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Epilepsy Web Log Library of Facts and News Clippings
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5 January, 2009
The Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center, one of the nation’s top hospitals and home to our nationally ranked Neurological Institute, is hosting a free online health chat on epilepsy from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, January 19th. During this one hour chat Imad Najm, MD, Director of Epilepsy Center will answer questions from patients regarding management and non-medical treatment options for patients living with epilepsy. More information on this chat can be found at http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/chatreg/najm.html
Dr. Najm leads a multidisciplinary team in the Epilepsy Center with a comprehensive range of skills and knowledge. State-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities, extensive medical and surgical treatment programs and an active research focus that has yielded important basic and clinical science contributions have made the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center a place of national and international prominence as a leading facility for the management and investigation of epilepsy. The Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center is a place of national and international prominence as a leading facility for the management and investigation of epilepsy. Each year the Epilepsy Center staff members see more than 4,000 adults and 2,000 pediatric patients and perform more than 200 surgical procedures. The Epilepsy Center also uses the most advanced invasive and noninvasive technology available to localize the epileptic focus and develop a targeted treatment plan.
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8 December, 2008
Researchers Report on Convergence of Technology and Medicine Leading to Revolution in Epilepsy Care
Work shows potential for restoring brain function, targeted cell therapy and new imagingTechniques
News from the AES 62nd Annual Meeting, Seattle, December 5—9, 2008
In presentations today before epilepsy specialists from around the world, scientists will describe how the convergence of technology and medicine is opening an unprecedented window to brain function at the most fundamental levels and blazing a trail toward achieving near pin-point accuracy in defining the cause of epilepsy and in delivering therapeutic agents to specific seizure causing regions in the brain. http://www.aesnet.org/
Epilepsy affects 50 million people around the globe, including 3 million in the United States. It is the most common neurological disorder in children and the third most common in adults after Alzheimer’s disease and stroke.
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4 December, 2008
New Target Discovered to Treat Epileptic Seizures Following Brain Trauma or Stroke
New therapies for some forms of epilepsy may soon be possible, thanks to a discovery made by a team of University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute neuroscience researchers. The researchers found that hemichannels – the same channels the researchers previously found to that cause cell death following a stroke – may also cause epileptic seizures that occur following head trauma or a stroke. A hemichannelis a channel that can form in nerve cells which allows chemical ions to pass through.
http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubcnews/
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24 November, 2008
Dilantin, Phenytek,Cerebyx
FDA is investigating new preliminary data regarding a potential increased risk of serious skin reactions including Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) from phenytoin therapy in Asian patients positive for a particular human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, HLA-B*1502. This allele occurs almost exclusively in patients with ancestry across broad areas of Asia, including Han Chinese, Filipinos, Malaysians, South Asian Indians, and Thais. Phenytoin is marketed under these names: Dilantin - Phenytek - Fosphenytoin is marketed under these names: Cerebyx
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/phenytoin_fosphenytoin/default.htm
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20 November, 2008
UI leads discovery of gene associated with Epilepsy
A University of Iowa-led international research team has found a new gene associated with the brain disorder epilepsy. While the PRICKLE1 gene mutation was specific to a rare form of epilepsy, the study results could help lead to new ideas for overall epilepsy treatment.
The findings, which involved nearly two dozen institutions from six different countries, appear in the Nov. 7 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Health Science Relations, 5137 Westlawn, Iowa City, Iowa 5224-1178
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1 November, 2008
ANTISEIZURE DRUG COULD BE FATAL
Common Sedative Linked to Deaths in Patients With Prolonged Seizures
(Philadelphia, PA, October 28, 2008)—Patients treated for their prolonged seizures with the sedative propofol may be at high risk for complications and even death. New research presented at CHEST 2008, the 74th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), shows that the use of propofol as an antiepileptic agent in patients with refractory status epilepticus (RSE), prolonged seizures that do not respond to initial treatment, was associated with significant mortality and morbidity.
http://www.chestnet.org/about/press/releases/2008/CHEST/081028EpilepsyDrug.php
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19 October, 2008
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: current knowledge and future directions
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474442208702023/abstract
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11 September, 2008
New Epilepsy Campaign Promotes Healthy Mums and Babies
Every year, around four women with Epilepsy die during pregnancy or giving birth, meaning they face a seven times greater risk than women without Epilepsy, warns national charity Epilepsy Action.
It is this gap which has prompted the charity to launch its Mothers in mind: healthy births campaign during National Pregnancy Health Month (September). The campaign will work towards giving more mums with Epilepsy and their babies a happy and healthy future. http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/pressreleases/national/new-epilepsy-campaign-promotes-healthy-mums-and-babies
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20 August,2008
A study that provides new evidence that consumers need to avoid Grapefruit and other Juices when taking some Drugs
Scientists and consumers have known for years that grapefruit juice can increase the absorption of some drugs, causing potentially toxic effects. Now, researchers are reporting new evidence that drinking grapefruit and other common fruit juices, including orange and apple, also can substantially decrease the absorption of some drugs, wiping out their potential beneficial effects. The study provides a new reason to avoid drinking grapefruit juice and these other juices when taking certain drugs, including some that are prescribed for fighting life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, cancer, organ-transplant rejection, and infection, the researcher says. These findings - representing the first controlled human studies of this type of drug-lowering interaction - were described at the 236th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society .
