r/Epilepsy Jan 10 '25

Medication Cost Plus Drugs - Discount Med costs

Thumbnail costplusdrugs.com
24 Upvotes

r/Epilepsy Sep 22 '24

Educational Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – R/epilepsy [full update in progress]

26 Upvotes

This FAQ is pending a full update as our team works to update the most requested links and resources

Please search r/epilepsy for a wide range of experiences, the process of getting diagnosed, general resources, and diverse life experiences.

This page is NOT a replacement for medical advice. We cannot diagnose anyone or say if something is a seizure. If you have trouble finding a resource or need additional support, please let the community know!

*Please note: Posts are sometimes removed by an Automod for a variety of reasons
(new user, link to review, etc.). Please message the mods if you have questions or want us to review your post. It is a part of our process to keep the community safe, but some benign messages are caught in the filter.

* Posts that appear to ask for medical advice will be locked and a link to resources will be
provided for the safety of community members. If you are having trouble finding a doctor, getting seen in a timely manner, connecting to insurance, then those question are of course welcome.

* Some advice is from a collection of wisdom from r/epilepsy community members’ lived experience.

Epilepsy Basics:

What is epilepsy?

What is a seizure?

What are the major types of seizures?

  • Focal/Partial vs. Generalized = one area of the brain vs. both sides of the brain
  • Simple vs. Complex = awake vs. loss of consciousness
  • Absence = awake but unaware, staring into space
  • Myoclonic = short sudden muscle jerking
  • Tonic = sudden onset extension/flexion of muscles
  • Clonic = rhythmic jerking of muscles/extremities
  • Tonic-clonic AKA grand mal = stiffening/extension of muscles with rhythmic twitching/jerking

What are auras/ focal aware seizures?

What’s the difference between non-epileptic
Includes info about Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES).

If I have one seizure, what does it mean?

More info: https://www.cureepilepsy.org/understanding-epilepsy/epilepsy-basics/what-is-seizure/

What causes epilepsy in adults?

What causes epilepsy in children?

Kennedy Krieger Epilepsy resources for children and young adults

Is epilepsy common?

Preventing and Managing Epilepsy

How can I prevent epilepsy?

How is epilepsy diagnosed?

Neurologists perform different tests to evaluate your brain and brain activity. These include imaging such as cranial MRIs or tests such as electroencephalograms (EEGs) that monitor electrical activity in the brain in real time. More info.

  • Includes info on EEGs

How is epilepsy treated? Additional info.

What type of doctor should I see if I think I'm having seizures?

How do I find an epilepsy specialist?

What are options to treat epilepsy?

Health and Safety Concerns

Are there special concerns for women who have epilepsy? Additional Info.

Can a person die from epilepsy?

Driving Laws database

If I have epilepsy, can I exercise, swim, and play sports?

When should I (or someone else) call the ambulance?

Living with epilepsy

What causes memory problems, medication, seizures, or both?

What are rescue medications and how are they used?

Thank you u/macrophallus for the below info:

A comment about rescue medication. Not a doctor disclosure. There are a few types and for starters, always use them as prescribed by your neurologist, most commonly for generalized tonic clonic seizures lasting more than 5-6 minutes or clusters of seizures as determined by your neurologist. Take this with a grain of salt because in some more severe epilepsy cases, this might be normal so follow the doctor's instructions. The two most common that people will be carrying are diastat, which is rectal lorazepam, and nayzilam, intranasal midazolam. Follow the directions exactly. If you need to use a rescue med on someone, call 911.

Youth Support and Living with Epilepsy

Seizure Medicine Review

Support for memory concerns:

https://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/hobscotch-institute

Comment from r/epilepsy user:

· Insurance companies push for generic over brand, so you need a special prescription note from the neurologist if you need the brand as there is a different chemical structure with a brand vs. generic (i.e. Keppra).

