousness between episodes is called status epilepticus. This is a medical emergency that may lead to permanent brain damage or death.
Can epilepsy cause permanent brain damage?
This is a medical emergency that may lead to permanent brain damage or death. Status epilepticus is very rare, most people with epilepsy will never have it. This condition is more common in young children and elderly adults. This condition can occur as:
What causes seizures in the brain?
Many problems can cause you to have a seizure. These include high fever, brain infections, abnormal sodium or blood sugar levels, or head injuries. If you have epilepsy, you may have seizures repeatedly.
What is electroconvulsive therapy?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can provide rapid, significant improvements in severe symptoms of several mental health conditions. ECT is used to treat: Severe depression, particularly when accompanied by detachment from reality (psychosis), a desire to commit suicide or refusal to eat. Treatment-resistant depression, ...
Is it safe to take ECT?
Risks. Although ECT is generally safe, risks and side effects may include: Confusion. Immediately after treatment, you may experience confusion, which can last from a few minutes to several hours. You may not know where you are or why you're there. Rarely, confusion may last several days or longer.
Is ECT good for dementia?
Agitation and aggression in people with dementia, which can be difficult to treat and negatively affect quality of life. ECT may be a good treatment option when medications aren't tolerated or other forms of therapy haven't worked.
How to get ready for ECT?
To get ready for the ECT procedure: You'll have general anesthesia. So you can expect dietary restrictions before the procedure. Typically, this means no food or water after midnight and only a sip of water to take any morning medications. Your health care team will give you specific instructions before your procedure.
What are the signs of mania?
Other signs of mania include impaired decision-making, impulsive or risky behavior, substance abuse, and psychosis. Catatonia, characterized by lack of movement, fast or strange movements, lack of speech, and other symptoms. It's associated with schizophrenia and certain other psychiatric disorders.
Can ECT cause headaches?
On the days of an ECT treatment, some people experience nausea, headache, jaw pain or muscle ache. These generally can be treated with medications. Medical complications. As with any type of medical procedure, especially one that involves anesthesia, there are risks of medical complications.
How long does it take for ECT to work?
Full improvement may take longer, though ECT may not work for everyone. Response to antidepressant medications, in comparison, can take several weeks or more. No one knows for certain how ECT helps treat severe depression and other mental illnesses.
When is ECT administered?
Promotional materials are careful in describing the procedure and present a picture that’s quite benign: “ECT treatment is generally administered in the morning, before breakfast,” reads one brochure. “Prior to the actual treatment, the patient is given general anesthesia and a muscle relaxant.
Does ECT cause memory loss?
The brain damage caused by ECT results in varying degrees of memory loss and intellectu al and cognitive impairment , says Dallas psychiatrist Colin Ross. Ross also cites “substantial evidence” that the death rates from natural causes rise following an ECT regimen, particularly in the older patient population.
Who wrote a question of torture?
Alfred McCoy, author of A Question of Torture, noted, “In effect, they were testing under field conditions whether Ewen Cameron’s McGill depatterning techniques could actually alter human behavior.”. Supporters of ECT are quick to distance its current application from its roots in Fascist Italy and its use in torture.