Bailey advises patients to consult with their doctor or pharmacist before taking any medications with grapefruit juice or other fruits and juices. Unless it is known to be a problem, he recommends taking most medications only with water. As a result of the so-called "Grapefruit Juice Effect," some prescription drugs now carry warning labels against taking grapefruit juice or fresh grapefruit during drug consumption.
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18 August, 2008
Having epilepsy might put you at a significantly higher risk for death by drowning, a new report says.
The study, which looked at information compiled from all over the world, found that epileptics had a 15 to 19 times greater chance of drowning compared with the general population. Epileptics with a learning disability, those in institutional care and those who have had brain surgery were at the greatest risk, according to the study published in the Aug. 19 issue of Neurology.
SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology, news release, Aug. 18, 2008
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6 August, 2008
Concern for Drugs’ Links To Suicide Risk
Patients on antidepressants are already at risk for depression, mood swings, anxiety and suicidal behavior. So are epilepsy patients, according to studies that suggest a strong link between the disease and a risk of depression four times that of the general population. The pending move by the FDA on epilepsy drugs highlights the problem now facing doctors, pharmaceutical companies and patients as more and more popular drugs are tagged with suicidality warnings. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121556144610237551.html?
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Patients with epilepsy who require antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) must be warned of possible adverse interactions from drugs used for other illnesses, whether over-the-counter nostrums taken for common ailments or treatments prescribed by a physician for serious diseases. The effects of medications used intermittently, such as analgesics, antibiotics, and decongestants, can be especially difficult to manage. http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/drugs.html
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25 July,2008
Epilepsy Drug May Increase Risk of Birth Defects
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Taking the epilepsy drug topiramate alone or along with other epilepsy drugs during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects, according to a study published in the July 22, 2008, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. http://www.aan.com/press/index.cfm?fuseaction=release.view&release=642
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19 June, 2008
People with epilepsy who fail to take their seizure medication regularly could be as much as three times more likely to die, according to a study published in the June 18, 2008, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111906.php
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16 June, 2008
Scientists in the United States believe they are a step closer to understanding why some people suffer from epileptic seizures.
Brain Pathway That Shuts Down Seizures Identified
Researchers at the University of Iowa and the Veterans Affairs Iowa City Health Care System have uncovered a brain pathway that shuts down seizures.
The multidisciplinary team of scientists pieced together information from clinical observations made in the first half of the 20th century with knowledge from modern genetics and molecular biology to show that an acid-activated ion channel in the brain reacts to a drop in pH (increased acid) in a way that shuts down seizure activity. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110515.php
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16 June, 2008
A team of scientists from Griffith University in Brisbane led by Professor Alan Mackay-Sim, a sensory neuroscientist who specialises in olfaction, the sense of smell ,have been involved in a project for the past five years concerned with research using cell therapy to repair the nervous system.
Professor Mackay-Sim's research has focused for many years on 'neurogenesis', the formation of new neurons, in the olfactory epithelium, the sense organ of smell. He believes the continual regeneration of neurons in this tissue may shed light on the way the brain develops and on ways to repair or regenerate other parts of the nervous system. His research has shown that stem cells from the human nose have the developmental potential normally accorded to embryonic stem cells.
His team have produced stem cells grown from people with schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, mitochondrial disorders and Epilepsy, and hope they will provide tools for investigating the biological causes of these conditions.
The research is published in the journal Stem Cells.
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11 June, 2008
Childhood Epilepsy
While some children may seem to be taking longer at developing skills do not despair as there are many, many children who have a very high IQs. It may be possible that they are not able to express themselves at certain times, but this is not the result of a low IQ. To be able to treat this child as normal as possible helps them to grow. Children of almost any age will feel the stress level of those around them. Stress is a Trigger and is knows to lead straight to a seizure. Medication also contributes as a Trigger for seizures as their young bodies are not meant to be treated at such a young age with high doses and potent drugs. Please read this and other items of interest at the following website.
