There are many anti-seizure medications.  All of them have side-effects.  You may not experience EVERY  side-effect, though it is likely you will experience at least one.

            The medications if used properly can stop the likelihood of having a seizure if you have been diagnosed with epilepsy.

      Ask your neurologist or epileptologist about the side-effects of specific medications and how they may affect you personally…

      After all…. Everyone is different :-)  

           According to a research team led by Dr. Gregory. L Krauss at John Hopkins University approximately 700,000 of the 180 million drivers in the U.S. have epilepsy.

        While driving and alcohol NEVER  mix, driving and having a well controlled epilepsy CAN  mix safely  AND  legally!

sources: http://www.supportworks.org/infoenfcart2.htm.

http://faculty.washington.edu/chuldler/epid.htm

        I personally cope with not being able to drive with having epilepsy by getting rides from my parents, from the persons at the rehab facility, and though I personally haven’t used it yet, you can also use public transportation.

       This can be limiting… Though I have found ways to cope with awful disease that is epilepsy.

           Your heart rate slows, you have controlled breathing, your blood pressure lowers, and your muscles relax.

   Overall though, your entire body comes to a complete state of relaxation. 

        This has to do with your parasympathetic nervous system. 

    Though anti-seizure medication is EXTREMELY important to prevent and control your seizures; meditation, relaxation, breathing, and rest can also help reduce stress and fatigue which can trigger seizures.  

   And as medical experts struggle to find the true cure for epilepsy, meditation, relaxation, and rest certainly do not hurt as one struggles with their epilepsy.   

    Refer back to the blog post on December 20, 2011 for more information about stress reduction.

The physiological reactions that occur are also numerous.

I am not a nuerologist.  Though; based on my own experience with epilepsy and the medications thereof it is likely that many others who have aquired epilepsy will have similar reactions.

That said when speaking to your doctor who prescribes the anti-seizure medication my advize is to be extremely careful and fully disclose your medical history as it may have serious side-effects.

As Chair of CURE and a member of the epilepsy community, I am at once dismayed and hopeful as we publish our first annual State of Epilepsy Research Report. In the pages that follow, you will find our first attempt to assess our community’s collective progress toward a cure for epilepsy.

I am dismayed because as I read through this report, the enormous challenges we face in advancing this field crystallize. The data confirms that funds for epilepsy research—from government, industry, and private sources—are totally insufficient given the magnitude of the problem and the status of our progress in the field. We know now that the vast majority of funding goes to incremental improvements in anticonvulsant medications (which are largely ineffective for about 40% of patients) rather than to uncovering underlying mechanisms that may lead to cures. We also know that the number of basic researchers in epilepsy is declining and that those involved have been less collaborative than their colleagues in other neurological disorders.

But, we also have great reason for hope. While our challenges are significant, I have every confidence that, as a community, we have the will and determination it takes to make meaningful progress toward defeating this disease. We are finally making strides in our efforts to communicate well beyond our community the critical importance and urgency of the need. This gives me tremendous faith that together we can turn the challenges detailed in this report into opportunities to make a real difference for our patients and loved ones.

It is within our power to make this happen, but we must act now. Lives are being ravaged and lost every day that we delay. I have tremendous hope that these reports in coming years will tell the stories of great progress toward our common goal—a cure.

Sincerely,

For more information go to:

http://www.cureepilepsy.org/news/state-of-epilepsy2010.asp

Epilepsy has been stressful for me personally because due to the nature of the epilepsy and the legality behind it I am not able to drive.  In the United States of America there is a slumping economy and employers are weary of hiring persons with epilepsy.  I feel stressed about finding a reliable occupation in the future and perhaps other persons with epilepsy may feel the same way.  The limitations in my life caused by epilepsy bring stress. 

These are some of the strategies I have used to cope with it.

• keeping a schedule
• relaxation breathing
• going to a place of worship
• recreation (bowling)
• yoga
• art therapy
• music as relaxation
• watching television (believe it or not it is not that bad)
• rest/sleep

     Before I was diagnosed with epilepsy I worked hard in various occupations so that if something like epillepsy were to occur; I would be well-situated.  Unfortuantely, those 1.7 to 2.4 million Americans are not in the same place as I am.  In many cases, their medical insurance does not pay for anti-seizure medication and, thus they cannot go through life feeling that any next moment they will be okay.  Those in financial need will be able to receive the anti-seizure medication that they need if this bill becomes a law.

          Anti-seizure medication has many side-effects however; in the long run it should stop one from having seizures and; ergo I know from a personal perspective I have to take them to keep going on.  Everyone is different.

           Despite the fact my anti-seizure medication continue to fluctuate and it is frustrating; I know that in the long run it is for a good reason. 

           I hope others can learn from my experience.  I am trying to bring good out of this situation.