People with epilepsy do not have the same symptoms. Epileptic syndromes are disorders that have a specific set of symptoms that include epilepsy.  There are many epileptic syndromes and each case is unique in their precipitants and symptoms. But common epilepsies are treated the same way for all patients.

· Diet – children who have been diagnosed with epilepsy may have fewer epileptic seizures if they eat foods that are low in carbohydrates but rich in fats. This diet is called a ketogenic diet and it forces the body to break down fats instead of carbohydrates for energy source. A ketogenic diet is hard to maintain and it has side effects which may include a build-up of uric acid in the blood that can lead to the development of kidney stones and retardation in growth and development because of nutritional deficiencies. It is not exactly known how this diet works to prevent epileptic seizures from happening but a study has shown that a by-product of ketogenic diet called beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) may inhibit epileptic seizures in lower forms of mammals. More studies have to be conducted if the same mechanism would also work for humans.
· Medication – anti-convulsant and anti-epileptic drugs are the most commonly used medications to treat epilepsy. The effectiveness of these drugs depends on the type of epileptic syndrome that the patient has. Some patients would require a life-long dependency on anti-convulsants while some would develop side effects while using the drug. Anti-epileptic drugs such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin and primidone may lower hormones which may cause sexual dysfunction and sterility in both men and women. On the other hand, the drug lamotrigine has been tested to not affect hormone levels or sterility in the patients.
· Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) – stimulates the vagus nerve at the neck. More than fifty percent of the patients have deceased epileptic seizure rate.
· Responsive neurostimulator system (RNS) – an electrical device is implanted in the skull along with the electrodes in the area of the epileptic foci within the brain. The device delivers a minute electrical charge near the epileptic foci to disrupt the epileptic seizure.
· Non-invasive surgery – the utilization of gamma knife and other related devices in radiosurgery are being studied as alternatives to open surgery in patient with anterior temporal lobectomy. 
· Avoidance therapy – this therapy aims to minimize or completely eliminate the precipitants in patients with epilepsy.

Filed under: Epilepsy Treatment

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