What is epilepsy? | Epilepsy Society
WEBMar 15, 2020 · Epilepsy - an introduction. Epilepsy is a neurological condition where there is a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain. Not all seizures are due to epilepsy. Other conditions that can look like epilepsy include fainting, or when people with diabetes have low blood sugar and have a diabetic seizure.
Absence seizures (previously called petit-mal) - Epilepsy Society
WEBMar 15, 2020 · Typical absences. During a typical absence the person becomes blank and unresponsive for a few seconds. They may appear to be 'daydreaming'. The seizures may not be noticed because they are brief. The person may stop what they are doing, look blank and stare, or their eyelids might blink or flutter. They will not respond to what is happening ...
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy - Epilepsy Society
WEBFeb 23, 2020 · Vagus Nerve Stimulation therapy is a treatment for epilepsy that involves a stimulator (or 'pulse generator') which is connected, inside the body, to the left vagus nerve in the neck. The stimulator sends regular, mild electrical stimulations through this nerve to help calm down the irregular electrical brain activity that leads to seizures.
List of anti-seizure medication - Epilepsy Society
WEBFeb 23, 2020 · Here is a list of anti-seizure medication (ASM), previously called anti-epileptic drugs or AEDs, with links to information about what type of seizures they are used for, doses, and possible side effects from either the British National Formulary (BNF), British National Formulary for Children (BNFC), the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) or the National Institute for Health and Care ...
WEBSeizures that are not due to epilepsy are sometimes called ‘non-epileptic seizures’. They can have a physical cause such as low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), or may be related to how the heart is working. Or they may have a psychological cause. The most common type of non-epileptic seizures (NES) are dissociative seizures (see page 4).
Driving and epilepsy - quick guide | Epilepsy Society
WEBFeb 23, 2020 · If you had your last seizure 1 year ago or longer you are able to apply for a new licence. Please note: to be able to drive you must also meet all normal driving requirements.. In all cases, you need to tell the driving agency (DVLA, or DVA in Northern Ireland) about your situation, as they may need to confirm that you can drive, or if you need to reapply for your licence, before you can drive ...
Seizure diaries - Epilepsy Society
WEBMar 15, 2020 · Seizure diaries. Keeping a seizure diary can be useful to help you record when your seizures happen and to see whether there are any specific triggers for your seizures. Sometimes, known triggers can be avoided to help reduce the number of seizures. It can be helpful to take your completed diary to …
Emergency medication - Epilepsy Society
WEBFeb 16, 2020 · Each booklet costs £1.20 (including p&p) and you can order them through the online shop. Emergency Medication – using buccal midazolam to treat prolonged seizures. Emergency Medication – using rectal diazepam to treat prolonged seizures. As well as information about status epilepticus (‘status’) and how it is treated, the booklets ...
Epilepsy facts and myths
WEBFeb 16, 2020 · FACT 2: Around 1 in 100 people has epilepsy, and of these people, up to 5% have photosensitive epilepsy. Triggers differ from person to person, but common triggers include a lack of sleep, stress, and alcohol. MYTH 3: You can restrain someone during a tonic clonic seizure and put your finger in their mouth.
WEBCurrent antiepileptic drug targets. Voltage-gated sodium channels Voltage-gated sodium channels are responsible for depolarisation of the nerve cell membrane and conduction of action potentials across the surface of neuronal cells. They are expressed throughout the neuronal membrane, on dendrites, soma, axons, and nerve terminals.