Grand mal seizures, often referred to as a tonic-clonic seizures, involve convulsions of the entire body and loss of consciousness. The seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, according to MayoClinic.com. Grand mal seizures can happen one time, or more frequently. When a person has recurring seizures, he is diagnosed with epilepsy. Nearly 2.5 million people are epileptic in the U.S., reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. A seizure lasts between one and five minutes. Treatment options are dependent on how often seizures occur.
During the Seizure
The initial focus of treatment during the seizure is for the person to remain injury free. The University of Maryland Medical Center strongly advises not trying to stop an active seizure. Holding a person down to prevent shaking and convulsions is unsafe. A person experiencing a seizure should be assisted to the floor on his left or right side; removing excess saliva or mucous from the mouth is critical to prevent aspiration or choking. Items should never be placed in the person's mouth. It is impossible for the person having a seizure to swallow her tongue. The seizure victim should have a soft blanket, jacket or other material under his head to prevent further injury and complications. The area around the victim should be clear of all objects. Calling 911 is critical for a first-time seizure, if the person does not regain consciousness or if the seizure lasts longer than two to three minutes. Emergency treatment is also required for all pregnant and diabetic individuals.
Medications
Medications for seizures are anti-epileptic drugs, or AEDs. The medications are not necessary for all individuals, yet are strongly encouraged for some, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. Children and adults experiencing chronic seizures require medication therapy. Also, medication therapy is often required for people who experienced a single seizure with a brain injury. Low-dose therapy is initiated, with a gradual increase of the drug until seizures are controlled or toxicity is reached. AEDs are not successful in about 30 percent of patients, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Different drugs are prescribed or two drugs are prescribed simultaneously. Over half of all patients stop taking AEDs between five and 10 years after onset, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Surgical Options
The Epilepsy Foundation names surgery as one of the more common methods of treatment, due to advanced, modern surgical techniques and ways to identify problem areas in the brain. Surgery is an option when medication therapy fails to prevent grand mal seizures. The area of the brain causing the seizure is removed.
Vagus nerve stimulation is a treatment producing quick electrical bursts of energy to the brain. A small, thin device is surgically implanted into the chest with wires leading to the vagus nerve at the base of the brain. The device is similar to a pacemaker. It recognizes when the brain has irregular electrical activity and sends impulses to normalize the brain's electrical currents.
