Epilepsy
A tendency to recurrent seizures, managed by a neurology specialist.
About this condition
Epilepsy is a condition in which someone has a lasting tendency to recurrent seizures. There are many seizure types and many underlying causes, including genetic conditions, structural brain differences, injury and infection. Diagnosis and ongoing care sit with neurology, supported by EEG, imaging and careful description of the seizures themselves.
Around 2 in 3 people become seizure free with anti epileptic medication. Where seizures continue despite 2 or more appropriate medicines used properly, the epilepsy is described as drug resistant, and options such as combination treatment, ketogenic diet, surgery or neurostimulation are considered. This is specialist territory throughout, and neurology care must always continue.
Treatments people usually try first
These are the treatments commonly offered in the UK for this condition. A specialist doctor will want to know which of them you have tried, and what happened.
- Anti epileptic medicines such as lamotrigine, levetiracetam or sodium valproate
- Combination anti epileptic treatment under neurology care
- Ketogenic dietary therapy, particularly in children
- Epilepsy surgery in carefully selected cases
- Vagus nerve stimulation or deep brain stimulation
- Licensed cannabidiol medicine for specific epilepsy syndromes under specialist care
Could medical cannabis be appropriate?
People with this condition sometimes ask whether medical cannabis could be appropriate for them. That is a question for a specialist doctor, who will look at your diagnosis, your history and everything you have already tried before saying anything either way.
Medical cannabis is an unlicensed prescription only medicine in the UK. It is considered only where a diagnosed condition has not responded adequately to conventional treatment, and it is never a first step. We cannot tell you in advance what might be prescribed, and UK law does not allow us to describe or advertise any medicine on this website.
What we can do is assess you properly and be honest with you. If a specialist doctor does not think this route is right for you, they will say so, and they will explain why.
All treatment is subject to clinical assessment and eligibility.
Questions about epilepsy
Neurological
Other conditions in this category
YOUR NEXT STEP
Find out where you stand, free.
The eligibility check takes 30 seconds and carries no commitment. All treatment is subject to clinical assessment and eligibility.
Check your eligibility