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Simple Partial Seizures Treatment

A simple partial seizure is any seizure limited to only a small portion of the brain. And while each person will react differently to the event, affecting movement, senses or even emotions, this type of seizure doesn't actually cause you to lose consciousness. You'll remain alert and aware of what is going on with your body. However, suffering a simple partial seizure can be an indication that a much larger seizure is on the horizon, making treatment an important part of this condition.

  1. No Treatment

    • Though a simple partial seizure can suggest that a larger seizure may be in your future, no treatment may be necessary to remedy the condition. This is especially true when you've only had the one seizure and there is no history of seizures in your family. Many doctors wait until you've suffered a second (if not a third) seizure before turning to medicine. Of course, if there's any sort of abnormality found in your neurological functions, a prescription is more than likely essential to manage the disorder.

    Anti-epileptic Medication

    • If your doctor finds it necessary to medicinally manage your condition, an anti-epileptic drug is often the first method of treatment. But it isn't always easy to arrive upon the appropriate medication for each individual, so you may end up trying a few different prescriptions at varying doses to find the ideal drug to best manage your seizures. Carbamazepine is one of the most common, but you may also find a benefit from paraldehyde, oxcarbazepine or another anticonvulsant. In some situations, it may take a combination of drugs to become "seizure-free."

    Nerve Stimulation

    • It is also possible to treat simple partial seizures through a form of nerve stimulation. With this approach to care, the vagus nerve, which is the longest of your cranial nerves, is fitted with a series of wires that are connected to a stimulator. Short electrical impulses are delivered into the nerve, sending bursts of energy into the brain and reducing the potential of seizure. Rarely is this form of treatment done alone; standard practice is to couple it with prescription medication.

    Diet

    • Surprisingly, diet can be used to treat simple partial seizures, especially in the young and in cases of refractory epilepsy. When diet is used to reduce to the number of seizures, you'll often change your child's eating habits to contain high-in-fat foods while reducing the amount of carbohydrates. This type of diet should only be used under the supervision of trained medical professional, so talk to your doctor before trying this type of treatment.

    Surgery

    • Another potential treatment for a simple partial seizure, namely when it leads to complex partial seizures, is surgery. Normally, this approach is used when the seizures are isolated within a small area of the brain. This portion is removed or incisions are made within the brain to prevent or better control the seizures.

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