How to Treat Partial Seizures

A partial seizure occurs during a sudden increase in the brain's electrical activity. Generally originating in the temporal lobe, partial seizures are considered the most common seizure type. In most cases the patient remains conscious, although he might not remember having a seizure, and seizures generally last under two minutes. Physicians frequently divide partial seizures into separate categories that include motor seizures, sensory seizures, autonomic seizures and psychic seizures. While anybody could have a partial seizure, they occur more frequently in people who have experienced head trauma, a stroke, brain infection or brain tumors.

Instructions

When You See Others Having a Partial Seizure

• 1

  Remove hot or sharp objects out of the reach of the person who is having the seizure. Take the person away from any traffic areas.

• 2

  Explain to people in the vicinity that the person you are with is having a seizure. This helps people understand what is going on.

• 3

  Stay a short distance away if the person having the seizure becomes agitated. If the patient is lying down and has sharp body movements, place cushioning under her head and roll her to one side to prevent choking.

• 4

  Keep all objects out of the mouth of the person with the seizure. Once the seizure is over, explain to the patient what happened in a calm manner.

When You Have Partial Seizures Yourself

• 5

  Make an appointment with your physician and get a physical examination. Make sure you keep a record of your complete medical history. The purpose of this examination is to rule out the possibility of other causes and to assess whether or not you might have epilepsy.

• 6

  Use an electroencephalogram (EEG) to determine which, if any, parts of the brain conduct an abnormal amount of electricity. If the results are positive for seizure activity, get a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan to locate structural abnormalities or scar tissue that might trigger seizures.

• 7

  Take anticonvulsive medications if your doctor prescribes them. Some common anticonvulsant medications are Balproate, Lamotrigine, Phenobarbital, Topiramate and Zonisamide (see Resources).

• 8

  Consider surgery or a vagus nerve stimulation implant if your doctor recommends it. The vagus nerve stimulation implant is a device that sends electrical impulses into the chest and then through a nerve, which channels the impulses into your brain.