Brief Answer:
Home remedies for epilepsy

Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon and thank you for your important questions about alternative remedies for seizure disorder or EPILEPSY.

It is critical that people understand that anybody with a diagnosed CONVULSIVE DISORDER or seizures that have been confirmed by a medical doctor- especially if the diagnosis is confirmed by a neurologist or epileptologist- should receive the best available medical treatments we know of to date in order to control the seizures. It is very risky to treat an epileptic patients with experimental or alternative protocols since the consequence could be either worsening of the seizure disorder itself or NO EFFECT which then, opens the door for uncontrolled seizures to occur in a patient. This can have extremely deleterious results including death and permanent brain disability and should not be attempted. If the patient is pediatric then, this can have long term consequences upon ability of the child to function properly in school, affect motor coordination, and could lead to refractory seizure disorders that become more and more difficult to treat as the child matures.

Seizures should always be treated according to the TYPE of seizure defined by the diagnosis which may be obtained either clinically by a doctor's interpretation from eye witness account or by obtaining EEG studies and imaging studies that can determine if any underlying structural damage or architectural anomalies exist can explain the seizures.

Of all the items you've listed 1-11 the only one which is accepted as potentially beneficial to some patients who DO NOT RESPOND TO TRADITIONAL MEDICATIONS is #10- Ketogenic diet.

The ketogenic diet is most commonly and successfully used in children suffering from the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It is also understood that these children have generally been through standard medication regimens first and have failed before going to the ketogenic diet.

The diet is not expected to work in adult epilepsy because the restricted food choices make it very hard for most people to follow. But in point of fact, studies have shown that if adults were compliant that the diet can actually be just as effective in certain forms of epilepsy as it is in children when properly prescribed.

Other uses for the ketogenic diet which have been corroborrated by smaller studies are in children with infantile spasms, Rett syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, Dravet syndrome, Doose syndrome, and GLUT-1 deficiency. In infants a formula-only ketogenic diet and gastrostomy-tube feedings in children may lead to better compliance and possibly better outcomes.

Focal seizures in children are generally the most responsive type of epilepsy to yield to the power of the ketogenic diet but it may take longer for desired results as opposed to medications. In general, this diet can always be considered in pediatric epilepsies (and likely adult epilepsies) as long as there are no clear metabolic or mitochondrial diseases that would contraindicate its use.

The suggestion not to skip meals or CRASH DIETING (not eating) or SKIPPING BREAKFAST are all EXCELLENT ideas of things one SHOULD NOT do since we believe HYPOGLYCEMIA is a clear and present risk factor that can precipitate ALL types of seizures.

Also, REFINED CARBOHYDRATES such as WHITE RICE and WHITE SUGAR are felt to be part of a food list that should be avoided by epileptics mainly because these foods can change blood sugar levels very rapidly and it is this CHANGE in blood sugar that can cause the brain to become unstable and seize. Therefore, I agree that white rice and white (and even brown sugar) would be best avoided in patients with epilepsy.

Brown Rice on the other hand is much less likely to trigger an event.

If I've satisfactorily addressed your question then, could you do me the kindest of favors by CLOSING THIS QUERY and be sure to include some fine words of feedback and a 5 STAR rating to our transaction if you feel the response has helped you? Again, many thanks for posing your question.

Do not forget to recontact me in the future at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional questions, comments, or concerns having to do with this topic or others.

This query has utilized a total of 42 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.

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Brief Answer:
Your doctor would best know the proper dose for your type of seizures

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your return comment and question.

I can tell you this much about your medication. That particular brand name is not distributed in the U.S. and so I do not know it except for its chemical name (levetiracetam). We use it in this country by the name of KEPPRA. It is a rather effective drug recommended by the FDA (drug regulatory commission in the U.S.) for patients who have seizures such as partial onset, myoclonic, or generalized tonic clonic.

Asking for a specific dose and a specific OTHER medication is not possible on a network such as this without the knowledge of exactly what type of seizures the patient is diagnosed with, other medical conditions present (i.e. comorbidities), allergies the patient possesses, history of the seizure disorder and its evolution, family history of seizure disorder and type, results of physical/neurological examination, latest EEG findings, head imaging findings, previously tried medications or interventions, and other variables and factors.

Prescribing antiseizure medications should be tailored to each and every patient and while there could be some standard options we sometimes use in EMERGENCY situations when deciding for patients actively seizing in an ER setting- in all other instances the neurologist must make a calculated decision.

Therefore, I would say that the best answer to this question would be exactly what your doctor has you taking.

If, you are still having break through episodes despite following the exact instructions and despite doing your best not to be hypoglycemic, dehydrated, taking your medication at the same time of the day EVERY DAY and not missing doses, being sure that you are not taking any other medication which could be interfering with the one you are taking (i.e. check with your pharmacist for drug to drug interactions), keeping stress levels as far down as possible, doing your meditation, yoga, or relaxation techniques as directed/instructed, etc.

If this is the case then, you must have a discussion with your doctor and allow them the XXXXXXX of choosing the NEXT drug to either take as a substitute to your TORLEVA or as an add on, however, it would not be to your benefit for a doctor on a telemedicine network such as myself to be the primary chooser without having gone through the rigor of seeing you and getting to know you as a patient. The risk is high that whatever choice made would not work or potentially make seizures worse and this is not what you or I, or any doctor want for you, make sense?

Please check in with your doctor if you are having breakthrough seizures for a change if that is what's needed. Or at the very least a referral to a specialist such as a neurologist or epileptologist.

Cheers!

I would again, very much be grateful to your fine comments of THANKS and CLOSING THIS QUERY if I've responded well to the questions at hand and remind you that you can always find me at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for future questions on this or other topics of medicine or neurology.

This query has utilized a total of 69 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.

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Brief Answer:
All the best to you

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and I'm very happy that the advice of some value.

Please keep me in the loop and let me know how things progress. I would be happy to give some opinion on any changes that your mother may undergo as a result of speaking with her doctor and seeing how to improve her regimen if necessary.

Be well to you, your mother, and your family.

Stay in touch if you would by remembering to write me at: www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi

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Brief Answer:
Your gratitude is very much appreciated

Detailed Answer:
I am very happy to hear that my information and analyses were of value. I wish you and your family and especially your mother a speedy recovery.

By agreement I am unable to communicate with patients by telephone. You can check with the Customer Service division of HealthCaremagic to see if there were any way to engage in such communications but I don't think it's possible because all information must be consolidated and archived in written form on this website for legal purposes.

Once again, you may communicate with me in the future if necessary by writing to:

www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi

I would certainly love to hear some updates in the future.

If you would do me the favor of rating our discussion with A 5 STAR RATING and a few words of positive feedback it would be my honor to serve you in the future.

All the best.

This query has utilized a total of 80 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.

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