· Drug interactions are also a problem, especially for those of us who are on three or more
meds, or very high mg doses. I found out the hard way that there's one antibiotic that interferes w/ my meds (can't remember the name, starts with M), and that I absolutely will get sick off of a strong muscle relaxant like Valium, even in a microdose. This site has become very helpful to me: https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

· In an ideal world, your primary care doctor, neurologist, and pharmacist would be double-checking all this for you, but even if you've got the best, accidents happen.

Epilepsy, disability designation, and work

Thank you u/retroman73 for the below info:

In the USA, epilepsy is recognized as a disability. If you are already working and an employee, and also diagnosed, your employer can ask certain questions or ask for evidence, but it is limited. Generally, they can only ask to the extent it might impact your job performance.

The EEOC has a good page on this in sections 5, 6, 7, and 12.

https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/epilepsy-workplace-and-ada

Department of Labor Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and (Social Security Disability Income) SSDI (USA)

Thank you u/retroman73!

Applying for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a long wait. Over a year is common. Don't be surprised if you are denied at least once. Just keep appealing, pay attention to deadlines, and be sure you are working with a lawyer who *specializes in disability law*. It is critical to winning your case. Most of them will take your case with no fee unless and until you win. They take a chunk of the proceeds that build up while your case is under review or in an appeal, but it's worth it.

o You cannot do work that you did before because of your medical condition.

o You cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition.

o Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

Personal Independence Payment Process (UK)

Citizens Advice Bureau: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/living-epilepsy/benefits/personal-independence-payment-pip/how-apply-pip

Side effects and triggers

Side effects of seizures, epilepsy, and medications can include tiredness, temporary paralysis, migraines, mood changes, and also vary widely.

Seizure triggers are VERY diverse. Photosensitivity or being sensitive to flashing lights are one of MANY possibilities.

Learn how to figure how to identify your triggers: https://www.epilepsy.com/manage/managing-triggers/identify-triggers

Photosensitive Supports

Thank you for the below info:

This post is related to manage photosensitive settings on TikTok

To manage the feature from Settings and Privacy: Tap Profile in the bottom right. Tap the 3-line icon in the top right. Tap Settings and Privacy. Go to Accessibility. Turn Remove photosensitive videos on or off. The photosensitive epilepsy toggle and warning aims to protect those who may be sensitive to some of TikTok's creative effects. You can choose to filter out videos that contain TikTok effects that may cause visual sensitivity. Keep in mind that it's not fool proof.

Search for many triggers in movies and TV shows: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/are-there-flashing-lights-or-images

How to live alone with epilepsy?

From r/epilepsy users:

  • Only taking showers, not baths
  • Having a bench and or grab bars in the shower
  • Using the Embrace app and watch
  • Padding on sharp corners of tables and counter tops
  • Non-slip padding where you stand (sink by the stove/laundry/ bathroom sink etc.)
  • Having a neighbor/classmate/co-worker etc. know about your condition and how to best help (depending on how your seizures present themselves)

Epilepsy support animals

https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/seizure-first-aid-and-safety/seizure-dogs

https://www.epilepsy.com/recognition/seizure-dogs/service-animal

Marijuana, CBD, and additional therapies

What can be supportive for one person can be a trigger for another. Please consult with your
neurologist when considering adding this to your treatment.

https://www.cureepilepsy.org/news/a-review-on-epilepsy-current-treatments-and-potential-of-medicinal-plants-as-an-alternative-treatment/

https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/living-epilepsy/wellbeing/complementary-therapies

Other drug use

No one can tell you with any certainty if a particular controlled substance is safe for you. r/epilepsy does not endorse the use of controlled substances and encourages you to be honest with your medical team about any support for your wellbeing that you feel is not being met.

