How is Epilepsy Treated?

A number of different treatment options exist for people living with epilepsy, including medications, brain surgery, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, and the Ketogenic Diet. Read on to find out about each different treatment option:

Medications: In about 70% of people, medications work to control seizures. There are many types of medications available. It should be noted medications are not a cure for epilepsy as they do not treat the underlying cause of epilepsy. Instead, medications work to control or suppress seizure activity. As with all medications, there may be some side effects and people may need to take multiple medications in order to control their seizures. For more information, please click here.

Brain Surgery: This may be an option for some people if their seizures come from one area of the brain and if that brain area is safe to remove without harming key areas of brain function. For more information, please click here. Additional information can be found in webinars from our Epilepsy Expert Webinar Series on pediatric epilepsy surgery here and on adult epilepsy surgery here.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation: In Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), a device is implanted under the skin in the chest with wires that attach to the vagus nerve in the neck. The device then delivers intermittent electrical stimulation to treat seizures. For more information, please click here.

Ketogenic Diet: The Ketogenic Diet is a diet that is high in fat, low in carbohydrates and adequate in protein that can be used to control seizures. The Ketogenic Diet is a medical treatment, not a fad diet, and requires medical supervision. For more information, please click here. Additional information can be found in a webinar from our Epilepsy Expert Webinar Series on the Ketogenic Diet here.

If you would like to try one of the above treatment options, please contact your health care provider so that they can determine if they would be an appropriate treatment option for you and for your epilepsy.