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The ketogenic diet is used as a method for treating
seizures and has been recommended for certain mitochondrial/metabolic disorders.
The ketogenic diet is used when a child's seizures have not been satisfactorily
controlled with adequate trials of me... |
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Common brand name: Mysoline
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant
Why is this drug prescribed?
Primidone is prescribed to treat epilepsy. It helps control the frequency
and severity of seizures by controlling the nerve impulses in the brain. It may
be gi... |
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What is myoclonus?
Myoclonus describes a symptom and generally is not a diagnosis of a disease.
It refers to sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles.
Myoclonic twitches or jerks usually are caused by sudden muscle contractions,
call... |
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A boy walks down a hospital corridor. He
swings his arms. His gait is perfectly unremarkable. And that's remarkable.
Because a few weeks earlier, he'd been unable to walk at all. The difference
between then and now is a remarkable new surgical pro... |
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Common brand names: Tegretol, Tegretol-XR
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant
Why is this drug prescribed?
Carbamazepine is prescribed to treat certain types of seizures in the
treatment of epilepsy.
How is carbamazepine given?
Carbamazepine comes in ... |
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Common brand name: Klonopin
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant, antianxiety
Why is this drug prescribed?
Clonazepam is prescribed to treat seizures, anxiety, and panic disorder.
How is clonazepam given?
Clonazepam comes in the form of a tablet taken b... |
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Common brand name: Tranxene
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant, antianxiety
Why is this drug prescribed?
Clorazepate is prescribed to treat epilepsy. It helps control the frequency
and severity of seizures by slowing down the central nervous system. It... |
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The corpus callosum is a band of nerve fibers located
deep in the brain that connects the two halves (hemispheres) of the brain. It
helps the hemispheres share information, but it also contributes to the spread
of seizure impulses from one side of the b... |
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How is epilepsy diagnosed?
The evaluation of patients with epilepsy is aimed at determining the type of
seizure (epileptic versus nonepileptic) and its cause, since various seizure
types respond best to specific treatments. The diagnosis is based on t... |
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Common brand name: Diastat, Dizac, Valium
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant,
anti-anxiety,
muscle relaxant
Why is this drug prescribed?
Diazepam is prescribed to treat seizures, anxiety, muscle spasms, and other
medical conditions.
How is diazepam ... |
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absence seizure: (also know as "dialeptic seizure," or the
older term "petit mal seizure") a seizure that causes a brief
loss of awareness. During an absence seizure, the patient stops any activity and
stares blankly. Rarely, there m... |
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We would all enjoy the freedom of being able to
travel independently whenever we want. For this reason, many of us rely
mainly on cars to get to work, school, shopping, and social events.
Therefore, for many young adults, obtaining a driver's... |
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1. What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic (long-lasting) medical condition marked by recurrent
epileptic seizures. An epileptic seizure is an event of altered brain function
caused by abnormal or excessive electrical discharges from brain cells. Epilep... |
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Common brand name: Peganone
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant
Why is this drug prescribed?
Ethotoin is prescribed to treat epilepsy. It helps control the frequency and
severity of seizures by slowing down the central nervous system.
How is ethotoin g... |
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The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum, is divided into four paired
sections called lobes--the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.
Each lobe controls a specific group of activities. With temporal lobe epilepsy (the most common type of ... |
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How can I ensure my safety if I have a seizure?
Always carry medical identification. If an emergency occurs, your medical
information can help the people around you maintain your safety and provide
the appropriate treatment.
Make sure y... |
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What is a functional hemispherectomy?
The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum, can be divided down the middle
lengthwise into two halves, called hemispheres. A deep groove splits the left
and right hemispheres, which communicate through a thick ba... |
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Common brand name: Lamictal
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant
Why is this drug prescribed?
Lamotrigine is prescribed to prevent or control seizures in the treatment of
epilepsy.
How is lamotrigine given?
Lamotrigine comes in the form of a tablet and... |
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Common brand names: Dilantin, Dilantin Infatabs,
Dilantin Kapseals, Phenytek
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant
Why is this drug prescribed?
Phenytoin is prescribed to treat epilepsy. It helps control the frequency
and severity of seizures by slowing ... |
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A seizure is an abnormal movement or behavior caused by
unusual electrical activity in the brain. In contrast, epilepsy is a group of
related disorders marked by recurrent seizures over a prolonged period of time,
with no identifiable short-term cause. ... |
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A seizure is an abnormal movement or behavior caused by unusual electrical
activity in the brain. In contrast, epilepsy is a group of related disorders
marked by recurrent seizures over a prolonged period of time, with no
identifiable short-term cause. ... |
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What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic medical condition
characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. An epileptic seizure is a finite
event of altered brain function because of abnormal or excessive electrical
discharges from brain cells. Epilep... |
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What is a ketogenic diet?
The ketogenic diet is one of the oldest
treatments for epilepsy. It has long been recognized that seizures often lessen
or disappear during periods of fasting in some individuals with epilepsy. A ketogenic diet is intended to... |
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Most epilepsy patients considering surgery undergo the Wada test.
The "Wada Test" is named after the Japanese physician who first
performed it, Dr. Juan Wada.
The Wada test looks at language and memory on one side of the brain at a
time. La... |
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Common brand name: Lamictal
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant
Why is this drug prescribed?
Tiagabine is prescribed to control partial seizures when used in combination
with other medications. It helps control the frequency and severity of seizures
by... |
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Common brand name: Topamax
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant
Why is this drug prescribed?
Topiramate is prescribed to help control the frequency and severity of
partial and grand mal epileptic seizures in adults.
How is topiramate given?
Topiramate ... |
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How is epilepsy treated?
The majority of epileptic seizures are controlled through drug therapy,
particularly anticonvulsant drugs. The type of treatment prescribed will depend
on several factors, including the type of epilepsy (focal/partial versus
ge... |
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Based on the type of behavior and brain activity, seizures are divided into
two broad categories: generalized and partial (also called local or focal).
Classifying the type of seizure helps the doctor in planning the type of
treatment.
Generalized ep... |
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Common brand names: Depakote, Depakene, DepaconType of
medication: AnticonvulsantWhy is this drug prescribed?
Valproic acid is prescribed to treat epilepsy. Valproic acid helps decrease
the frequency and severity of seizures by increasing the levels of ... |
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What is epilepsy surgery?
Epilepsy surgery involves a brain operation
to control epileptic seizures. Different types of epilepsy require different
types of operations.
Who is a candidate for epilepsy surgery?
In general, epilepsy surgery may be
co... |
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The challenges of parenting are compounded if your child has epilepsy. Not
only do you have the normal concerns about raising a child; now you have to make
allowances for epilepsy.
This article details common concerns facing a parent who has a child w... |
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Common brand name: Zonegran
Type of medication: Anticonvulsant
Why is this drug prescribed?
Zonisamide is prescribed to treat partial epileptic seizures in adults. It
is taken in combination with other anti-seizure medications to help control the
freq... |
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