A child with Epilepsy has mental handicaps. Epilepsy may be associated with learning disabilities or diminished intelligence, and medication used to treat Epilepsy may have a negative impact on school performance. Neither of these facts, however, means that all children with seizures have difficulties in learning. A large percentage of individuals with Epilepsy have normal IQ scores, some even above normal intelligence. Children with Epilepsy should be watched closely for possible difficulties in school. http://www.med.nyu.edu/cec/news/index.html
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19 May, 2008
Researchers uncover mechanism of action of antibiotic able to reduce neuronal cell death in brain
Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have discovered how an antibiotic works to modulate the activity of a neurotransmitter that regulates brain functions, which eventually could lead to therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, epilepsy, stroke, dementia and malignant gliomas. http://www.news.vcu.edu/news.aspx?v=detail&nid=2496
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5 May 08
Epilepsy Drug Causes Bone Loss In Young Women
Article Date: 29 Apr 2008
Young women who took the commonly used epilepsy drug phenytoin for one year showed significant bone loss compared to women taking other epilepsy drugs, according to a study published in the April 29, 2008, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
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23 April 08
Study May Lead To Improved Treatments For Epilepsy
Using a rodent model of epilepsy, researchers found one of the body's own neurotransmitters released during seizures, glutamate, turns on a signaling pathway in the brain that increases production of a protein that could reduce medication entry into the brain. Researchers say this may explain why approximately 30 percent of patients with epilepsy do not respond to antiepileptic medications. The study, conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and Medical School, in collaboration with Heidrun Potschka's laboratory at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany, is available online and will appear in the May 2008, issue of Molecular Pharmacology. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/104032.php
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19 April 08
People with Epilepsy have more Migraines than those without Epilepsy.
All the trauma that the brain goes through during a seizure of any type is liable to leave the person with a migraine. Think of a wide thick elastic band being pulled and snapped, all the tension, all the seizures over the years. Sometimes, and unless we mention it, these migraines have gone un-diagnosed because Epilepsy was seen as the more serious disorder.
It is wise to think twice before requesting anti-depressants or any kind of anti-nausea drugs as these may lower the seizure threshold.
It has been my personal experience that even at periods in my life when my seizures were well under control, the migraines were still present. Asking my neurologist the question why, his first remark was "and how many years have you been having seizures?". He also reminded me it could be taken as a gentle reminder that my seizures may be in remission right now but do not fall far as they could revisit.
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31 March 08
Room For Improvement In Balancing Epileptic Seizure Control And Side Effects
Healthcare professionals surveyed say they would recommend an alternative treatment plan at least half the time for those patients experiencing medication-related side effects. "We need to increase the focus on individualizing treatment plans and strive for optimal balance between seizure control and minimization of side effects so that we can improve the overall well-being of people with epilepsy," added Dr. Montouris. Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/102163.php)
The roundtable, which took place in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 28, was hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation and ORTHO-McNEIL NEUROLOGICS®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Please visit: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/ to find more information about upcoming 2008 initiatives resulting from the roundtable discussion.
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02 March 08
Neurologic symptoms are the most common medical complaint requiring air-to-ground medical support and are second only to
cardiovascular problems for emergency diversions and their resultant costs to the US airline industry. Adding antiepileptic drugs to the
onboard medical kit and greater emergency medical training for in-flight personnel could potentially reduce the number of diversions
for in-flight neurologic incidents.
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15 February 2008
Genetic factors are now recognised to have an even more important role in epilepsies than previously appreciated. Rare mendelian forms of epilepsy are now well recognised, and there is evidence of complex inheritance due to multiple susceptibility genes in most idiopathic epilepsies. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474442208700395/abstract
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8 February 2008
Two research projects at the University of Bristol have been awarded over £600,000 in total, to help provide greater understanding of epilepsy, the most common serious primary brain disorder in the UK with treatment costs estimated at around £2.5 billion per year, and hearing loss, a condition which affects one in seven people in the UK. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2008/5814.html
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30th January 2008
A modified carrot for increased Calcium absorption
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20th January 2008
Scientists have discovered that mice genetically engineered to lack a particular protein in the brain have profound deafness and seizures.
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10 January 2008
Anti-epileptic Medications
Concerns
As stated earlier, the risk for adverse effects on the fetus increases when maternal AED polypharmacy is present. All commonly used AEDs have been associated with congenital malformations. Some of the newer AEDs have not been used in large enough numbers to have meaningful data.
Valproic acid (with a risk of 1 to 2 percent), and to a lesser degree, carbamazepine (with a risk of 0.5 percent) have been associated with neural tube defects, specifically spina bifida. Folate supplementation used prior to conception and throughout the childbearing years may minimize this risk.
Many experts believe that trimethadione is contraindicated in women with epilepsy who might become pregnant because it has been associated with a high incidence of fetal loss and congenital malformations.
You may wish to encourage all pregnant women taking AEDs to register with the North American AED Pregnancy Registry housed at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. The toll free number is (888) 233-2334.
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Life/adults/women/Professional/pregnancy.cfm
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24 Dec 2007
FDA Revises Warning Labels On Certain Epilepsy Drugs To Warn About Risk Of Rare Skin Disorders, Particularly Among Asians
FDA on Wednesday announced revisions to the labels of certain epilepsy, bipolar disorder and nerve pain medications to strengthen warnings about potential risk for rare skin disorders and recommended that patients with Asian backgrounds undergo genetic tests before they take the treatments, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The revisions apply to:
Carbamazepine, the active ingredient in Carbatrol, manufactured by Shire ;
Tegretol, manufactured by Novartis; and
Equetro, manufactured by Validus Pharmaceuticals.
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17 Dec 2007
Epilepsy detected on the wrist
Two separate, but closely related, developments allow a wrist-worn mobile phone sensor to alert medical services about possible heart problems and epileptic fits.
