What is the most common medication for people with epilepsy?
Epilepsy Foundation-Frequently Asked QuestionsSeizure type (and sometimes cost) affects which medicine is prescribed. Phenobarbital is relatively cheap, treats most types of adult seizures, and is still used extensively. Carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin) are also widely used. Primidone (Mysoline), valproate (Depakene or Depakote), and ethosuximide (Zarontin) are also frequently prescribed.
Related QuestionsHow common is epilepsy?
Epilepsy Foundation-Frequently Asked QuestionsIt affects nearly three million people in the United States. People living to be eighty years old have a ten percent chance of having had a seizure at some point in life, and a four percent chance of being diagnosed with epilepsy (recurring seizures).
Related QuestionsHow many people in the US have epilepsy?
Epilepsy Information and Frequently Asked Questions: What Is...Estimates range from about 1.4 to 2.7 million people, depending on the diagnostic criteria and study method used. Epilepsy can occur at any age but is most frequently seen in the very young and the elderly.
Related QuestionsAre there other treatments for epilepsy besides medication?
FAQ | NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy CenterYes, there are other non-drug treatments including the Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS), surgery, dietary therapies such as the ketogenic diet, modified Atkins diet, and low glycemic diet as well as other alternative treatments.
Related QuestionsIs it necessary for all people with Epilepsy to be on medication?
Epilepsy FAQTreatment of Epilepsy is primarily through the use of anticonvulsive drugs. There are many different types of drugs and the type prescribed will depend upon the particular seizure pattern of the individual. If someone has been seizure free for several years, the doctor may decide to slowly withdraw the medication.
Related QuestionsAre people with epilepsy also mentally handicapped?
FAQ | NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy CenterMany people mistakenly believe that people with epilepsy are also mentally handicapped. In the large majority of cases, this is not true. Like any other group of people, people with epilepsy have a range of intellectual abilities. Some are brilliant and some score below average on intelligence tests, but most are somewhere in the middle. Most have normal intelligence and lead productive lives.
Related QuestionsAre people with epilepsy violent or crazy?
FAQ | NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy CenterThe belief that people with epilepsy are violent is an unfortunate image that is both wrong and destructive. People with epilepsy have no greater tendency toward irritability and aggressive behaviors than do other people. Many features of seizures and their immediate aftereffects can be easily misunderstood as "crazy" or "violent" behavior. Unfortunately, police officers and even medical personnel may confuse seizure-related behaviors with other problems.
Related QuestionsCan people with epilepsy hold a job?
Frequently Asked QuestionsBy law in the United States, people with epilepsy and other handicaps cannot be denied employment because of their seizures. However, epilepsy varies greatly in severity, and people with more severe types may find it difficult to work or attend school. About 75% of adults with epilepsy are employed.
Related QuestionsAre people with epilepsy born with it?
Epilepsy Foundation-Frequently Asked QuestionsSome people have seizures shortly after birth and continue to have them throughout their lives, but this is a very small number. Others will develop epilepsy in childhood or later in life as a result of things which injure the brain – trauma, serious infections, metabolic problems. Often there is no known cause, in which case people may have an inborn tendency to develop the condition.
Related QuestionsCan people with epilepsy swallow their tongues?
Epilepsy Foundation-Frequently Asked QuestionsNo. It is not possible to swallow your tongue. Occasionally, the tongue will block the airway (which is why the “swallowing” myth developed), but this can be prevented by placing the person on one side, allowing gravity to keep the airway clear of the tongue and any fluids in the mouth. You should never try to pry open the mouth when someone is having a seizure. It will not aid breathing and it may seriously damage teeth and jaw.
Related QuestionsCan people with epilepsy drive legally?
Epilepsy Foundation-Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, if they meet the requirements of the local department of motor vehicles. These requirements usually consist of a period of complete freedom from seizures (anything from three months to a year, depending on the state) and may include a letter from a treating physician. People who have seizures despite medication will not be licensed and therefore cannot drive legally.
Related QuestionsTexas Department of State Health Services, Epilepsy ProgramApproximately 1% of the U. S. population has some form of epilepsy. In Texas, using the 1997 population estimates, this is about 193,000 Texans with epilepsy.Related Questions
Can people with epilepsy lead normal lives?
Epilepsy - Frequently Asked questions about epilepsy, seizur...People with epilepsy can lead normal, productive lives provided they are effectively treated for their condition. Most people with epilepsy can work, go to school, exercise, socialize, and drive a car. Of course, limitations may vary depending upon seizure type, time of day when seizures occur and the level of control which has been achieved. It is important to remember that each individual with epilepsy has varying abilities and limitations; generalizations should not be made.
