Some people that experience seizures and have been diagnosed with epilepsy have the condition due to either trauma to the brain or a family history of the condition. However, it is most common that the cause of the condition is unknown. [2] X Research source
How much sleep you had the night before If you had any alcoholic drinks and, if so, the number of drinks If you felt stressed If you were on your period (for women)
Carbamazepine Clobazam Diazepam Divalproex Lorazepam Phenobarbital Topiramate Valporic Acid
Your doctor may suggest changing the amount of anti-seizure medication you take depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. In some cases, taking progesterone or birth control pills can help prevent seizures.
The medication your doctor recommends may impact things like bone-density and hormonal balance. Make sure to talk through the potential side effects of any medication your doctor suggests. [6] X Research source If your doctor does not have a lot of insight or experience with your condition, ask them for a referral to a doctor that does. In general, you should see a neurologist, which is a doctor with special training in treating disorders related to the brain. [7] X Research source
If you don’t take your medication at the correct times, the fluctuating levels can be a trigger for seizures. Get your medication refilled when it is running low so you do not run out.
Even if you can’t do an extreme diet, like the ketogenic diet, make efforts to improve your diet. Don’t eat unhealthy foods, such as sugars, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods, and eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. A healthy diet will help your brain function better because you will get all of the vitamins and nutrients you need. It can also reduce your overall bodily stress, as your blood pressure is likely to drop, among other positive effects. [11] X Research source
Getting enough rest will allow your brain to function better, minimizing the chance of a problem with the electrical activity inside of it.
Some vitamins that might be helpful include B-6, E, and magnesium. Some herbs that could help with your condition include: burning bush, groundsel, hydrocotyle, lily of the valley, mistletoe, mugwort, peony, scullcap, and tree of heaven. If you want to add additional treatments that are not prescribed by your doctor, it’s important to tell them about what you want to take. Your doctor will be able to tell you if it is safe and or not. For instance, there are some herbs, such as St. John’s wort, ginko, kava, and valerian, which can interact poorly with anti-seizure medications.
Try out different types of exercise until you find something you like, such as walking, biking, dancing, kickboxing, or running.
Only about 3% of epileptics have seizures that are related to flashing lights.
For example, it’s a good idea to do stress-relieving activities regularly. This could include exercise classes, yoga, meditation, working in your garden, or simply taking a hot bath. Whatever relaxes you, do it regularly. You should also walk away from stressful activities or situations if you can. For instance, don’t engage with angry or stressed out people if you don’t have to. Also, don’t pick activities that are stressful, such as highly competitive sports or political debates.
With this in mind, having a drink every few days is typically fine if your seizures are well-controlled with medication and you have discussed it with your doctor. However, having 3 or more drinks in one sitting is dangerous and binge drinking is even more dangerous for an epileptic. Some drugs seem to cause seizures more often than others. For example, having a moderate amount of caffeine is typically fine. However, stimulants like cocaine can cause serious seizures immediately. If you have an addiction to drugs or alcohol and you are epileptic, it’s important to try to get sober. Talk to your doctor about good strategies for quitting and ask for a referral to a treatment program or support group.
