Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is estimated to affect 65 million individuals around the world. This disorder is caused by abnormal nerve cell activity in the brain. People who have epilepsy experience seizures during which they exhibit abnormal behavior and even lose consciousness. When people have two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the United States behind migraine, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. It is even more common that cerebral palsy, autism, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. The number of people afflicted with epilepsy is on the rise as the baby boom generation ages. According to studies, more than half a million adults aged 65 years and older are afflicted with this disease.

Seizure Symptoms

Seizures can be classified in three types. The first is generalized or grand mal seizure. The individual experiencing this kind of seizure makes rhythmic movements of the arms and legs. He may seem conscious because his eyes are open. Breathing is deep and noisy, and there’s a chance that the person’s skin may turn blue.
Partial seizure is characterized by jerky movements of the hands, confusion and strange sensations like the feeling of a full stomach even if the person did not eat. He may also repeat certain movements like smacking of the lips or picking at his clothes. The last type is called the petit mal wherein the person loses consciousness and often stares blankly. He may also do small movements like repetitive blinking. This type of seizure is brief and would last for a few seconds but could occur multiple times a day.

Treatment

Science has not yet found a cure for epilepsy. Medications may be prescribed by doctors but these drugs only prevent seizures. The type of treatment depends on different factors like frequency of seizures and the age, overall health and medical history of the patient. Lyrica is one of those drugs for seizures. It comes in two forms- capsule and oral solution. It has the active ingredient pregabalin that reduces the release of neurotransmitters, or natural body chemicals in the nerve cells, to stabilize electrical activity in the brain. When there is stabilized electrical activity in the brain, there is less likelihood of seizures.

But the use of Lyrica can also bring in side effects like blurring of vision, confusion, severe dizziness, difficult in breathing, skin rashes, intensive itching and swelling in the hands, feet or legs. There may also be a noticeable change in the amount of urine. Some users also report bruising or bleeding. Other drugs prescribed for prevention of seizures are Dilantin, Tegretol, Zarontin, Depakene, Valium, and Mysoline. More recently, drugs like Felbatol, Fycompa, Lamictal and Trileptal are given to reduce the risks of seizures. In extreme cases, surgery may be an option to control seizures. Surgery is only considered if several anti-seizure medications fail to prevent seizures.  It is estimated that at least one out of three epilepsy cases are eligible for surgery. However, in the United States around 3,000 surgeries for epilepsy take place on an annual basis.