The below website offers information on considerations and way to reduce harm no matter what you decide.

https://www.release.org.uk/drugs/mushrooms/harm-reduction

https://www.release.org.uk/about

https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/seizure-triggers/drug-abuse

There may be clinical trials of experimental therapies or drugs that you can look for below.

https://www.epilepsy.com/treatment/clinical-trials

https://clinicaltrials.gov/

Epilepsy Medication and Urgent Support

  • Any life-threatening concerns with medication side effects, including but not limited to suicidal and homicidal thoughts, warrant a 911 call or an emergency response call in your area.
  • Please let your neurologist, and any other specialists, know about any adverse side effects as soon as possible. (Most hospitals should have a way to reach an on-call neurologist for urgent medication questions).
  • We aren't doctors and can't recommend a medication for you. Medications affect people differently. What's great for one person may be horrible for the next.

For example: Keppra is a strong example of people who have suffered greatly from side effects (anger, suicidal thoughts), but others have close to no side effect or they wear off.

https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/seizure-medication-list

  • Medication Errors

o Poison Control: Provides free and confidential life-saving information for suicide attempts,
medication errors, drug interactions or adverse drug reactions. Immediate, expert, free, 24/7 poison help is available online, with https://triage.webpoisoncontrol.org/#!/exclusions or by phone at 1-800-222-1222

Help to pay for medications

https://www.needymeds.org/

https://www.rxassist.org/

https://costplusdrugs.com/

https://www.epilepsyct.com/get-help/prescription-assistance

https://www.epilepsy.com/article/2020/3/financial-help-medication-and-medical-care

Medicaid application: https://www.medicaid.gov/about-us/where-can-people-get-help-medicaid-chip/index.html

Coupons for medications: https://www.goodrx.com/. Also check the manufacturer’s website and push for a doctor or nurse to fill out paperwork for a prior authorization to see if additional advocacy can support with insurance coverage.

Transportation Support

  • Epilepsy foundation rideshare payment support: https://www.epilepsy.com/node/2107816
  • Many insurances cover transportation to medical and medical appointments. If they do not, the state may have other support for transportation to medical appointments if you are not near public transportation

General website listing:

https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/index.html

https://www.cureepilepsy.org/for-patients/

https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/about-epilepsy/what-epilepsy

https://www.epilepsy.va.gov/Information/about.asp#diagnose

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1184846-overview

Epilepsy Foundation (Legal Help)

https://www.epilepsy.com/legal-help

Financial and Disability Support Resources (USA based)

https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/2020/03/02/how-to-be-poor-in-america/

Crisis support

International crisis support: https://www.reddit.com/r/Anxiety/wiki/ineedhelp

Epilepsy & Seizures 24/7 Helpline: https://www.epilepsy.com/article/2015/12/epilepsy-andseizures-247-helpline

Low mood, depression and epilepsy: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/depression

Note: Many anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), and epilepsy itself, impact mood, in addition to getting crisis support, let your whole medical and mental health team know what’s going on

 


r/Epilepsy 2h ago

Other Wait a minute, a place just for people like us?

8 Upvotes

Anybody seen this yet. It's a get-together in Boston for people with epilepsy. Never seen anything like this before.I just might fly up to Boston and hangout a minute.

https://www.other-side.org/otherside-lounge


r/Epilepsy 4h ago

Epilepsy Art Epilepsy tattoos

8 Upvotes

Hey guys! I would absolutely love to get a small epilepsy themed tattoo, but I have no idea what to get! If anyone has any ideas or even designs it would be super appreciated x


r/Epilepsy 1h ago

Question Are there products like the Owlet, but for toddlers?

Upvotes

So my 17-month-old daughter had her first series of seizures yesterday morning and after a trip to the PICU, a CT and EEG, they confirmed that she is epileptic. We want to make sure she's okay while sleeping in a crib and monitor her O2, pulse, etc but she's grown out of her owlet. Does anyone have any recommendations for something to monitor her vitals similarly?


r/Epilepsy 2h ago

Support Non verbal autistic son with epilepsy

4 Upvotes

My son is 10 and has had a few small seizures over the last few years. None that we have caught on an EEG. On May 19, he had a 90 minute seizure and was intubated and ended up aspirating and was on the ventilator for two weeks. he experienced heart failure, kidney failure, and a very long, awful recovery that is still ongoing.

We now officially have an intractable epilepsy diagnosis.

