Oral Medication

• Oral medication is the first treatment for patients diagnosed with epilepsy. There are many types of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs); some are more effective on certain types of seizures than others. Some of the trade names of these AEDs include Tegretol, Carbatrol, Dilantin, Phenytek, Mysoline, Topamax and Depakote. The oldest drug used to treat epilepsy is phenobarbital. According to the Mayo Clinic, most people with epilepsy can remain seizure-free using only one type of medication, but finding the right AED and the right dosage may require a bit of trial and error. Patients who take AEDs may experience temporary side effects such as fatigue, abdominal distress, dizziness or blurry vision during the first week of drug therapy, but these typically reside as the body adjusts to the drug or when dosage is lessened (REF 1, 2).
  
  

Surgery

• Some patients, including those who experience partial seizures, find their conditions difficult to control even with an aggressive combination of drug treatments. Under these circumstances, brain surgery may be considered. This epilepsy treatment is more appropriate when seizures begin in a specifically-defined area of that brain that doesn't control speech, language, hearing or other necessary functions. A doctor may remove a small segment of the brain that's responsible for causing seizures. Alternately, if seizures originate in a part of the brain that is impossible to remove, a series of cuts may be employed to prevent the seizure from spreading to other brain areas. When contemplating surgery, risks must be weighed against the patient's quality of life. Not all brain surgery results in a permanent absence of seizures, and in many cases, the patient must continue to take AEDs, albeit fewer types of drugs and in smaller dosages (REF 2, 3).
  
  

Other Therapies

• An alternative therapy used to reduce the frequency of seizures is called vagus nerve stimulation, which entails the implantation of a small device under the skin of the chest that is wired to the vagus nerve in the neck. A vagus nerve stimulator sends short bursts of electrical impulses to the brain using the vagus nerve as a conduit. This can result in a decrease in seizure activity from 30 to 40 percent, although most patients who use this therapy still take AEDs.
  
  A therapy popular for children who experience certain types of seizures is the ketogenic diet, which was developed in the 1920s and is considered an effective form of treating epilepsy prior to the use of AEDs. This diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, simulates the effects of fasting and results in the breakdown of body fat rather than carbohydrates for energy. Many children on the ketogenic diet can remain seizure-free for many years. A doctor's consultation is always appropriate before using this therapy. The side effects of the ketogenic diet, which is very strict and limited in food types, may include dehydration, constipation, delayed growth, and malnourishment (REF 2, 4).