What Are Refractory Seizures?

Epilepsy is a disorder that has a range of intensities. Refractory seizures are a symptom of a certain type of epilepsy called intractable epilepsy.

Occurence

• Refractory seizures occur in intractable epilepsy (also called pharmacoresistant epilepsy). Intractable epilepsy is epilepsy that is resistant to or too strong for medication.

First Definition

• One definition says epilepsy is intractable when two anti-epileptic drugs fail to work.

Second Definition

• The second definition says that two anti-epileptic drugs must fail in treating epilepsy where seizures occur at least once a month for one and a half years. Periods of no seizures cannot last longer than three months for seizures to be refractory.

Misconception

• Refractory seizures are sometimes misdiagnosed. According to the 1991 edition of "Epileptic Surgery", D. Schmidt states that up to 30 percent of the people admitted to epilepsy centers do not have refractory seizures.

Significance

• When someone is found to be suffering from refractory seizures, the diagnosis is reevaluated. The therapy that the medical professional previously chose may be changed.