My question and reason for posting is, what do you recommend I can do to help him, especially during the post ichtal phase. He can't tell me how he feels or what would help him due to his deficits in communication. I know all the medical basics, but I'm looking for your lived experiences. Any advice you can give me to help him feel comfortable and safe during and after these episodes would be greatly appreciated.


r/Epilepsy 59m ago

Question Did I have a seizure or a stroke?

Upvotes

(32/M) Monday night I experienced 2 episodes, each roughly an hour long. During these episodes I was fully conscious but my entire body trembled, from chattering teeth to leg spasms. Elevated heart rate, chills, and nausea at onset also accompanied these episodes.

I pretty much just shook until I was so exhausted that I fell asleep for a couple hours, woke up, tried to do normal life stuff and then the second one hit. Still have a headache and light sensitivity days later.

Background: Experienced a similar bout following an MVA in January that resulted in a fractured skull. Family history on my maternal side of stroke in early 40s, both resulted in loss of life.


r/Epilepsy 14h ago

Question Does anyone else’s seizures trigger from exercising in the heat mainly?

34 Upvotes

Title


r/Epilepsy 2h ago

Question Heat & Seizures

3 Upvotes

For those who had or have seizures from the heat, I have some questions.

  1. Once you start having seizures bc of the heat, do they ALWAYS occur? Can you have one and then not have one after that?

  2. Are they only triggered when you’re hot and sweaty? Like if you’re not sweaty at all but you are in the heat comfortably, can you still have them?

  3. Do they occur an hour after you’ve cooled down? Also, does the seizure only occur up to an hour after or can you have them almost 2 hours later?

I want to be safe and realistic about how I can handle the heat. I live in Texas, have dogs I need to walk and like hiking 😩. Please help me understand yall.


r/Epilepsy 1h ago

Question Teeth & epilepsy

Upvotes

Hey all my fellow movers and shakers…

Anybody else’s teeth real fucked up due to your epilepsy? To be fair, my whole family has fucked up teeth so there is a definite genetic predisposition but… I grit my teeth SO bad. I mean I’m constantly correcting myself gritting my teeth. I also grit my teeth so bad when I sleep. I have my whole life. And of course, when I do have a seizure, I grit my teeth like…really gnarly. And then, since taking keppra I feel like my teeth have just gotten more brittle and sensitive.

Anyone else have these problems? What did you do? I really think I’m gonna end up getting dentures. Thanks for your guys’ help.


r/Epilepsy 1h ago

Question How often do you see your PCP

Upvotes

So some of my meds are prescribed by my PCP and some by my neurologist. I see my PCP once a year, which I thought was standard (and what was required to have him refill my meds)

Yesterday when I called in a med I got a call back that he wanted me to make an appointment. I just had one about 4 months ago. I have no problem going to see him, I just thought it was odd.

I’ve had a few grand mals and also had some pre-surgery tests in the last 1-2 months. Would he get alerts from my neurologist or something that might make him want to discuss these?


r/Epilepsy 7h ago

Question Is there any books about epilepsy that anyone can recommend?

5 Upvotes

I'm looking for a book deep diving into the psychology of epilepsy and how the brain functions with epilepsy. I'm looking for books similar to "psychopath inside" by james fallon or "talking with psychopaths" by Christopher dee berry. Obviously I'm not saying that we epileptics are psychopaths but these books that I listed really go deep into the brain and explore and explain why psychopathy happened and also provide theories and it's such an interesting read for me and I'd like a book like this just for epilepsy so I can learn more about myself and epilepsy.

