Getting and keeping seizure control is number one for most people. We hope that the medicine prescribed by the doctor will control seizures, but, as you will learn from this section, the medicine won’t do it by itself. Getting and maintaining seizure control requires teamwork from you, the person with seizures or parent/caregiver, and the health care team.

Not everyone will get complete control of seizures, regardless of what they do or what medicine or treatment they try. Yet tracking seizures, managing possible triggers, and taking medicines are necessary skills that everyone will need to use. This section will highlight key information on tracking seizures and seizure medicines: what and why.

Have you ever asked any of the following questions?

• Why bother writing down seizures?
• What good will it do? Doctors don’t really use them do they?
• It bothers me when I write them down…I don’t want to have to think about the seizures every day.

If you’ve felt this way before, join the club – so have most people with seizures! Writing down seizures may feel like busy work, and it may bother you emotionally, however, it’s a very important part of epilepsy care. While an EEG or other test may tell the doctor what is going on in the brain, it doesn’t tell him what is going on with YOU. Since most seizures don’t occur at the doctor’s office, the doctor (or other health care professional) won’t know what is going on with you unless you tell him! Unfortunately, the person who has the seizures often doesn’t remember what may occur, and those who watch them don’t know what the person feels during the seizure.

In this section, you will find information on:

• The Importance of Tracking Seizures
• Tips for Seizure Observation
• Using Seizure Diaries
• Understanding Seizure Medicines - In development
• Staying in Touch with Your Health Care Team

Continue to Importance of Tracking Seizures

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Last Reviewed:5/25/07

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