Treatments
Treatment for epilepsy has come a long way, but it still has
quite a ways to go. Some people actually grow out of epilepsy and "approximately 80% of people with
epilepsy can achieve enough seizure control to live essentially normal lives"(41 Sands). There are
several anti-epileptic drugs on the market today. The problem with these drugs is: not all of them
works for each type of epilepsy, not all of them works for each person, the dosage varies greatly
and a doctor must decide if the medication is in or above therapeutic range, and there are some very
discomforting side effects. Side effects such as weight gain, hair loss, nausea, double vision,
drowsiness, etc. are some burdens that epileptics must face in order to control their seizures. It
takes a lot of trial and error for some epileptics to find a positive treatment, and for some they
have yet to find something that works. An anti-epileptic drug is justified as working if it first,
decreases the frequency of the seizures, and second, if there are no overwhelming side effects. If
the side effects are overwhelming, the doctor will usually lower the dosage. Other treatments
include "antibiotics if the cause is meningitis or cerebral abscess, antiviral drugs for certain
types of encephalitis caused by viruses, supplementation of the diet with vitamins or other
substances in those rare disorders where there may be a deficiency, and the use of surgery to remove
cysts, tumors, or abnormal areas of the brain" (99 Hopkins). With the help of these treatments,
most epileptics are able to keep their epilepsy under control and to lead normal lives, with the
exception of a few dangerous activities and the discrimination of the uninformed.
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