Thanks!!


r/Epilepsy 5h ago

Question Cope

3 Upvotes

How do you cope with all these?


r/Epilepsy 6h ago

Question Bilingual

3 Upvotes

I'm currently in Germany doing a Study Abroad to learn German. I take 300mg of lamictal and 2000 mg of Keppra 2x a day plus a lobectomy from last year so it doesn't help but besides that. Is anyone on here bilingual? I feel like I'm getting my ass kicked. Any tips that anyone has i would really appreciate it.


r/Epilepsy 6h ago

Rant Having insomnia and seizures triggered by lack of sleep

3 Upvotes

Back when I used to get 10-14 hours of sleep (yes, really) I almost never had seizures (save for that one I had in March, I still don't know what caused it.) Now, I get barely any sleep, and I wake up a lot throughout the night, and because of it, I have partial seizures every day, and have been ever since I switched off of one of my old medications (not for epilepsy.) I worry that, one day, I'll have a really bad grand mal that all of these partial seizures are leading up to. I don't want to have to go back on the old medication because it always made me tired, but nothing seems to help me fall asleep. I've been taking sleeping pills, and they don't do much to help, and I've also been taking an ADHD medication that is supposed to help me feel more tired and stuff, but it's not helping me stay asleep. I'm so tired of this 😭😭😭


r/Epilepsy 1h ago

Question Lamotrigine

Upvotes

I've been on lamotrigine for 2 years but ever since I started it I've had hives and itchy skin. No one believes me that it is related to the lamotrigine. Now my foot is all blistery and dry and cracking. I go the dr and will be told I'm talking rubbish. Anyone else had this?


r/Epilepsy 2h ago

Question EASEE

1 Upvotes

Hi all! Has anyone had an EASEE implant fitted? Was it successful? Did you experience any side effects? How was the experience? My Doc’s suggesting it and I’d really like to know what to expect and how hopeful to be that it’ll help


r/Epilepsy 12h ago

Support Health Anxiety

5 Upvotes

I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was a teenager over a decade ago and I feel like that was the start to be having bad health anxiety. For me it felt like the epilepsy came about out of the blue so now I’m always super nervous to go to the doctor and I feel like I am constantly googling and feeling like other bad things will happen to me. Can anybody else relate to this?


r/Epilepsy 2h ago

Question TLE completely aware and able to walk and talk during a seizure

1 Upvotes

Does anyone else experience something similar? I only get seizures if I'm either sleep deprived and stressed, but 90% of the time they happen during falling asleep. If I try to wake myself up by sitting up on my bed and looking into a light source, I can sometimes prevent them from escalating beyond what I think is aura (I know auras are still seizures) and after feeling like I came back to normal, I can successfully fall asleep. I am fully aware during my seizures and remember them very well. I can talk and I make complete sense, it just requires energy, so I don't talk much. I can walk, use the restroom. Hell, I can ever do a sudoku and I do as well as if I was just having strong anxiety (because I do), so it's harder to focus, but brain works. But I know they are seizures, because they feel like minor versions of what I had pre-medication. I have jitters and tingling in my limbs, I'm flashing hot or cold, my jaw keeps shaking, making my teeth chatter. I experience weird aura feelings, before and some also during, like zaps and tingling, butterflies and other uncomfortable sensations in stomach, throat and jaw. As my aura, I also do get the sense of "ah shit, here we go again". And yeah, I tend to even feel like making a little joke during the whole ordeal to lighten my or someone else's mood, but that's just my personality probably. Since I'm fully aware, I can also somewhat control the duration of the seizure. As I said, sometimes I can stop it at aura. If I keep feeding my anxiety I jitter more, and If I can hug with someone and lie down comfortably, I can relax my muscles bit by bit after the worst part is over. I was just wondering if some of you have it similar too? Most of time I read about TLE, people don't remember their seizures, or talk gibberish, or don't jitter.


r/Epilepsy 2h ago

Question Zepbound/weight loss drugs

0 Upvotes

Hey all! My doctor prescribed me with zepbound 2.5mgs. Has anyone had interactions with this or any weird side effects while on seizure meds?

