REFRACTORY EPILEPSY
Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy. The nerve cells in the brain do not communicate normally during a seizure. The brain’s normal electrical activity is disrupted. These convulsions might last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.
About a third of those with epilepsy will develop refractory epilepsy at some point. This means that drugs don’t manage seizures very well, if at all. Refractory epilepsy is a type of epilepsy that is resistant to treatment.
Epilepsy that is refractory can have a significant impact on your life. Refractory epilepsy might cause problems at work or in education. They might be concerned about when their next seizure will occur. They could also sustain injuries as a result of the seizures. If your doctor suspects you have refractory epilepsy, he or she may refer you to an epilepsy-focused medical center.
What Is Refractory Epilepsy and How Does It Affect You?
If your doctor diagnoses you with refractory epilepsy, it means that medication isn’t working to manage your seizures. Uncontrolled, intractable, or drug-resistant epilepsy are some of the terms used to describe the illness.
Your doctor can try a few different things to help you control your seizures. They might, for example, experiment with alternative medicine combinations or a specific diet.
A device that sends electrical signals to one of your nerves, the vagus nerve, may also be implanted beneath your skin by your doctor. This may help you have fewer seizures. A Neuropile device detects seizures and shocks the brain to halt them.
Surgery to remove a portion of the brain that is causing your seizures is also a possibility. You may need to take epilepsy medication for the rest of your life if you receive any of these therapies.
It’s natural to be concerned when your doctor tells you that the medication you’re taking isn’t helping your epilepsy. You do not, however, have to go through it alone. To acquire the emotional support you need, it’s critical to reach out to family and friends. You might also want to consider joining a support group so that you can talk with others who are going through similar experiences.
Causes:
Doctors are baffled as to why some patients get refractory epilepsy while others do not. Adults can get refractory epilepsy, and children can develop it as well. Epilepsy affects about one out of every three persons.
Seizures, despite anti-seizure medication, are an indication of refractory epilepsy. Seizures can take a variety of forms and last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes.
You could be having convulsions, which means your body is trembling uncontrollably.
If you’re having a seizure, you might also:
- Turn out the lights.
- Become unable to regulate your bowels or bladder
- Stare off into the distance.
- Suddenly plummet
- Muscles become rigid.
- Bite the back of your tongue.
- Obtaining a Prognosis
Refractory epilepsy can be diagnosed in numerous ways by your doctor. They could ask you questions like:
- How frequently do you experience seizures?
- Do you ever forget to take your medicine?
- Do you have a family history of epilepsy?
- Are your seizures still occurring after you’ve taken the medication?
Symptoms
These are the signs and symptoms of a seizure:
- Shaking movements, or convulsions
- Consciousness loss
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Staring off towards the distance
- Falling
- Muscle stiffness
You may have refractory epilepsy if you still have seizures when using an Anti epilepsy medication.
Seizures come in a variety of forms.
The sort of seizures you have may alter your therapy if you have refractory epilepsy. Seizures can be caused by:
- Generalized primary. This means they affect a large portion of your brain tissue on both sides.
- Seizures that are partial (focal). This means that seizure activity may begin in a small area of your brain and then extend to a larger area later.
Diagnosis
Doctors can diagnose refractory epilepsy in a variety of ways. Many inquiries about your seizures will most likely be asked by your doctor. An electroencephalogram will very certainly be performed on you. Electrodes are placed on your scalp to assess the activity of your brain. A CT or MRI scan of your brain may be recommended by your doctor. If you need surgery to fix the problem, your doctor may perform more tests like these to figure out where your seizures are coming from.
To find out if you have this problem, you’ll need to work closely with your doctor. Before your doctor believes your illness is refractory, you may need to suffer more seizures while taking many medications. Your doctor may request that you visit him or her on a frequent basis to report your problems. Your doctor may test a variety of medicines in various dosages.
Treatment
Your doctor may advise you to take another antiepileptic medication, either alone or in combination with others. Medications include the following:
- Gabapentin
- Lamotrigine
- Levetiracetam
- Oxcarbazepine
- Tiagabine
- Topiramate
- Zonis amide
If medications aren’t working, your doctor may advise the following options:
- Surgery. If you have refractory partial epilepsy, surgery may be extremely beneficial. If you still suffer seizures after taking two or three Anti epilepsy medications, your doctor may suggest surgery. The doctor will remove the area of your brain that is causing the seizures during the treatment.
- Stimulation using electricity. Your doctor may recommend vague nerve stimulation (VNS) with an implanted device if you can’t or don’t want brain surgery. The gadget is attached to the vague nerve in your neck by wires that are implanted beneath your skin in the chest area. It provides a current to the nerve, which may help you have fewer seizures. It may also assist to decrease the intensity of an already-started seizure.
Prevention
Always follow your doctor’s instructions when using medications. Using your Anti epilepsy medications correctly will help them operate more effectively to regulate your condition.
Taking care of refractory epilepsy
A ketogenic diet, often known as a low-carbohydrate diet, may help you control your seizures. This diet is characterized by a high-fat content and a low carbohydrate content. If you stick to this diet, you’ll need to work closely with your doctor and take nutritional supplements as needed.