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While a number of companies are now offering heart monitor systems, the Red Alert AR1000GM system, devised by Alexander Bushell and his colleagues, is, as far as we know, the only one that can detect epilepsy.
Bushell told us at the British Invention Show that the system devised for epilepsy, “detects convulsions and certain drops in pressure”.
The design is complicated by the fact that there are 40 different kinds of epileptic condition. While the heart monitor only needs two electrodes and a wrist and blood pressure sensor, that for epilepsy has to include a solid state gyroscope to detect fits and/or the patient falling over.
Bushell said: “The NHS is already interested, although we have already raised half the funding ourselves. Our target is to have a final prototype ready in April 2008”. |
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Tom Shelley |
http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/article/12472/Epilepsy-detected-on-the-wrist.aspx
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11 Dec 07
Leading Epilepsy Groups Unveil New Survey Results Challenging Patients To Take Charge Of Their Health
While the nation's epilepsy specialists have adopted "no seizures, no side effects" as a major goal for people with epilepsy, a new survey shows that less than half of patients with active epilepsy are informed by their doctors about treatment options. The American Epilepsy Society and the Epilepsy Foundation today announced results from the jointly sponsored patient survey underscoring the need for enhanced patient knowledge of treatment objectives and improved patient-physician dialogue for better epilepsy care. The two organizations are raising awareness of the survey results to empower patients to seek more from their treatment to improve epilepsy control. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/91240.php
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04 Dec 07
Seizure Risk Reduced In Pregnancy By Monitoring Of A Common Epilepsy Drug
29 Nov 07
Research at Emory University shows that monitoring the level of an epilepsy drug, called lamotrigine, in the blood helps reduce increased seizure activity and improve the overall health of pregnant women and their fetuses. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/90129.php
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2 December 2007
Brain surgery can be a successful way of treating epilepsy. Surgery is most likely to be considered when someone with epilepsy:
- Has documented epileptic seizures and not pseudoseizures.
- Has already tried the standard medicines without success (or has bad reactions to them).
- Has seizures that always start in just one part of the brain.
- Has seizures in a part of the brain that can be removed without damaging important things like speech, memory or eyesight.
Surgery for epilepsy is a delicate, complicated operation. It must be performed by a skilled, experienced surgical team. It is usually done at special medical centers that treat patients with epilepsy rather than at local hospitals. In addition to operations that remove a small part of the brain where seizures begin, other procedures may be done to interrupt the spread of electrical energy in the brain.
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/surgery/index.cfm
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27 Nov 2007
New Guideline For How To Treat A Person's First Unprovoked Seizure
A guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology recommends a routine electroencephalogram (EEG) and brain scans be considered when diagnosing and treating adults who experience their first unprovoked seizure. Evidence shows such tools often detect brain abnormalities that caused the seizure and predict seizure recurrence. The guideline is published in the November 20, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
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17 Nov 2007
New Epilepsy.com Site Empowers Community And Connects Those Living With Epilepsy
A highlight of the new epilepsy.com site is a management tool that allows patients and families to maintain a complete electronic record of issues related to living with epilepsy. Patients will be able to keep track of seizures, medications and other epilepsy treatments, as well as side effects and other health-related observations. They also will be able to maintain a database of healthcare contacts and medical appointments, and receive automatic notifications when their prescriptions need to be refilled. www.epilepsy.com
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4 Nov 2007
Epilepsy-induced brain cell damage blocked in lab experiments- For some epilepsy patients, the side effects of epilepsy can be as troubling as the seizures.
One pressing concern is the cognitive impairment seizures often inflict, which potentially includes memory loss, slowed reactions and reduced attention spans.
Now scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have directly observed seizure-induced structural changes in brain cells in laboratory animals. They report in The Journal of Neuroscience that the insights they gained allowed them to use a drug to block those changes in the brain. http://www.news-medical.net/?id=31876
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31 Oct 2007
Medication alert – Why the new Dilantin® 100 mg. Capsules?
The change in Dilantin 100 mg capsules is causing some consternation with patients and frustration with providers. According to Pfizer, the Food and Drug Administration approved manufacturing changes for Dilantin® (phenytoin sodium). Until more specifics are known, it would seem prudent that patients note when they begin taking the new formulation, and if they experience any change in either side effects or seizure frequency they should contact their physician.”
The new Dilantin
Dilantin® 100 mg extended oral capsules (half orange and half white) are now being manufactured and will replace Dilantin Kapseal® 100 mg. – white with an orange band in the center — which are being discontinued. To help physicians help patients check out the updated downloadable medication sheet at http://www.epilepsy.com/pdfs_med/epilepsy_phenytoin.pdf \
Inform the prescribing physician if the pharmacy is not able to get the new Dilantin and in its place the pharmacy gives you a generic version (phenytoin). It is important to be aware that some people have reported changes in seizures and side effects when changing from a brand to generic or from generic to brand. As such, always keep the physician in the loop.
