It’s important to know what other treatments you are using to control your seizures, for example dietary therapies or medical devices, and whether you have had epilepsy surgery in the past. If an emergency occurs, people who may care for you will need to know what to do to continue these treatments or be aware of how they affect your health. On your Seizure Prepare Plan, complete the sections for ‘Other Seizure Treatments’.

• VNS Therapy: If you have a vagus nerve stimulator implanted, write down the model number, serial number, and date it was last implanted or replaced. This information can be found on the registration card you were given at the time of surgery. If you don’t have this, you can get the information from the doctor and nurses who program the VNS.
• Dietary therapy: Note if you are following a special diet that was prescribed to treat seizures. Include the name or type of diet (for example, ketogenic diet, modified Atkins diet) and the date it was begun.
• Special instructions: Write down any special instructions that you or other people should know about any devices or dietary therapies, especially if there are any safety concerns.
• Other therapies: Write down any other therapies that you may use for your seizures. If you have had epilepsy surgery, write down the type and date.

Continue to Seizure First Aid - Care and Comfort

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Revised: Robert Fisher, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN

April 2010