Epilepsy

Common symptoms

Symptoms commonly experienced by people with Epilepsy.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, of course each person’s experience will be unique

Absence seizures

Seizures characterized by a loss of consciousness and convulsions that affect one side of the body.

40% of users with Epilepsy track this

Focal seizures

A type of seizure that affects the entire brain. Symptoms may include convulsions, loss of consciousness, and muscle stiffness.

28% of users with Epilepsy track this

Generalized seizures

Seizures characterized by a sudden, brief loss of consciousness. May involve staring blankly into space and having no awareness of surroundings. These seizures typically last for less than 15 seconds.

25% of users with Epilepsy track this

Seizures

Seizures are a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in behavior, movements, or feelings, and in some cases, loss of consciousness.

22% of users with Epilepsy track this

Common treatments

Treatments commonly used for Epilepsy.

Always consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

Levetiracetam

Levetiracetam is a medication that slows down nerve activity, which may help reduce seizures. It does this by decreasing the activity of cells in the brain.

34% of users track this intervention

Lamotrigine

Lamotrigine is a medication that slows down nerve activity, which may help reduce seizures and improve mood. It does this by acting on nerves to suppress their activity.

25% of users track this intervention

Gabapentin

Gabapentin is a medication that slows down nerve activity, which may help reduce nerve pain and seizures. It does this by blocking the activation of cells in the brain.

20% of users track this intervention

Lacosamide

Lacosamide is a medication that slows down nerve activity, which may help reduce seizures. It does this by reducing the activity of cells in the brain that are sending too many messages.

16% of users track this intervention

Oxcarbazepine

Oxcarbazepine is a medication that suppresses abnormal nerve activity, which may help reduce seizures. It does this by decreasing the activity of cells in the brain that are sending too many messages.

14% of users track this intervention

Topiramate

Topiramate is a medication that slows down nerve activity, which may help reduce seizures and migraines, and improve mood.

13% of users track this intervention

Valproate

Valproic acid is a medication that decreases nerve activity and inflammation, which may help to reduce seizures and migraines. It may also have other effects, including improving mood, and reducing hallucinations and delusions, although how it works to produce these effects remains unclear.

6% of users track this intervention

Brivaracetam

Brivaracetam is an anticonvulsant medication that may help reduce focal (partial) seizures

6% of users track this intervention

Zonisamide

Zonisamide is a medication that slows down nerve activity, which may help reduce seizures. It does this by decreasing the activity of cells in the brain.

5% of users track this intervention

Carbamazepine

Carbamazepine is a medication that slows down nerve activity and increases the amount of a chemical called serotonin in the brain. By slowing down nerve activity, it may help reduce seizures. By increasing serotonin availability, it may improve mood.

2% of users track this intervention

Pregabalin

Pregabalin is a medication that may reduce pain, anxiety and seizures. It does this by blocking messages with a stimulating effect from being sent between cells in the brain.

2% of users track this intervention

Eslicarbazepine

Eslicarbazepine is a medication that decreases abnormal excitement in the brain, which may help to reduce focal (partial) seizures.

2% of users track this intervention

Phenytoin

Phenytoin is a medication that slows down nerve activity, which may help reduce seizures. It does this by decreasing the activity of cells in the brain that are sending too many messages.

0% of users track this intervention

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Posttraumatic Epilepsy and Dementia Risk

This paper looks at how posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) might increase the risk of dementia. The study found that PTE significantly raises dementia risk compared to just having a head injury or seizure/epilepsy. This highlights the need to prevent head injuries through public health efforts.

Living with Epilepsy

The University of Kansas Health System shares their Morning Medical Update all about epilepsy. They share the story of Grace Lindsey who experienced multiple seizures a day until undergoing transformative surgery and is now seizure free. The team interview Grace and her mom to talk about their journey.

Joey’s Song raises over $1 million for epilepsy research

The Joseph Gomoll Foundation's annual Joey’s Song event, featuring members of renowned bands, raised $325,000 for epilepsy research, pushing the 13-year cumulative total past $1,000,000. The funds benefit CURE Epilepsy, select epilepsy foundation affiliates, and the Wisconsin Badger Camp.

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Previous editions

Missed a passed edition of our news? Don’t worry we have all our past editions linked here - just click on the one you want to view!

Edition #4

International Epilepsy Day: Raising Awareness and Reducing Stigma 💜

Epilepsy News

February 16, 2024

Edition #3

New MRI tech helps investigate brain lesions

Epilepsy News

February 2, 2024

Edition #2

Genetic research advances our understanding of epilepsy

Epilepsy News

January 19, 2024

Edition #1

The first Epilepsy Digest is here!