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16 Oct 2007
Medical Services Continue To Fail Women With Epilepsy, UK
09 Oct 2007
The wide-ranging survey was carried out among women with epilepsy aged over 16 years and covered issues such as changes in seizure patterns, and the effects of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), at key times in their lives. It also looked at the quality and availability of epilepsy care, and advice and information services provided to assist them in managing their condition.
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21 September 2007
28th August 2007
WINDOW ON THE BRAIN CURE FOR EPILEPSY
Action Medical Research has announced that a new MRI scanning technique could mean life-changing curative surgery for more people with epilepsy.
The technique helps to pin-point the exact source of seizures in the brain and, where surgery is possible, the area may be removed. This can mean a future that is seizure free for those sufferers whose epilepsy cannot be controlled by drugs.
http://www.action.org.uk/news_media/press_releases/510/
21 September 2007
Adverse Drug Events Reported to FDA Appear to Have Increased Markedly
CHICAGO, Sept. 10, 2007—The number of serious adverse drug events reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) more than doubled between 1998 and 2005, as did deaths associated with adverse drug events, according to a report in the September 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
A serious adverse drug event, as defined by the FDA, means an adverse event that resulted in death, a birth defect, disability, hospitalization, or was life-threatening or required intervention to prevent harm, according to background information in the article
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/167/16/1752
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18 September 2007
Epilepsy and Sleep
Epilepsy has a complex association with sleep. Certain seizures are more common during sleep, and may show prominent diurnal variation. Rarely, nocturnal seizures are the only manifestation of an epileptic disorder and these can be confused with a parasomnia. Conversely, certain sleep disorders are not uncommonly misdiagnosed as epilepsy. Lastly, sleep disorders can exacerbate epilepsy and epilepsy can exacerbate certain sleep disorders. This chapter is thus divided into four sections: normal sleep physiology and the relationship to seizures; the interaction of sleep disorders and epilepsy; and the importance of sleep disorders in diagnosis.
To continue reading: http://www.e-epilepsy.org.uk/pages/articles/show_article.cfm?id=89
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Sept 3, 2007
This item found in the Ontario Epilepsy Foundation website is really worth reading. Some herbs can or might produce similar effects to AEDs. When you put these two together you have magnified the effect. Sometimes we wonder if something has gone wrong in our bodies, or that our drugs have suddenly failed us. This article shows that by just taking other medications like this along with the AEDs without the consent of your doctor can have very devastating effects.
Herbal Therapies for Epilepsy: Herb-Drug Interactions
by Erica Tennenhouse
The use of herbal medications has dramatically increased over the past few years. Approximately 18% of people who take prescription drugs also use herbal supplements (1). Herbal medicines are classified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as dietary supplements rather than drugs, which means that the FDA requires no regulations regarding the efficacy and safety of herbs (2). However, drug metabolizing enzyme systems in the body process compounds that are ingested, including herbal medications. This means when herbal medications are all taken in combination with prescribed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), there is the potential for harmful herb-drug interactions to occur.
http://www.epilepsyontario.org/client/EO/EOWeb.nsf/web/Herbal+Therapies+for+Epilepsy+-+Herb-Drug+Interactions?OpenDocument#ptop
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Study Links Restless Legs Syndrome to Poor Iron Uptake in the Brain
Monday, August 11, 2003 - Date Last Modified: Monday, May 21, 2007
Results of the first-ever autopsy study of brains from people with restless legs syndrome (RLS) suggest that the disorder may result from inefficient processing of iron in certain brain cells. The findings provide a possible explanation for this disorder and may lead to new ways of treating the disease.
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_rls_iron.htm
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August 30, 2007
Being elderly and having seizures can lead to a confusing diagnoses. This is when extra time and care should be taken when referred to a Neurologist to make sure they understand how and what has happened. Being diagnosed with epilepsy when it is not in fact epilepsy can have devastating effects on a person. Keeping a diary is always a good practice no matter what the situation, but in the case of seniors it is doubly important . If you are, or know of someone in this position please click on the link below to find out more.
Seniors and Epilepsy
The diagnosis and classification of seizures is often difficult in seniors. One problem is that many older people live alone or with partners whose memory and observational skills are limited, so the descriptions of seizures and seizure patterns may not be reliable. http://www.epilepsy.com/info/seniors_diagnosed.html
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People with Auras may be good candidates for Surgery
Aug 23, 2007
People with epilepsy who experience multiple auras – sensations such as feeling a cold breeze or seeing a bright light – before they have a seizure may be good candidates for epilepsy surgery because their seizures seem to be generated in one area of the brain, according to a study published in the August 21, 2007, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/news/archive/20070823.html#auras
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EEGs can sometimes be helpful in diagnosing epilepsy - if you have a seizure at the time of the EEG test. But EEGs can only show what is happening in your brain during the time you have the test. They cannot show what happened before the test, or what will happen afterwards. So if you don't have a seizure during the test, the EEG might not show any signs of epilepsy. Some people's brains show activity related to epilepsy in between seizures, and for them, the EEG might be helpful.
