Epilepsy is chronic central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which the brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness.
What are the main causes of Epilepsy?
- Severe head injury
- Stroke
- Brain tumor
- Brain infection
- Drug abuse / alcohol misuse
- Lack of oxygen during birth
What are the warning signs of epilepsy?
- Temporary confusion, often described as a “fuzzy” feeling.
- Uncontrollable jerking movements of arms and legs.
- Loss of awareness or consciousness.
- Psychic symptoms like feeling you are out-of-body or not feeling “in the moment”
- Lapse of memory
Can epilepsy be cured?
Unfortunately, at the time of writing this blog post there is no known cure for it. And while it could lead to serious health risks if left uncontrolled without proper attention for prolonged periods, there is some good news, epilepsy can be managed and kept under control at great success if diagnosed and treated early.
What kind of medication will I be prescribed?
Many medications are used in the treatment of Epilepsy, including but not limited to:
- Carbamazepine
- Phenytoin
- Valporic Acid
- Phenobarbital
Finding the right drug and dose can be a bit challenging, most likely your doctor will first prescribe a single drug at a relatively low dose then he/she will increase the dose gradually until the seizures are controlled.
Many people are able to prevent seizures with just one drug but some might need more than one.
Take your medications exactly as prescribed to achieve the best possible seizure control.
All of those medications are considered controlled drugs and can’t be dispensed without a prescription in the UAE.