Clinical trials

Here are some of the latest clinical trials that are ongoing in Epilepsy. This is a random selection from clinicaltrials.gov and we are not affiliated with any of these researchers. If you would like to learn more about these trials please see the contacts section of the trial listing.

Intervention Social Anxiety: Combining Parent-child Treatment

Denken + Doen = Durven

All sexes

8 Years - 16 Years

Effects of Aromatherapy on Anxiety and Pain During Dental Treatments in Adults: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Aroma diffuser with single-note sweet orange essential oil

All sexes

18 Years - 40 Years

Brief Transdiagnostic Treatment for Anxiety Disorders and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in South Africa

False Safety Behavioral Elimination Treatment (FSET)

All sexes

18 Years - 65 Years

Reducing Adult Inpatients Anxiety With Virtual Reality Meditation: A Prospective, Randomized Study

Virtual Reality headset with calming scenery

All sexes

18 Years - 99 Years

Behavioral Telehealth in Low-resource Primary Care Settings for Anxiety and Depression in Youth

STEP-UP (transdiagnostic behavioral therapy for pediatric anxiety and depression)

All sexes

8 Years - 16 Years

Evaluation of Parturients With Anxiety

Cognitive Bias Modification for Interpretation (CBM-I)

Female

18 Years - 45 Years

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Late Life Anxiety

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

All sexes

> 65 Years

Understanding Patient Engagement Trends in Anxiety Disorder Clinical Research

All sexes

> 18 Years

Schema Therapy for Treatment-resistant Anxiety Disorders

Individual Schema Therapy

All sexes

18 Years - 65 Years

An Online Survey for Women With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Female

> 18 Years

Leading research

Here is a selection of some of the latest publications in Epilepsy research selected from our list of top research journals.

Epilepsy surgery in adults older than 50 years: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

By Vary O'Neal A, Tamani I, Mendo CW, Josephson CB, Burneo JG, Steven DA, Keezer MR

Published Apr 06, 2024

New stimulation procedures for language mapping in stereo-EEG.

By Abarrategui B, Pelliccia V, Giovannelli G, Nichelatti M, Valenzano S, Mikulan E, Pigorini A, Revay M, Scarpa P, Tassi L

Published Apr 06, 2024

Population pharmacokinetics and dosing optimization of perampanel in children with epilepsy: A real-world study.

By Li S, Yi J, Tuo Y, Nie G, Wang J, Wang Y, Sun D, Liu Z

Published Apr 04, 2024

Modulation index predicts the effect of ethosuximide on developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with spike-and-wave activation in sleep.

By Shibata T, Tsuchiya H, Akiyama M, Akiyama T, Kobayashi K

Published Apr 04, 2024

Development and prospective clinical validation of a convolutional neural network for automated detection and segmentation of focal cortical dysplasias.

By Chanra V, Chudzinska A, Braniewska N, Silski B, Holst B, Sauvigny T, Stodieck S, Pelzl S, House PM

Published Apr 03, 2024

National plans and awareness campaigns as priorities for achieving global brain health.

By Winter SF, Walsh D, Catsman-Berrevoets C, Feigin V, Destrebecq F, Dickson SL, Leonardi M, Hoemberg V, Tassorelli C, Ferretti MT, Dé A, Chadha AS, Lynch C, Bakhtadze S, Saylor D, Hwang S, Rostasy K, Kluger BM, Wright C, Zee PC, Dodick DW, Jaarsma J, Owolabi MO, Zaletel J, Albreht T, Dhamija RK, Helme A, Laurson-Doube J, Amos A, Baingana FK, Baker GA, Sofia F, Galvin O, Hawrot T

Published Apr 01, 2024

Health care utilization of Hispanic/Latino veterans with epilepsy: A national population-based study.

By Tantillo GB, Sullivan-Baca E, Rehman R, López MR, Haneef Z

Published Apr 01, 2024

Use of Recommended Neurodiagnostic Evaluation Among Patients With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy.

By Spotnitz M, Ekanayake CD, Ostropolets A, McKhann GM, Choi H, Ottman R, Neugut AI, Hripcsak G, Natarajan K, Youngerman BE

Published Apr 01, 2024

Prescribing patterns for higher dose folic acid in pregnant women with epilepsy treated with antiseizure medication.

By Vegrim HM, Dreier JW, Igland J, Gilhus NE, Alvestad S, Gissler M, Leinonen MK, Sun Y, Zoega H, Christensen J, Bjørk MH, Tomson T

Published Mar 30, 2024

Support organizations

Here are a few support organizations that have additional information and resources.