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Mahjong epilepsy - a new syndrome
Medical Condition News Published: Monday, 6-Aug-2007
According to doctors in Hong Kong the Chinese tile game of Mahjong can induce epilepsy.
The researchers reached this startling conclusion after examining a number of cases where people appeared to have suffered Mahjong-induced seizures.
The Chinese tile game seemingly triggered the epileptic seizures which has led the team of researchers from the Queen Mary Hospital to acknowledge it as a specific syndrome. http://www.news-medical.net/?id=28446
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Mass. General Hospital Testing New Epilepsy Therapy Device - Clinical Trial Examines New Responsive Brain Stimulation Technology
05 Aug 2007
In an effort to find a better therapy and improve the lives of people with epilepsy, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Epilepsy Service is participating in the RNS™ System Pivotal Clinical Investigation, a study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a responsive brain stimulation device in reducing the frequency of uncontrolled seizures. MGH is one of only 28 centers across the country participating in this study. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/78740.php
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Low Levels of Vitamin D are common among healthy children
A new study published in the July 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that many children may be at risk for a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is essential for normal growth and development and is important for immune function.
The researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia assessed dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake, body mass, and measured blood levels of vitamin D in 382 healthy children between six years and 21 years of age living in the northeastern U.S. and found that more than half of the children had low blood levels of vitamin D. Of the subjects, 55 percent of the children had inadequate vitamin D blood levels and 68 percent overall had low blood levels of the vitamin in the wintertime. African Americans, children aged 9 and older, and those whose vitamin D intake was low were likeliest to have reduced serum vitamin D levels.
"The best indicator of a person's vitamin D status is the blood level of a vitamin D compound called 25-hydroxyvitamin D," Dr. Zemel, the lead investigator noted. "Vitamin D deficiency remains an under-recognized problem overall, and is not well studied in children."
The researchers added that further study is needed to determine the appropriate blood levels of vitamin D in children, as well as a review of the current recommendations for vitamin D intake.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007 July; 86(1):150- 8.
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FDA Warns Consumers about Counterfeit Drugs from Multiple Internet Sellers
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cautioning U.S. consumers about dangers associated with buying prescription drugs over the Internet. This alert is being issued based on information the agency received showing that 24 apparently related Web sites may be involved in the distribution of counterfeit prescription drugs.
Consumers should be wary, if there is no way to contact the Web site pharmacy by phone, if prices are dramatically lower than the competition, or if no prescription from your doctor is required. As a result, FDA strongly cautions consumers about purchasing drugs from any of these Web sites which may be involved in the distribution of counterfeit drugs and reiterates previous public warnings about buying prescription drugs online. Consumers are urged to review the FDA Web page at www.fda.gov/buyonline/ for additional information prior to making purchases of prescription drugs over the Internet
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New Model Of Brain Function Has Potential For Prevention And Treatment Of Epilepsy
Article Date: 19 Jul 2007
An article published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides strong evidence for a novel type of communication between nerve cells in the brain. The findings may have relevance for the prevention and treatment of epilepsy, and possibly in the exploration of other aspects of brain functions, from creative thought processes to mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/77076.php
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Epilepsy Foundation Pushes For Laws That Would Require Physician Approval For Generic Prescription Drug Substitutions
Article Date: 17 Jul 2007
A number of Epilepsy Foundation state affiliates nationwide have campaigned for state legislatures to pass legislation under which pharmacists would have to obtain physician approval before they could switch prescriptions for brand-name epilepsy medications to generic treatments. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/76911.php
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People often use omega-3 fatty acids to reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis. As it turns out, these fatty acids may actually help prevent bone loss. French researchers found that high levels of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids were strongly associated with bone loss in a group of 105 periodontal patients. The use of omega-3 supplements — 360 mg/day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 240 mg/day of docasahexanoic acid (DHA) — appeared to decrease production of proinflammatory prostaglandin E2 in bone. Significantly, it also stopped bone loss.
Jack Challem, The Nutrition Reporter, has been writing about vitamin research for 25 years.
Reference
1. Requirand P, et al. Serum fatty acid imbalance in bone loss: example of periodontal disease. Clin Nutr 2000;19:271-6.
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Statement on 2012 Olympics brand
6 June 2007, 10am (UK time)
Epilepsy Action has received numerous reports of people having epileptic seizures as a result of seeing the animated footage used to launch the 2012 Olympic brand, with its flashing and moving multicoloured images. http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/press/releases/2007/06/olympic2012animation.html
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June 5, 2007
Medications usually have three names, a brand name (sometimes called trade name), a generic name, and a chemical formula name. Consumers and physicians use the brand and generic names, while the chemical formula name is mainly useful for research purposes. Carbamazepine, for example, is a generic name. A brand name would be Tegretol, but another brand name refers to the long-acting form, Carbatrol. Why in the world are there so many names for the same medication around the world? The answer is not always a simple one. However, we are trying to make it easier to locate medications anywhere in the world through a new feature on the epilepsy.com website. Under the section on "Seizure Medicines" you will find a subheading called "International AED Name Database". This section allows you to broaden your search on epilepsy medications to most countries around the world.
