Why medicate epilepsy

It can be helpful to get your prescription from the same pharmacist each time as some pharmacists keep records of the medication they dispense and can help with questions about prescriptions.

There are also lots of other ways in which your pharmacist can help you. Anti-epileptic drugs AEDs are the main type of treatment for most people with epilepsy that aims to stop seizures from happening. In August , the Government asked pharmaceutical companies to ensure they have a minimum six week stockpile of prescription-only and pharmacy-only medicines in case of potential delays at UK borders after Brexit on 29 March Information and training for people who are responsible for giving emergency medication to people with epilepsy.

If you have difficulties with taking your medication the following strategies and tools might be helpful. If you have just been diagnosed with epilepsy, you may have questions about medication and treatment. You might want to talk to your specialist, epilepsy specialist nurse or GP, about your epilepsy. You might also want to talk to your pharmacist about your treatment.

Our confidential epilepsy helpline provides information and emotional support. You can also get in contact with us through Facebook and Twitter. The decision whether to start taking anti-epileptic drugs AEDs can be difficult, and there is a lot to think about. Here we look at the benefits and risks of taking, or not taking, AEDs. Managing your treatment is an important part of managing your epilepsy, and seeing whether your medication is working.

This might include having a care plan, including a treatment plan. If someone has not had a seizure for two or more years then they may think about withdrawing coming off their AEDs. How doctors monitor epilepsy including therapeutic drug monitoring which checks the effectiveness of drugs taken by people with epilepsy. AEDs are available in a number of different forms, including tablets, capsules, liquids and syrups.

You usually need to take the medicine every day. Your specialist will start you on a low dose and gradually increase it until your seizures stop. If the first medicine you try does not work, your doctor may recommend trying another type. It's important you follow any advice about when to take AEDs and how much to take. Never suddenly stop taking an AED — doing so could cause a seizure. If you have not had a seizure for a few years, ask your doctor if you might be able to stop treatment. If they think it's safe, your dose will be reduced gradually over time.

While taking AEDs, do not take any other medicines, including over-the-counter medicines or complementary medicines, without speaking to your GP or specialist. Other medicines could affect how well your AED works. Side effects are common when starting treatment with AEDs. Some may appear soon after starting treatment and pass in a few days or weeks, while others may not appear for a few weeks. Contact your GP or specialist if you have symptoms similar to being drunk, such as unsteadiness, poor concentration and being sick.

This could mean your dose is too high. For information about the side effects of your medicine, check the information leaflet that comes with it. In these cases, there's a good chance that your seizures could stop completely after surgery. If your epilepsy is poorly controlled after trying several AEDs, you may be referred to a specialist epilepsy centre to see if surgery might be possible. The results of these tests will help you and your specialist decide if surgery is an option for you, and what the result of surgery might be.

Surgery for epilepsy is usually carried out under general anaesthetic , where you're asleep. The surgeon makes a small cut in your scalp and creates an opening in your skull so they can remove the affected part of the brain. Your seizures may not stop straight away, so you might need to keep taking AEDs for 1 to 2 years. There's a risk of complications from surgery, such as problems with your memory, mood or vision.

These problems may improve over time, or they may be permanent. If AEDs are not controlling your seizures and brain surgery is not suitable for you, there are other procedures that could help. Vagus nerve stimulation VNS is where a small electrical device similar to a pacemaker is placed under the skin of your chest.

The device is attached to a wire that goes under your skin and connects to a nerve in your neck called the vagus nerve. Bursts of electricity are sent along the wire to the nerve. It's thought this can help control seizures by changing the electrical signals in the brain. Individuals may find that complementary therapies boost the effectiveness of their seizure medications. People must check with their doctor before beginning any of these therapies.

Herbal remedies , including kava , valerian , passionflower , and chamomile , may have relaxing and calming effects and a positive impact on seizures. In contrast, stimulating herbs, such as ginseng and gingko , may worsen seizures. Nutrients such as vitamin B6 , magnesium , vitamin E , and omega-3 fatty acids may reduce seizure frequency.

Research also shows that thiamine may help brain function in people with epilepsy. A healthcare professional shows a person that activity in real time. This can allow the person to understand their own body better. Biofeedback has been successful in teaching people to recognize warning signs and act to prevent a full-blown seizure. The role of acupuncture in treating epilepsy is unclear. Some research has found it ineffective in treating seizures and improving quality of life.

In comparison, other scientists present it as a promising therapy. A growing number of people with epilepsy report that using cannabis is beneficial to their condition and, in some cases, results in nearly complete seizure control.

The Food and Drug Administration FDA recently approved the cannabis-based drug Epidiolex to treat some rare and severe types of epilepsy. A range of factors, including trauma, infections, and genetics, can cause epilepsy and seizures. Sometimes, there is no identifiable cause.

Usually, anti-epileptic drugs treat seizures and epilepsy successfully. However, side effects can occur with these medications. Alternative therapies also exist, including brain surgery, implanted devices, special diets, biofeedback, and medical cannabis.

Epilepsy is a fairly common neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures. In this article, learn about the different types of epilepsy…. Epilepsy is a condition that causes seizures. It is relatively common in children. Learn about its causes, symptoms, and treatments here. Absence seizures cause brief lapses in consciousness that may look similar to daydreaming. This article looks at their causes, symptoms, and…. An abnormal electrical discharge in the brain causes a seizure.