Living with Epilepsy - Some forms of epilepsy are not controlled through medication.

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Epilepsy Living with Epilepsy

Some forms of epilepsy are not controlled through medication.

Anticonvulsant medication is the mainstay of epilepsy treatment. While the majority of people can gain seizure control through the use of medication, some types of seizures are medication resistant, or refractory, and patients are unable to gain seizure control through the use of anti-seizure medicine. While epilepsy treatment with anticonvulsants is largely “trial and error,” physicians usually agree that if the second medication doesn’t work, the chances of gaining seizure control with a third or fourth medication is slim, approximately 10 percent. People with medication resistant epilepsy must look beyond medical therapies. Currently, surgery, a device called a vagal nerve stimulator and a strict diet known as the ketogenic diet are all treatment options with varying degrees of success.

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