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Epilepsy
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Definition of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is any of various neurological disorders characterized by sudden recurring attacks of motor, sensory, or psychic malfunction with or without loss of consciousness or convulsive seizures.
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Types of problems with executive functions
The term executive functions describes a range of abilities. A typical list of these includes initiation, sustained attention, planning, organization, set-shifting, conceptual functioning, awareness, and insight. Let's review the behavior relevant to each of these abilities.
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Why are disorders of thinking or behavior so common in epilepsy?
Many people with epilepsy lead happy and fulfilling lives. Nevertheless, formal research has shown higher rates of mental and behavioral disorders (also known as psychopathology) among those with epilepsy than among the general population. For centuries, superstition and unproven theories provided the only answers to the question, "Why does this occur?" In the 1980s, researchers Bruce P. Hermann and Steven Whitman looked at what had been written about this issue and developed a conceptual model of the phenomenon, describing what was known and pointing toward promising directions for further study. They were the first to recognize the complexity of the issue and to state explicitly many of the factors that are likely to be involved. They enabled those studying the behavioral effects of epilepsy to leave behind many misconceptions from the past and enter the modern scientific age. Their approach has been responsible for many studies continuing to this day.
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How to remember better
There are many ways to make the most out of your abilities. Here are some things you can do when your memory is less than perfect.
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Exploring the Relationship between Insomnia and AEDs
A good night’s sleep eludes many people with epilepsy, thus significantly impacting their quality of life. And while there has been speculation regarding the role specific antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may have on sleep quality in people with epilepsy, there have been few studies examining the relationship with insomnia—until now. Today, Carl Bazil, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, Columbia University, and colleagues presented their latest research exploring the link between AEDs and insomnia at the American Epilepsy Society 59th Annual Meeting in Washington DC.
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Tolerance and the Honeymoon Effect
Some people with epilepsy find that over time they have to take larger and larger doses of their seizure medicine to achieve the same result. This effect is known as tolerance. Studies in both humans and animals have shown that tolerance is not much of a problem for most of the standard antiepileptic drugs. That is, most patients continue to enjoy good seizure control while taking the same dose and maintaining the same blood levels of medication.
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The Titanic Impact of Medication Compliance on Epilepsy
Let's start talking about the way you take your seizure medicines by comparing you to the Captain of the Titanic. Yes, the big ocean liner that sank. Although it made an exciting film, it was a tragic event with terrible losses. After years of working with people who have epilepsy, I have heard enough stories to make me think that every child, teenager, and adult who has epilepsy has as many responsibilities as that Captain did. The ship sank because of a series of errors in judgment and lack of knowledge. You, too, may be on a course toward a disaster, but it can be avoided.
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How can I get Frisium?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates the production and sale of prescription medicines in the United States, has not approved Frisium (clobazam). This means that if you live in the United States, you cannot get it from your drugstore in the same way that you get most other seizure medicines. (It is available in many other countries, including Canada, Australia, and the UK.) Frisium belongs to the class of medications called benzodiazepines. Ativan (lorazepam) and Tranxene (chlorazepate) are other well-known benzodiazepines that are often prescribed for treating seizures. They have been approved by the FDA for sale in the United States. Your doctor will almost certainly recommend that you try medicines like these before trying Frisium, and one or more of them are likely to work well for you.
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New seizure medicine may be approved soon
Pfizer Inc announced in late October, 2003, that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seeking approval for a new seizure medicine called pregabalin (pree-gab-uh-lin). Pregabalin has been tested as an add-on (adjunctive) treatment for people with partial seizures that are not well controlled by other medications. An NDA is the final step before the FDA authorizes a medication to be sold in the United States. This application gives the FDA complete information on the history of the medicine, including details about clinical trials that have tested the medicine in patients. The time between filing of an NDA and approval of a new medicine for sale averages at least 1 year.
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Can You Save Money on Seizure Medications?
The high cost of many prescription medicines is a real problem to many people who need to buy them regularly, especially if they don't have insurance coverage. One solution that is often mentioned is buying the medicines in another country where prices are lower. Busloads of senior citizens cross into Canada to stock up, and people in Southern California find that by taking a day trip to Mexico they can buy many prescription medicines over the counter for much less than the pharmacist at home will charge. In the past few years, the Internet has given stay-at-homes the opportunity to have medicines shipped from foreign pharmacies right to their door. Should you buy your seizure medicines from Canada, Mexico, or some other country? Is it legal? Will you really save? And most important, is it safe?
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Findings from Pregabalin Study May Lead to New Add-On Treatment For Partial Onset Seizures
Today, at the 58th annual AES conference in New Orleans, Jacqueline French, M.D.,Professor of Neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and co-director of the epilepsy center, presented the findings from a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial comparing the efficacy, tolerability, and antiepileptic (AE) profiles exhibited by pregabalin. “We are optimistic about our findings in which we found pregabalin to be an effective and well-tolerated add-on treatment for patients with partial seizures,” said French.
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Lamotrigine Proves To Be Effective Add-On Therapy
Today, amidst the buzz of epilepsy professionals presenting their latest research at the AES conference, epilepsy.com staff had the chance to talk to Joyce Cramer regarding her latest study. Ms. Cramer is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale. The purpose of the study was to explore the use of lamotrigine (LTG) as an adjunctive (add-on) therapy to other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and its effect on mood states.
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FDA's New Drug Safety Plan Under the Microscope
In an effort to restore the public’s confidence in the nation’s prescription drug supply, the Food and Drug Administration recently announced plans to create the Drug Safety Oversight Board. Despite the FDA’s planned new system, many are still questioning the overall safety of the current drugs on the market as well as whether the pace at which drugs are being approved may potentially compromise patient safety.
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New Study Reveals Link Between Valproate and Birth Defects
It is no secret that antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) can increase the risk of birth defects in children born to women with epilepsy. However, the extent to how some of the more commonly used AEDs may impact the development of a child in utero has been somewhat of an enigma—until now.
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Special Editorial: The Risks and Benefits of Epilepsy Medication During Pregnancy
Women with epilepsy who need to take an antiepileptic drug during pregnancy are always concerned -- as are their doctors -- to find the safest drug for their unborn child while ensuring seizure control. Recently the FDA issued an alert concerning Lamictal. The Agency noted that women taking the drug during the first three months of pregnancy have a higher chance of giving birth to a child with a cleft lip or cleft palate.
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