Intended for parents/carers of, or patients who have been prescribed Epistatus.
Intended for parents/carers of, or patients who have been prescribed Epistatus.
Intended for parents/carers of, or patients who have been prescribed Epistatus.
There are many different factors that can cause epilepsy. Sometimes there is a definite cause, such as previous brain injury, a structural or metabolic abnormality, or a specific genetic cause. However, in up to half of the cases, the reason for the epilepsy is not known.
Why do seizures happen?
For people with epilepsy, certain factors can increase the risk of having a seizure. Examples include alcohol, sleep deprivation, and stress. A minority of people with epilepsy have “photosensitive epilepsy”, in which flickering lights can trigger a seizure.
What does it feel like to have a seizure?
How is epilepsy treated?
Many people with epilepsy take regular anti-epileptic medication (also known as anti-seizure medication or ASMs). These ASMs help to prevent or reduce the number of seizures. Less commonly, epilepsy may be treated with surgery. Other treatment options may be suitable for certain people with epilepsy, such as the ketogenic diet, which is sometimes used in children.
In most cases, the number of seizures can be reduced, or even prevented, through the use of regular ASMs. However, some people with epilepsy will continue to experience break-through seizures even with ASM therapy.
Emergency medication for epileptic seizures
Most seizures stop by themselves, without the person with epilepsy requiring any emergency medication. However, when a seizure lasts more than five minutes, there is an increased chance that it may continue unless treated.
In children, adolescents and adults, a seizure that lasts for 5 minutes or more is called status epilepticus (SE). Convulsive SE is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
If a person with epilepsy has previously experienced a prolonged, convulsive seizure, the specialist may prescribe emergency medication to be administered in the event of another prolonged seizure as part of their epilepsy action plan. Diazepam and midazolam are the medications most commonly given for seizures:
In a hospital setting, prolonged, convulsive seizures are likely to be treated with the above medications along with other medications which are usually given by intravenous injection.
What to say when talking to people about epilepsy?
Talking to friends and family about epilepsy can seem rather daunting. However, they will probably find it reassuring to learn what epilepsy is, what to expect if someone has a seizure, and what they can do to help.
Discussing epilepsy with the person with epilepsy’s school, college or workplace is also very important. The school, college or workplace will need to know about the diagnosis, frequency of seizures, details of any triggers, management plan in case of a seizure, and contact numbers for family and a healthcare professional.
Will epilepsy affect a person’s career?
Most people can expect to achieve control of their epilepsy once they are optimally treated. With the exception of the armed forces, the Equality Act makes it illegal for any employer to discriminate against someone just because they have epilepsy.
However, if the epilepsy is not well-controlled then certain jobs may not be possible, such as working at heights or driving for a living.
Sports safety
Whether or not someone has epilepsy, it is always a good idea to take sensible precautions, such as wearing a cycling helmet when riding a bike or using a safety harness when climbing or performing other activities at a height. If seizures happen often or are unpredictable, it may be necessary to take extra precautions. It is never a good idea to swim alone in an unsupervised environment.
Driving
A person is legally required to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of any medical condition that affects their driving in the UK. People with epilepsy are likely to be considered for a driving licence if they meet specific criteria.
For more information about the guidelines on driving and epilepsy, please talk to a healthcare professional or consult the DVLA website which can be accessed here.
Contraception
Certain anti-seizure medications (ASM’s) can reduce the effectiveness of hormone-based contraceptives, such as the contraceptive pill, implants, and the “morning after” pill. Women of child-bearing age taking these ASMs may need to take a higher dose of contraceptive, or use other forms of contraception. Women should discuss this with their epilepsy specialist and also with a family planning doctor.
In the event of being pregnant, some ASM’s can affect the baby’s development. It is therefore very important to plan pregnancies in advance and make changes in medication before becoming pregnant.