First Glance

I. Managing Epilepsy

II. Living with epilepsy

1. What factors are known to precipitate epilepsy? Can any particular item of food or drink cause seizures?
2. What are the factors which make it less likely that seizures will stop?
3. What factors make it more likely that seizures will recur after treatment has been stopped?
4. Is it possible to stop a seizure after it begins? Can I stop my own seizure?
5. Can I have a seizure while making love?
6. Can epilepsy affect my sexual life?
7. Can lack of sleep bring on seizures?
8. Can I harm anyone during a seizure?
9. Can menstruation produce seizures?
10. Can epilepsy pass from me to my children?
11. I want to have a baby. How will my epilepsy affect the pregnancy? How will the pregnancy affect my epilepsy?
12. Can I breast feed my baby?
13. Can I drive my car to work? It is only a short distance, the roads are empty and there is no public transport. I have no other skills. My wife and our three children depend upon me for support. Can I drive?
14. Should I tell a present/future employer that I have epilepsy?
15. We wish to get our daughter, who has epilepsy, married. Should we tell her future husband?

III. Epilepsy and your child

1. Will epilepsy interfere with my child's schooling?
2. Can my child play with video games or watch TV? Can he work with computers?
3. What jobs can my child do?
4. My child fell out of bed at age 1 year- could this be a cause of his seizures?
5. My grandson aged 7 years, had fever followed by seizures (febrile seizures) on two occasion, at age 2 and 3 respectively. Can he develop epilepsy?
6. My child's seizures continue to occur despite taking multiple drugs. Would surgery be a possible option?
7. Is there a cure? Can my child grow out of epilepsy?

IV. Diagnosis & Treatment of Epilepsy

1. What tests are available to diagnose epilepsy? Will tests prove the diagnosis?
2. What are the principles of treatment ?
3. Which antiepileptic drug has the broadest spectrum?
4. What drugs can be given by the relatives at home?
5. What can be given by a physician in an emergency?
6. If I forget to take my tablets, what should I do?
7. How can I remember to take my tablets?
8. Can seizures get worse after starting treatment?
9. I always feel tired and sleepy. Is this normal?
10. Can drugs affect memory?
11. Why do some patients continue to have seizures despite treatment?
12. What are the indications for follow-up by a neurologist?
13. What should I do if my child vomits?
14. Can I get used to my drugs so that they are no longer effective?
15. My doctor prescribed drug X, but the chemist gave me drug Y. Should I take it?
16. What other drugs should I take or not take, while on antiepileptic drugs?
17. Can any drugs precipitate seizures?
18. Are other forms of treatment available ?
19. What first-aid measures should be used if someone has a seizure?
20. Should antiepileptic drugs be started after a single seizure?
21. Will the new vagal implant help me have better control of my seizures?
22. What are the usual doses & serum levels of antiepileptic drugs?
23. What are the side effects of common antiepileptic drugs?