What are the treatment methods for epilepsy?

The treatment of epilepsy aims at controlling the patient's epilepsy. Patients with definite etiology should be treated according to the etiology. Drug therapy is the main method for epilepsy patients with unknown etiology. Commonly used drugs are phenytoin sodium, carbamazepine, sodium valproate, ethosuximide, clonazepam, gabapentin and so on. If necessary, surgical treatment should be selected according to the patient's condition.

First, general treatment.

Seizures are self-limited and most patients do not need special treatment. However, it is more important for family members or others to help patients take some measures to prevent injuries.

1, tonic-clonic seizures can help patients lie flat and prevent falls or injuries.

2, help patients untie the collar, belt, easy to breathe.

3. When convulsing, soft objects should be placed at the joints to prevent scratches when convulsing. Don't squeeze the patient's limbs to avoid fracture and dislocation. For automatic patients, under the premise of ensuring safety, don't forcibly restrain patients to prevent injury and self-injury.

4. After the attack stops, turn the patient's head to one side to let the secretion flow out to prevent suffocation.

Second, medication.

1, traditional antiepileptic drugs:

(1) phenytoin sodium: phenytoin sodium is effective for partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which can aggravate absences and myoclonic seizures. Gastrointestinal absorption is slow, and after saturation, a small dose is added to reach the toxic dose. It can cause liver and kidney damage and should not be taken by infants.

(2) Carbamazepine: Carbamazepine is the first choice for partial seizures, and its curative effect on complex partial seizures is better than other drugs. Will aggravate absences and myoclonic seizures.

(3) Sodium valproate (magnesium): Sodium valproate (magnesium) is a broad-spectrum traditional antiepileptic drug. It is the first choice for all-round attacks, but also for some attacks. Can cause allergic liver necrosis.

(4) Ethacesulfame: only used for simple absence attack.

(5) Clonazepam: As an auxiliary drug, a small dose can achieve good results.

2. New antiepileptic drugs:

(1) gabapentin: an auxiliary drug for partial seizures and generalized tonic-spastic seizures in adults over 12 years old.

(2) Lamotrigine: an additional or single therapeutic drug for partial seizures and generalized tonic-spastic seizures.

(3) Oxcarbazepine: a derivative of carbamazepine, with the same indications as carbamazepine, but less adverse reactions.

(4) Levetiracetam: It is effective for partial seizures with or without generalized tonic-spastic seizures and myoclonic seizures.

Third, surgical treatment.

Refractory epilepsy is ineffective by taking medicine, so surgery can be considered. Commonly used methods include anterior temporal lobe resection, hemispherectomy, corpus callosum resection, epilepsy focus resection and so on. Vagus nerve stimulation, chronic cerebellar electrical stimulation, etc. In theory, it is effective for all kinds of intractable epilepsy.