Related QuestionsIs it true that people with epilepsy aren't allowed to drive?
Frequently Asked QuestionsGenerally, people who have epilepsy but who have been seizure-free for 12 months or more should be able to drive. Some states issue restrictive licenses that limit the times of day and distance that people with epilepsy may legally drive.
Related QuestionsHow many people in Florida have epilepsy?
Epilepsy - Frequently Asked Questionsestimated 1% of the population has epilepsy. In Florida that's more than 145,000 people. The Epilepsy Foundation of America estimates that 2,500,000 Americans have epilepsy.
Related QuestionsDo most people with epilepsy wear medical ID?
Epilepsy Foundation-Frequently Asked QuestionsNo, some people do not wear medical identification. However, many do. They wear ID bracelets or necklaces and these should always be looked for and checked in cases of possible seizure.
Related QuestionsCan people get over mental illness without medication?
Frequently Asked Questions - Mental Health Board of San Fran...Health care professionals have differing opinions on the effectiveness of medication to treat mental illness. There are treatment facilities like The San Joaquin Psychotherapy Center, www.breggin.com/sjpc.html, and Golden State Psychological Health Center in San Francisco, www.gsphc.net, that advocate for medication-free treatment for many mental health illnesses. Mental illness is a medical illness. A person does not simply "get over" mental illness without some form of treatment.
Related QuestionsCan You Stop Taking Your Epilepsy Medication?
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Related QuestionsWhat is Epilepsy?
Frequently Asked QuestionsEpilepsy is a chronic medical condition produced by temporary changes in the electrical function of the brain, causing recurrent seizures which affect awareness, movement, or sensation. "Recurrent" is a key word because a dog who has an isolated seizure does not have epilepsy. Also note that epilepsy is not a disease but rather a neurological disorder that affects the brain and shows itself in the form of seizures.
Related QuestionsEpilepsy Foundation-Frequently Asked QuestionsEpilepsy is a neurological condition that from time to time produces brief disturbances in the normal electrical functions of the brain. Normal brain function is made possible by millions of tiny electrical charges passing between nerve cells in the brain and to all parts of the body. When someone has epilepsy, this normal pattern may be interrupted by intermittent bursts of electrical energy that are much more intense than usual.Related Questions
UC Davis Comprehensive Epilepsy Program - FAQ about epilepsyEpilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. A seizure is a brief alteration of consciousness (level of awareness), muscle control, behavior or sensory perception. Seizures can last a few seconds to several minutes. Most seizures last less than 2 minutes. During a seizure, brain cells behave abnormally and show unusual repeated electrical discharges.Related Questions
Epilepsy - Frequently Asked questions about epilepsy, seizur...Epilepsy is a disorder that briefly interrupts the normal electrical activity of the brain. Normally, neurons, which are cells that carry electrical impulses, form a network allowing communication between the brain and rest of the body. Neurons "fire" or send electrical impulses toward surrounding cells, stimulating neighboring cells to fire.Related Questions
Epilepsy Information and Frequently Asked Questions: What Is...Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which people experience repeated seizures. Let’s start with the basics. Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes the brain to produce sudden bursts of electrical energy. For the brain to function, there needs to be a balance between increased activity (excitation) and restraint (inhibition). When this balance is changed, a seizure may result.Related Questions
Why do some red lights have strobe lights? Are these a danger to people with epilepsy?
misc.transport.road FAQStrobes are installed within a red signal lens at intersections at which a signal is not expected, such as after a long stretch of a high-speed highway with no signals. The strobe light is there to call attention to the red light. In some instances a stand-alone red signal with a strobe is used. The strobes are either linear across the red lens or circular around its edge.
Related QuestionsCan people stabilize a mental illness simply with medication alone?
Frequently Asked Questions - Mental Health Board of San Fran...Though medications can often aid in the treatment of mental illness, it is unlikely that taking medication as the sole form of treatment will be effective in "getting over" or stabilizing one's mental illness. Professionals generally recommend therapy along with medications to manage mental illness most effectively.
Related QuestionsWhat are the surgical options for people with epilepsy?
FAQs: The University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at The Un...For most people with epilepsy, their seizures are well controlled by antiepileptic drugs. But for those with intractable epilepsy, surgery may be an option. The surgery is specific to the type of epilepsy the patient has. Temporal and extratemporal cortical resection removes the brain tissue containing the epileptic focus. The Center uses Functional Image-Guided Surgery to create a precise "road map" of the brain and enables the neurosurgeon to avoid healthy tissue.
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