Symptoms of Epilepsy

• When a person has epilepsy the nerve cells in the brain signal abnormally. These abnormal signals can cause seizures, temporary confusion, memory loss, loss of language skills, uncontrollable jerking, or loss of consciousness.
  
  Getting diagnosed with epilepsy usually requires at least two unexplained seizures. Once you have been diagnosed with epilepsy you should start a treatment program to minimize your seizures. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, "80 percent of those diagnosed with epileptic seizures can be controlled with modern medicines."
  
  

First Aid For Seizures

• If someone has an epileptic seizure in your presence; stay calm, move items from the area that could hurt them, do not restrain their movement, do not hold their tongue or put anything in their mouth.
  
  Time the length of the seizure and call for emergency help if it lasts longer than 5 minutes.
  
  After the seizure roll them onto their side in case they vomit.
  
  

Medications

• Many medications are available to control seizures. These medications are called anti-epileptic drugs. Each medication has benefits and side effects, so it is important to talk to your doctor until you find one that works for you with the least amount of side effects.
  
  

Surgery

• If you have tried epileptic medications and can't find one that works for you, surgery might be the solution. Surgery for epilepsy became much more common in the 1980s because of its effectiveness when someone was unable to find an acceptable medication.
  
  Surgery can be tried only when it is determined that the portion of the brain that is causing the seizures is small and not near other parts of your brain that are crucial to other brain functions. During the surgery the part of the brain is removed that is causing the seizures.
  
  There are risks involved with surgery, so be sure to discuss them with your doctor.
  
  

Ketogenic Diet

• The ketogenic diet was developed 80 years ago.
  
  According to the epilepsy foundation, "When carefully monitored by a medical team familiar with its use, the diet has helped two out of three children who have tried it and may prevent seizures completely in one out of three."
  
  The diet is a very strict one of high fats and low carbohydrates. This diet should only be attempted under a doctor's care.
  
  

Supplements

• Herbs and supplements are, "hardly ever as effective as the medicines our doctors prescribe. Some even make us worse, either directly, by lowering our seizure threshold, or indirectly, by interacting with our prescription medications," according to the Steven C. Schachter, M.D.
  
  In the past, before effective medications, people used supplements as a way to control seizures and were successful in some cases.
  
  On the list of effective herbs are; caffeine, borage, ephedra, chamomile, ginkgo biloboa, ginseng, kava, passionflower, and st. Johns wart.
  
  Vitamins that have shown to decrease seizures are vitamin B6, folic acid and Vitamin E.
  
  It is possible that you may be able to find an herbal or vitamin supplement that can control your seizures. You will need to use trial and error to see if the supplement helps your seizures. Through this trial and error process you may find your seizures increasing, so use caution.
  
  Always consult your doctor before you try any vitamin or herbal supplements and never stop taking your prescribed medication with out the doctor's approval.