All seizure activity should be reported to their doctor.. Call 911 if the person has difficulty breathing or waking after the seizure or if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.

What are the most common seizure medications? First-line therapy for generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures includes. valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote), lamotrigine (Lamictal), and. topiramate (Topamax).

Phenytoin and vigabatrin also have been implicated in worsening of seizures, particularly generalized seizures, whereas gabapentin has been associated repeatedly with precipitation of myoclonic jerks.

Here are things you can do to help someone who is having this type of seizure:

1. Ease the person to the floor.
2. Turn the person gently onto one side.
3. Clear the area around the person of anything hard or sharp.
4. Put something soft and flat, like a folded jacket, under his or her head.
5. Remove eyeglasses.

During the seizure

• Was there any change in muscle tone (did they become stiff or floppy)?
• Did they fall down and, if so, forwards or backwards?
• Did they lose awareness, appear dazed or confused or lose consciousness?
• Was there any change in their breathing pattern?
• Was there any change in their facial colour?

Take the following steps if you have a warning that a seizure is about to begin:

• Help ease the person to the ground if they are standing.
• Clear the area of any objects on which they could become injured.
• Loosen clothing, especially around the neck.
• Stay with the person for the duration of the seizure.

Seizure signs and symptoms may include:

• Temporary confusion.
• A staring spell.
• Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs.
• Loss of consciousness or awareness.
• Cognitive or emotional symptoms, such as fear, anxiety or deja vu.

An electroencephalogram (EEG). In this test, doctors attach electrodes to your scalp with a paste-like substance. The electrodes record the electrical activity of your brain, which shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording. The EEG may reveal a pattern that tells doctors whether a seizure is likely to occur again.

Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) AEDs are the most commonly used treatment for epilepsy. They help control seizures in around 7 out of 10 of people. AEDs work by changing the levels of chemicals in your brain.

Triggers can differ from person to person, but common triggers include tiredness and lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and not taking medication. For some people, if they know what triggers their seizures, they may be able to avoid these triggers and so lessen the chances of having a seizure.

Your regular doctor will probably refer you to a neurologist or an epileptologist, a doctor with specific training in diagnosing and treating epilepsy. The specialist will typically order more tests to find the cause of your epilepsy, and they will prescribe medicine to prevent more seizures.

Electroencephalography (EEG) Clinicians can find evidence of abnormal electrical activity in the brain and figure out the type or types of seizures a patient is having, as well as the origin(s), by measuring brain waves over minutes to a couple of hours.

Usually the neurologist will first ask you about problems you may have experienced that could be a sign of a brain disorder. The neurologist also will test the functioning of your muscles, your senses, and your reflexes, and will look for any problems with your walking or coordination.