How is epilepsy treated?

Written by Tang Bo

Neurology

Updated on September 22, 2024

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Epilepsy treatment can be divided into the following aspects: First is etiological treatment. If epilepsy is caused by tumors or cerebrovascular diseases, surgical removal of the lesion can relieve epilepsy, but seizures often still occur, so medication must not be stopped. Secondly, pharmacological treatment is necessary for epilepsy induced by unclear causes or genetic metabolic diseases. Treatment involves taking and adjusting medications under medical guidance, based on different types of seizures and individual patient circumstances. Additionally, for some cases where the cause cannot be clearly identified and no epileptic foci are found, functional surgery can be performed for treatment.

Other Voices

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Written by Yuan Jun Li

Neurology

48sec

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Can patients with epilepsy eat mangoes?

Epilepsy patients can eat mangoes. Mangoes are rich in vitamins and can supplement the essential nutrients needed by the human body. However, some people may be allergic to mangoes, and generally should not consume them. There are no specific dietary restrictions for epilepsy patients, but they should try to eat less spicy and greasy food, avoid mental stimulation, which can provoke seizures. Additionally, patients should eat more fresh vegetables and fruits to supplement the necessary vitamins and nutrients. They should also have a balanced diet, including lean meat, fish, poultry eggs, soy products, and some milk. It is important to have a regular lifestyle, sleep and wake up on time, and ensure sufficient sleep duration and quality.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

1min 13sec

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What medicine should not be taken for epilepsy?

Patients with epilepsy mainly rely on some internal medicine drugs for treatment. There are many drugs available today, many of which can effectively control the occurrence of epilepsy and improve the quality of life of the patients. However, it is also important to note that some drugs should not be taken in reduced quantities, Firstly, there are some drugs that affect the liver. Many drugs can impact the liver, and since many antiepileptic drugs are metabolized through the liver, combining them can increase the burden on the liver and even induce necrotic hepatitis, Secondly, it is necessary to choose the medication according to the type of epileptic seizures. For example, if it is a visual seizure, or a myoclonic seizure, then one should not take Phenytoin sodium and Carbamazepine, as these two drugs can potentially exacerbate myoclonic and visual seizures, Thirdly, patients with epilepsy should also avoid taking drugs that affect the metabolism of epilepsy medication. If used together, it can cause a reduction in the efficacy of the epilepsy drugs, easily triggering an epileptic attack, or even a prolonged state of epilepsy.

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Written by Yuan Jun Li

Neurology

1min 16sec

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Does epilepsy have symptoms when it is not causing seizures?

When epilepsy is not active, there are no symptoms. Patients mainly show recurrent epileptic seizures, usually lasting three to five minutes. After the seizure stops, the patient does not exhibit any symptoms or signs. Clinically, epilepsy is categorized into primary and secondary types. For primary epilepsy, if a patient experiences more than two episodes, routine use of anti-epileptic drugs is recommended. The choice of medication varies depending on the type of epilepsy. Typically, monotherapy is preferred initially. However, if monotherapy is ineffective or causes substantial side effects, a combination of two or more anti-epileptic drugs may be used to try to control the seizures. In cases of secondary epilepsy, which often has a clear cause, the primary focus is on treating the underlying condition. This includes long-term cerebrovascular diseases like cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction, as well as conditions like encephalitis and brain tumors. Treatment should be tailored to the specific disease.

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Written by Tang Bo

Neurology

1min

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What causes epilepsy relapses?

Epilepsy is a clinical syndrome caused by highly synchronized abnormal discharges of brain neurons due to various reasons. Clinically, it is characterized by episodic, transient, repetitive, and stereotyped manifestations, making recurrence a characteristic of the disease itself. The location of the neurons with abnormal discharges and the range of the abnormal discharge waves vary, leading to different forms of seizure symptoms in patients. These can manifest in various ways, including sensory, motor, consciousness, psychiatric, behavioral, and autonomic nervous system dysfunctions, and may occur simultaneously. Each seizure and each type of seizure process is referred to as an epileptic seizure. Of course, a patient can experience one or several types of epileptic seizures, thus, recurrence is a characteristic of epilepsy itself.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

29sec

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Early Symptoms of Baby Epilepsy

The early symptoms of epilepsy in babies include excessive sweating on the head during feeding and sleep. Due to the irritation of the sweat, the child likes to shake their head, which causes friction on the back of the head, leading to hair loss over time. Additionally, the child appears restless and easily wakes up during sleep. If parents notice these symptoms of epilepsy, they should seek treatment for their child early to avoid delays and recurrent conditions.