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May 26, 2007
Epilepsy and Employment - A few facts you may want to consider when searching for a new job.
Epilepsy is considered a condition therefore it is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) which makes it unlawful for someone with Epilepsy to be treated any less fairly than another person. This applies of course unless there is a jusifiable reason.
Should you look for certain types of jobs only? It depends on the type of seizures you have and how it could affect your working position. For example: should working at computers 'trigger' your seizure, then it would not be wise to consider an office job where computers are used on a daily basis. If you find that one of your main triggers is 'sleep' then you could find it hard working a job where there were shift type hours involved. Consider your own health first before risking it in the work force.
According to the DDA the person with Epilepsy does not have to disclose to their employer that they in fact do have Epilepsy. It is your decision when and if you do this. If you do tell your employer, this could then help them to make the necessary adjustments in order to hire you. Should you decide not to let them know your employer cannot be made responsible for not making any needed adjustments where they can.
How do you start looking for a job and who can help you? It is good to start job hunting through your local job center. Personal contacts is another way, newspaper ads, employment agencies. Some agencies can provide you with advocates who can help you with information on the job, the type of training and what is required in advance.
If you do not drive, try and locate a job that is close to your home, or has easy access to trains/bus and other means of transportation. Should you require more skills before finding a job, try volunteering in an organization or business. This can give you more skills and you can also soon be able to tell whether your health can handle this type of position. Don't be afraid to step out of the box you have put yourself in. Being in different situations may in fact help more than you think.
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Epilepsy Drug Linked to Low IQ
Children Whose Moms Took Valproate During Pregnancy More Likely to Have Lower IQs
By Charlene Laino
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang.MD
May 3, 2007 (Boston) -- Women of childbearing age should avoid taking the commonly prescribed epilepsy drug valproate because of a negative effect on their children's IQ, researchers say.They found that the intelligence quotient of 2-year-old children was an average of 12 points lower when expectant moms took valproate compared with three other drugs -- Lamictal, carbamazepine, or phenytoin.
In addition, 24% of toddlers born to mothers who took valproate had IQ scores that would put them in the mental retardation range -- that is, below 70 points on the standard IQ test, says Kimford Meador, MD, professor of neurology at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
SOURCES: American Academy of Neurology 59th Annual Meeting, Boston, April 29-May 5, 2007. Cynthia Harden, MD, professor of neurology, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. Kimford Meador, MD, professor of neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville.
© 2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. www.webmd.com
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Apr 28, 2007
Young Children With Epilepsy Seizures Could Benefit From Animal Model Of Disease
Researchers have developed an animal model of infantile spasms, improving the likelihood of finding new treatments for the thousands of young children who suffer from these catastrophic epilepsy seizures, according to research to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 May 5, 2007.
Infantile spasms are a specific type of epilepsy seizure seen in infancy and early childhood. The disorder involves a sudden bending forward and stiffening of the body, arms, and legs. The seizures typically last one to five seconds and occur in clusters, ranging from two to 100 spasms at a time. There are few available treatments.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=69089&nfid=nl
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Apr 15, 2007
Epilepsy Drug With New Method Of Action Is Safe, Effective
A drug for epilepsy with a new mechanism of action is safe and effective, according to a study published in the April 10, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The drug retigabine acts by opening potassium channels. The drug is used in people with partial-onset seizures whose seizures are not fully controlled by other drugs.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=67789
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April 04, 2007
Seizure Prediction through Personal Diaries:
Patients often report that one of the most difficult aspects of living with epilepsy is the unpredictability of seizures.
Whether or not patients are able to reliably predict their own seizures was the subject of a study by Sheryl R. Haut, MD, and colleagues from the Comprehensive Epilepsy Management Center and Departments of Neurology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. This is an exciting first step in a new treatment paradigm in epilepsy – namely preemptive therapy. In the future, we may be able to identify interventions, either medications or behavioral, to preempt a seizure at times of high risk.”
http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1175286050.html
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March 31, 2007
New Treatment Option for Epilepsy Patients With one of the Most Debilitating Seizure Types
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday approved UCB's leading anti-epileptic drug Keppra(R) (levetiracetam) tablets and oral solution as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures in patients 6 years of age and older.
"People with epilepsy want to be free to get on with their everyday lives. We are pleased that there is now an opportunity for patients with one of the most debilitating seizure types -- primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures - - to benefit from Keppra(R)," said Troy Cox, President CNS Operations, UCB. "This latest indication for Keppra(R) supports its broad spectrum of efficacy across partial and generalized seizures types."
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March 24, 2007
Migraines and Epilepsy
A report was noted in a recent issue of 'Neurology', that 'people with Epilepsy are more than twice as likely to develop migraine headaches as those without the disorder'.
Migraine risk was highest in patients with epilepsy due to head trauma. Because migraine is a more common condition than epileepsy, the risk of epilepsy patients developing migraine is much higher than the risk of migraine patients developing epilepsy.
