1. Wait It Out
Absence epilepsy typically surfaces in childhood, but it may not be a lasting condition. Most children outgrow the disorder before the end of adolescence, though for some, it evolves into complex partial or tonic-clonic episodes that they will have for the remainder of their lives. If your child has been diagnosed with mild, infrequent absence seizures, your physician may decide to avoid treatment in favor of keeping an eye on the syndrome's progression. If the seizures become more severe or happen regularly, doctors may treat him with anticonvulsants in the short term, hoping that he will eventually outgrow the need for them.
2. Try Anti-Seizure Medications
Anti-Seizure drugs (AEDs) are successful in reducing seizure occurrences and--in some cases--halting them altogether. Absence seizures often react well to ethosuximide (Zarontin), valproate (Depakote) and clonazepam, but your physician may combine these drugs with other anticonvulsants if they are not effective on their own. While it's unusual to experience serious side effects when taking these medications, it's important to understand the potential complications. AED side effects include nausea, weight loss or gain, tremors, hair loss and depression. More serious side effects include liver damage, hearing problems, pancreas disorders or clotting conditions, so it's important to check in with your neurologist regularly for blood work and physicals when you're taking one or more AEDs.
3. Undergo Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Though still considered somewhat of an alternative practice, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has proven successful with some absence seizure patients. During the treatment, you'll lie in a chamber oxygenated at 100 percent, with greater-than-normal atmospheric pressure. This increase in pressure allows a take up of oxygen by the blood cells, plasma and bodily fluids and even improves blood flow to congested veins and arteries. The treatment improves cerebral circulation, encourages the growth of new, healthy blood cells and may hasten the healing of epileptic foci responsible for seizure activity.
