Management of epilepsy
Treatment of epilepsy reduces the frequency or even stops them completely. Most patients need treatment for life, but you would have a chance to stop the treatment if the seizures had disappeared for a certain period. Your doctor will begin the treatment with anti-epileptic medications. If failed, he can use surgery or other procedures. The management plan will also consider the triggers (if you know them) and any other diseases you have.
1) Anti-epileptic medications:
These medications represent the cornerstone in treating epilepsy. They don’t cure epilepsy, but they affect the brain chemicals and prevent seizures.
Anti-epileptic medications include more than 20 different types. Your doctor will choose the drug, depending on the type of seizures you have. Your doctor will also consider your age, health condition, and the frequency of the attacks.
Your doctor will start with a single drug at a low dose, then raise the dosage or add another drug until reaching the desired control. While taking these drugs, talk to your doctor before taking any other medicines for any cause to avoid harmful drug interactions.
These medications may have side effects, such as drowsiness, fatigue, weight gain, hair loss (or unwanted growth), tremors, rash, or memory problems. Some severe side effects may rarely occur, like depression or suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Take these medications exactly as your doctor prescribed. Discuss any side effects you feel with your doctor, but never stop treatment without talking to him. Also, commit to the follow-up appointments.
Your doctor might stop the treatment if you didn’t have seizures for a few years. But, don’t stop treatment alone. He will reduce the dose gradually over time.
