Epilepsy is a neurological condition in which portions of the brain, for reasons that are not completely understood, have periodic bursts of abnormal electrical activity that then can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Epilepsy can cause full-body convulsions, or result in periods when the patient appears to "tune out" and will be inactive for a short time. All seizures are different and must be treated under the guidance of a physician.
Step 1
Take medications. There are a number of anti-epileptic medications that your physician can prescribe, which can often be used to control epilepsy. Because these medications can have serious side effects (such as fatigue, dizziness, loss of coordination, depression and organ inflammation), your doctor will probably begin with a low dose of one medication and then gradually increase the dose, adding other medications if a single medication does not seem to be sufficient.
Step 2
Have the epileptic part of the brain renewed. This type of treatment is especially effective for epilepsy that has been diagnosed as originating in one very specific part of the brain. Your physician may recommend surgery if this part of the brain is not in any of the "vital" areas, such as those that control vision, speech and hearing.
Step 3
Ask about vagus nerve stimulation. This is a relatively new treatment for epilepsy and involves a device (sort of like a pacemaker) being implanted under the skin onto the vagus nerve. This device then sends short bursts of electricity to your brain and can reduce seizure frequency.
Step 4
Adopt a ketogenic diet. This diet involves eating high amounts of fats and low levels of carbohydrates and results in fats being broken down by the body, causing ketones to appear, which are a byproduct of fat metabolism. This diet may be especially effective for children who suffer from epilepsy and can, in some cases, eliminate seizures for life.
Step 5
Make healthy choices. This includes taking your medications regularly, getting enough sleep (sleep deprivation can trigger seizures) and avoiding stress, alcohol and tobacco.
Things You'll Need
- Anti-epileptic medications
- Vagus nerve stimulator
