What are the goals of epilepsy treatment?

Review of relevant literature suggests at least seven distinct goals of epilepsy treatment to exist: to reduce seizure frequency and severity, to improve function, to enhance quality of life, to promote coping, to improve external circumstances, to prevent premature death, and (in children) to promote growth and …

What is the goal of antiepileptic drug therapy?

People with epilepsy are prescribed antiepileptic medications with the aim of decreasing the number, severity, and/or duration of seizures. While seizure freedom is the ideal outcome of treatment, seizures can still occur while taking antiepileptic medication.

What are the two goals of anticonvulsant therapy?

The goal of anticonvulsant therapy is to obtain complete control of epileptic seizures with the fewest drugs and at the least toxic and lowest possible dose. Approximately 70\% to 80\% of all patients can be seizure-free if drug plasma concentrations are properly monitored and the appropriate dose adjustments are made.

Why is it important for patients with epilepsy to take their medications?

Taking Your Medication Regularly is Essential to Controlling Your Seizures. Taking seizure medications regularly, and as recommended by your doctor, is vitally important! It gives you the best chance to achieve the goals of epilepsy therapy: no seizures and no side effects.

What are treatment goals?

The purpose of most therapies is to heal, or alleviate, symptoms of a concerning issue or condition. Medical professions create treatment plans that outline the professional’s approach and interventions used to achieve a certain goal.

What is the main goal during a seizure?

The goal of treatment in patients with epileptic seizures is to achieve a seizure-free status without adverse effects. This goal is accomplished in more than 60\% of patients who require treatment with anticonvulsants.

What do anti epilepsy drugs prevent?

AEDs make the brain less likely to have seizures by altering and reducing the excessive electrical activity (or excitability) of the neurones that normally cause a seizure.

How do you antiepileptic drugs stop epileptic seizures?

AEDs are the most commonly used treatment for epilepsy. They help control seizures in around 7 out of 10 of people. AEDs work by changing the levels of chemicals in your brain. They do not cure epilepsy, but can stop seizures happening.

What is the first aid treatment for epilepsy?

Epileptic seizure first aid

1. Stay calm and remain with the person.
2. If they have food or fluid in their mouth, roll them onto their side immediately.
3. Keep them safe and protect them from injury.
4. Place something soft under their head and loosen any tight clothing.
5. Reassure the person until they recover.

What are the principles of administration of antiepileptic drugs?

Drug treatment of epilepsy consists of (i) confirming diagnosis of epilepsy; (ii) accurate classification of epileptic seizures and epilepsy/syndromes; (iii) proper AED selection according to the classification; (iv) initiation of AED, principally monotherapy from a small dose with gradual increase; (v) AED adjustment …

Why is it important to take medications regularly?

Why? Taking medicine on time, as prescribed, is essential to making sure your body has an effective amount of the drug at all times. If not, this can cause the disease to develop a resistance to the medicine or simply prolong the amount of time it takes to feel better.

How effective are anti seizure medications?

Medication helps to permanently prevent seizures in many people who have epilepsy. About 5 out of 10 people stop having seizures or have fewer seizures after taking the first drug they try. Overall, about 7 out of 10 people with epilepsy have no more seizures when they use medication.

Can epilepsy be treated with medication?

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder in adults and requires treatment with antiepileptic medication. While the majority of patients with epilepsy can be treated with medication, about one third will fail on medical treatment.

How can Mayo Clinic help with my epilepsy-related health concerns?

Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your epilepsy-related health concerns Start Here Doctors generally begin by treating epilepsy with medication. If medications don’t treat the condition, doctors may propose surgery or another type of treatment.

What are the treatment options for seizure disorders?

If anti-seizure medications aren’t effective, other treatments may be an option: Surgery. The goal of surgery is to stop seizures from happening. Surgeons locate and remove the area of your brain where seizures begin. Surgery works best for people who have seizures that always originate in the same place in their brains.

What can a neurosurgeon do for people with epilepsy?

And Mayo Clinic’s neurosurgeons perform more than 900 procedures for people with epilepsy each year. The surgeons are expert in complex procedures such as vagus nerve stimulation, responsive neurostimulation (RNS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS).