Getting Seizures Controlled: What’s the take home message?

The study on the long term results of epilepsy surgery from Sweden reinforces a critical point: the best seizure control occurs when treatment is sought early. One of the reasons that people did not get good results from surgery was having uncontrolled epilepsy for a long period of time before surgery. Seeking treatment early seems to be important. It’s interesting that the same phenomenon is true for other concerns in epilepsy. For example,

• The majority of people who get control of seizures from medications tend to respond well to the first one or two drugs tried. While other medicines may help some people, the chance that more and more medicines over long periods of time will work is small. In this case, getting the right treatment early and at the right time seems to make a difference.

• A number of studies have shown that depression and other mood problems tend to occur more often in people with uncontrolled epilepsy than in those who have well-controlled seizures. Hmmm. Would stopping seizures early make a difference in preventing depression?

• Unemployment or underemployment is higher in people with uncontrolled seizures. Would stopping seizures earlier help prevent these work problems?

The problems of living with epilepsy are many. We all know the difficulties that seizures can cause for so many people. Seizures aren’t the only problem, but research is showing that seizure control matters and that the time it takes to control seizures seems to be part of the problem in so many ways.

So what does this mean for everyone touched by epilepsy?

• Take it seriously.

• Get the right care at the right time.

• If you are still having seizures, ask your doctor about what you can do next. Have you tried the right medicines for your type of seizures? Have you tried these medicines for long enough and at the right dose? If medicines don't work, is it time to see if surgery is possible? If surgery isn’t right for you or didn’t help, what about a device or dietary therapy?

• If you’re feeling down, sad, depressed or anxious, seek help. Don’t let it continue. Get help for your mood AND for your seizures.

• If you’re having trouble keeping or finding a job, get help! Find your local Epilepsy Foundation. Many have job specialists or can connect you with a vocational program in your area. And while you are at it, seek help for your seizures. Maybe there’s another treatment that can help.

• If your child has seizures and is struggling at school, don’t wait until he or she gets too far behind or is failing. Ask the school for specialized testing. Maybe learning problems are part of the problem. Talk to the epilepsy doctor. Are seizures part of the problem and is different therapy needed?

• If you’re having problems with continued seizures, medication side effects or the way epilepsy affects your daily life in any way, seek help. Find an epilepsy specialist or center near you.

Seizures can’t be controlled in everyone with the treatments currently available and certainly more research is needed. But we do know that too many people with epilepsy are not getting the care they need. Let’s work together to change that!

Best wishes for a safe week