Migraine and epilepsy are the most common disorders that lead to neurologic consultation in the United States. A strong relationship between them has long been suspected but never before systemically demonstrated.
Migraine may be overlooked because epilepsy is viewed as a more serious disorder.
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March 5, 2007
Brushing teeth triggered seizures
Australian researchers report three rare cases of people with epilepsy in whom toothbrushing triggered seizures.The risk of such seizures is probably zero for people without epilepsy.The three patients all had reflex epilepsy, in which seizures can be provoked by specific stimuli instead of happening spontaneously.
Toothbrushing, with its persistent rhythm, is probably more likely to stimulate that brain area than chewing, according to the researchers.
SOURCES: D'Souza, W. Neurology, March 6, 2007; vol 68: pp 769-771. WebMD Medical Reference from eMedicine: "Excerpt from Reflex Epilepsy." News release, American Academy of Neurology. www.webmd.com
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February 23, 2007
Breakthrough Seizures
A breakthrough seizure is defined as a bout of seizure activity experienced by a patient with epilepsy, on a stable regimen of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), who suffers intermittent and periodic episodes of markedly increased seizure activity, sometimes heralded by nonconvulsive symptoms. Although the cluster of seizures may differ among patients, for any individual patient, the clusters of seizure activity is stereotypic and distinguishable from the other seizures suffered from that patient.
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February 14, 2007
Three different phases of a seizure
A seizure often has three distinct phases: aura, ictus, and postictal state. The first phase involves alterations in smell, taste, visual perception, hearing, and emotional state. This is known as an aura, which is actually a small partial seizure that is often followed by a larger event. The seizure is known as ictus. There are two major types of seizure: partial and generalized. What happens to the person during the seizure depends on where in the brain the disruption of neural activity occurs. Following a seizure, the person enters into the
postictal state. Drowsiness and confusion are commonly experienced during this phase. The postictal state is the period in which the brain recovers from the insult it has experienced.
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February 9, 2007
News for those of you on Keppra. Small things like this could mean large things to you.
Keppra on June 24, 2005
UCB Pharma announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the company's antiepilepsy medication, Keppra (levetiracetam) as an add-on treatment of partial-onset seizures for children with epilepsy who are four years of age and older. This approval for children was based on a six month priority review. Keppra was approved in 1999 as an adjunctive therapy for adults with partial onset seizures.
Keppra (levetiracetam) was approved as an add-on medication for treatment of partial and complex seizures. Because Keppra is not chemically related to other anti-seizure medications, it does not interfere with how the body metabolizes other anti-seizure medications. Keppra is usually taken two times a day.
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February 3, 2007
Anti Suffocation Pillows and Epilepsy
Epilepsy seizures can switch from time to time. Possibly you have never had a night time seizure but you just never know. Suffocation as a result of a seizure happens mostly at night, so it is best to be prepared. This news article came across my desk in big bold letters shortly after the death of a person with Epilepsy not long ago. I just had to pass it on. I have one of these pillows and they are actually very comfortable. Sleep Safe, Sleep Comfortable.
Julie Hope
epilepsyhealth@sasktel.net
p.s. Please feel free to ask any questions any time.
These anti-suffocation pillows are made by a pharmacist in the
UK who had a son who had Epilepsy.
There are 2,700,000 people in the U. S. who have Epilepsy and 50,000,000 worldwide. This year another 200,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with Epilepsy. Up to 30% of people with Epileptic Seizures do not respond favourably to available medications.
Newly diagnosed cases of Epilepsy are most common among children, especially during the first year of life. The rate of new cases gradually declines until about age 10, and then becomes stable. After age 55 or 60, the rate starts to increase, as people develop strokes, brain tumors, or Alzheimer's disease. (All of these disorders can cause epilepsy.) 25,000 to 50,000 will die of seizure or seizure related causes, including status epilepticus, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), drowning and other accidents.
The death rate among people with Epilepsy is two to three times higher than that of the general population and the risk of sudden death is 24 times greater.
SUDEP typically happens at night, and because of this, the anxiety and fear of being alone and helpless during a nocturnal seizure may compromise sleep quality in patients with Epilepsy. So it seems that for many Epilepsy patients there develops a cycle: fear of nighttime seizures = insufficient sleep = increased seizure activity.
SUDEP studies have suggested that the person may suffocate from impaired breathing, fluid in the lungs, and being face down on the bedding.
Sleep-Safe Pillows can aid in other medical conditions as well as Epilepsy.
http://www.sleep-safe.co.uk/id90.htm
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Increased Risk Of Kidney Stones In Patients Using Drug Prescribed For Migraines And Seizures
Topiramate (Topamax), a drug commonly prescribed to treat seizures and migraine headaches, can increase the propensity of calcium phosphate kidney stones, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.
More than 29 million Americans suffer from migraines, with women being affected three times more often than men, according to the National Headache Foundation.
"Topiramate is probably one of the most commonly prescribed and most effective neurological medications right now," said Dr. Dion Graybeal, assistant professor of neurology and an author of the study.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=55566
“The Doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in cause and prevention of disease” Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931)
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