If you think a person is having an epileptic seizure, you should call 911 or his doctor, if you know who it is. Don’t fight the person, and make sure he has an adequate airway. Hold his tongue down with your fingers so that he is unable to swallow it. This is important, since during an epileptic seizure the tongue loses its muscle tone and can fall back toward the throat and block the airway.
If you don’t know the person, check for a medical ID bracelet. Instead of epilepsy, his seizure may be due to low blood sugar.
If you or a family member has experienced seizure for the first time, you must see your physician, who will do a complete medical history and physical exam in addition to a CAT scan of the brain and and an electroencephalogram (EEG), which is used to detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The patterns the neurologist will detect in the brain-wave activity will help him select the best possible treatment. Though during most of the test you will be lying still with your eyes closed with electrodes attached to your scalp, your neurologist may choose to stimulate seizure activity in the brain with flashing strobe lights. This explains why flashing lights at a nightclub or rock concert, or even a light that flashes through tree branches as you drive under them in a car, can trigger a seizure in people who are prone to them.
Magnetic resonance imaging, frequently referred to as MRI, is a technique that allows your doctor to get a very detailed X ray of your brain-wave activity on a computer; an MRI may also be done with secondary epilepsy to find the exact location of a tumor that may be responsible for altering the brain waves. The doctor’s main task is to find the underlying cause of the seizure, which will lead to proper treatment.
Phenobarbital and phenytoin are two medications commonly used to treat secondary epilepsy; other antiepileptic medications include primidone, carbamazepine, and valproate. The dosage for each medication will depend on your sex, age, and weight. Once you begin taking the medication, your doctor will monitor you regularly to make sure you receive the correct dosage.
Since antiepileptic medications can produce a number of side effects, you will need to visit your doctor regularly. For instance, when the drug Dilantin (phenytoin) accumulates in the bloodstream, you may have walking disturbances and lethargy. That’s why it’s important for your doctor to closely monitor your blood level as well as your health.
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