Epilepsy

Introduction: Epilepsy

Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of ... more about Epilepsy.

Epilepsy: Brain condition causing seizures or spasms. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Epilepsy is available below.

Symptoms of Epilepsy

• Convulsions
• Muscle spasms
• Loss of consciousness
• Grand mal seizures - see symptoms of grand mal seizures:
• Petit mal seizures - see symptoms of petit mal seizures:

See full list of 31 symptoms of Epilepsy

Medical Textbooks Online about Epilepsy

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Epilepsy

• EEG
• Brain scan
• Skull x-ray
• Brain CAT scan
• Brain MRI scan

See full list of 7 diagnostic tests for Epilepsy

Wrongly Diagnosed with Epilepsy?

• Misdiagnosis of Epilepsy
• Failure to diagnose Epilepsy
• Underlying causes of Epilepsy (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Epilepsy

Misdiagnosis and Epilepsy

Epilepsy misdiagnosed as schizophrenia: The book "Preventing Misdiagnosis of Women" reports on a case of a woman diagnosed with schizophrenia, but later diagnosed with a...read more »

Various mental health symptoms caused by rare epilepsy: Temporal lobe epilepsy is a less common form of epilepsy that does not have the typical physical seizures. Patients can suffer from symptoms such as depression, moodiness, ...read more »

Rare seizure-less epilepsy misdiagnosed as various conditions: A complex partial seizure disorder, such as temporal lobe epilepsy can be misdiagnosed as various conditions. Some of...read more »

Rare heart condition often undiagnosed: The rare heart condition called long QT syndrome can lead to episodes of palpitations and rapid heartbeat. In rare cases, this undiagnosed condition can be fatal. It...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See ...read more »

Misdiagnosis major pitfall in seizure disorders: The major pitfall associated with seizure disorders and epilepsy is misdiagnosis. Not all seizures are of tonic clonic type. The most commonly misdiagnosed seizure disorder is that of...read more »

Long QT syndrome or epilepsy: This is a serious cardiac disorder which maybe congenital or acquired due to intake of certain medications.It is characterized by the prolongation of QT...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Epilepsy

Causes of Epilepsy

• Brain injury
• Brain tumor
• Brain infection
• Brain hemorrhage (see Brain symptoms)
• Meningitis

See full list of 9 causes of Epilepsy

More information about causes of Epilepsy:

• Underlying causes of Epilepsy
• Epilepsy as a complication caused by other conditions
• Epilepsy as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Epilepsy

Treatments for Epilepsy

• Anticonvulsant medications
  • Phenytoin
  • Primidone
  • Methoin
  • Clonazepam

See full list of 11 treatments for Epilepsy

Videos for Epilepsy

Patient Surveys for Epilepsy

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Epilepsy
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Epilepsy

Prognosis for Epilepsy: Good. Most people have only mild impacts on an otherwise normal life.

More about prognosis of Epilepsy

Reseach about Epilepsy

Visit our research pages for current research about Epilepsy treatments.

Clinical Trials for Epilepsy

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Epilepsy include:

• A Study on Safety and Efficacy of Two Doses of Topiramate as Monotherapy in the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent Epilepsy - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - topiramate
• Childhood Absence Epilepsy Rx PK-PD-Pharmacogenetics Study - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - ethosuximide,lamotrigine,valproic acid
• Prospective Pilot Study on Metabolism and Weight Changes in Topiramate-Treated Epilepsy Patients - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - topiramate
• A Study to Evaluate the Dosing, Effectiveness and Safety of Topiramate for the Treatment of Epilepsy - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Topiramate
• Early Surgical Intervention to Treat Epilepsy - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - antiepileptic drugs

See full list of 232 Clinical Trials for Epilepsy

Statistics for Epilepsy

• Medical statistics for Epilepsy
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Epilepsy
• Death and Mortality statistics for Epilepsy
• Society statistics for Epilepsy

Types of Epilepsy

• Grand mal epilepsy - causing grand mal seizures
• Petit mal epilepsy - causing petit mal seizures
• Temporal lobe epilepsy
• Focal epilepsy
• Jacksonian seizures

See full list of 6 Types of Epilepsy

Stories from Users Related to Epilepsy

• I think I have MS, doc thinks I am having seizures. Help
• Seizure-like symptoms but tests normal
• Epilepsy????
• 2 month old having seizures
• primary progressive Ms???
• Is this a seizure?
• please help....NCS vs epilepsy ??
• i dont know if i had a seizure!! please can someone tell me!
• Daughter & husband having....seizures??? maybe
• Any one have any suggestions? (Possible seizures)
• Need help with someone who knows seizures.
• HELP! On going seizures for past month.
• Suffering with Seizures/Convulsions
• Phenobarbital used for epilepsy
• Unexplained Seizures
• Unexplained seizures
• Seizure or fainting?
• Seizures or not?
• unexplained seizures
• Epilepsy?????

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Epilepsy, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Epilepsy Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Epilepsy:

Brain disorder characterized by recurring excessive neuronal discharge, exhibited by transient episodes of motor, sensory, or psychic dysfunction, with or without unconsciousness or convulsive movements. - (Source - Diseases Database)

A disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions - (Source - WordNet 2.1)