Why should epilepsy be treated?

- The majority of seizures that cause a loss of consciousness occur unexpectedly with no preliminary signs.
- As a person ages, “petit mal” seizures transform into “grand mal”.
- Prolonged major seizures are followed by oxygen deficiency and other reactions which may lead to repeated nerve cell damage.
- The reactions that a seizure causes in the brain contribute to the development of further seizures.

Modern treatment of epilepsy is based on using antiepileptic medical drugs that impact the excitability of nerve cells in the brain which in turn leads to new seizures not arising. There are currently over 20 antiepileptic drugs successfully being used. The choice of drug and its dosage depend on the type of epileptic seizure as well as on the characteristics of the disease and the patient. The choice on the drug to be used is generally made by the treating neurologist based on experience of using a certain category of drugs. Treatment implies regular admission of medication and achieving control over seizures throughout several years under supervision of the treating physician and regular EEG examinations. It is considered that antiepileptic medication helps the brain to “forget” information about previously occurred seizures which often allows to eventually cancel the drug assuming that control over seizures has been maintained over several consecutive years.

Predicting which drug will produce the best effects is unfortunately not possible. In some cases seizures reoccur even with treatment. If this happens, the dose of the drug may be increased, and if the dose has reached its maximum, the medication may have to be substituted. Decisions on increasing dosage or substituting the drug are always made by the treating physician.