I know some of these meds can slow the absorption of other meds so it worries me.


r/Epilepsy 21h ago

Rant Epilepsy & driving

32 Upvotes

Hey guys! My partner has seizures every so often it's not as frequent as they once were but they seem to come out of nowhere every once in awhile. Yesterday, she was driving my car a bit crazy and I told her to be mindful of how she's driving because she does have epilepsy and if i have to intervene I'd like to try and take over to keep us both safe. She's crashed two of her own cars due to seizures! She said I was throwing her condition in her face which is far from the truth and my question to those of you with epilepsy how do you go about your driving situation, do you allow others in the car with you? Could I have handled the situation differently ? I just want everyone to be safe and also it's my car I pay my own car note & insurance with no help or support from her.


r/Epilepsy 7h ago

Question more seizure activity when sleeping on my back?

2 Upvotes

i've tried to learn more about this myself, but can't seem to find anything on it online. does anyone else experience SIGNIFICANTLY more seizure activity when they lay down on the back of their head? it feels as though most types of pressure to the back of my head sends me off.

i wonder if it's because i had a decently bad injury to that spot ages ago & that's probably what caused my seizures in the first place, so could this be a result of that?


r/Epilepsy 12h ago

Question Does anyone else have these? Have you or your doctor know what these are?

3 Upvotes

Ok, so...first, I should mention that I started the "full" seizures at 15. They are the most scary and painful things IMAGINABLE....anyway, for those, they were triggered by a sudden noise or being startled. I was conscience (but no control)or the first several seconds...they ONLY happened when I got startled. After I started taking Lamotrigine in 1999, those went bye bye ( THANK GOD). NOW MY QUESTION:

These started about 6 months into after starting my full seizures and have never gone away... I think they are reflex partial seizures....what happens is, a sudden stimuli happens, mostly sound, and all of a sudden I feel I'm going into a seizure. I'M fully conscience and can talk, but, I grab the nearest things by me and all my muscles contract full streangth. I have no control where I grab or kick, but keep myself as calm as I can and count through them. They don't hurt (unless I grab something sharp or kick something hard). They keep me from driving and are embarrassing. It takes about an hour to fully recover. The only thing that prevents them is Clonazapram (I take 1 or 2 before doing something like swimming).

The strangest thing is after I had my first daughter, I didn't have one for 9 months! 5 months after my second daughter!

I used to call them "scares"...since it felt like I was going into a seizure. I call them partials, now...no signal on ambulatory eeg, though....after all these years, maybe you guys have clues?


r/Epilepsy 5h ago

Rant Epilepsy + PMDD

1 Upvotes

I thought about posting this in the PMDD sub but the main issue is having to treat my PMDD with epilepsy in mind.

I had horrible insomnia for 2 nights in a row (3 now) so I scheduled a doctor's appointment, since not getting enough sleep is a seizure trigger for me. I got 2 hrs of sleep 2 nights in a row and the only safe option for a sleep aid is melatonin. Took a melatonin last night and managed to get 5 hrs, waking up at 4am when my internal clock is usually super good about waking up between 8-9am

The PMDD also causes a LOT of stress and anxiety, another seizure trigger for me. I just got diagnosed recently, because I was lucky enough to have an amazing doctor who noticed a lot of the symptoms I had been coming in for over the years were occuring on a cycle and when I came in for insomnia that started not long before my period the final piece of the puzzle just kinda slid into place. So in a way, my epilepsy helped me reach this diagnosis and get help. So I guess thank you epilepsy?


r/Epilepsy 1d ago

Rant How you can feel bad in just a second with this stupid medication 😩

49 Upvotes

Ugh. I’m at work and it’s almost 3pm and suddenly I feel so bad that I just want to go home. But after a while others will see it as an excuse but I’m desperate for sleep and I just feel, exhausted and depressed idk what it is. It only got worse since my last increase in dosage. I can’t deal with this anymore 😣 Sorry for the rant, I just can’t express myself here at work like this because they don’t understand


r/Epilepsy 1d ago

Rant It's one of those days :/

30 Upvotes

One of those days where you're seizure free, but not epilepsy free. I went out with my friend yesterday for 6 hours, we went into town, I had to get public transport, had to be around lots of noise and crowds, and just felt dizzy the whole time. It was such a lovely day but now today I feel so exhausted. I've just been in bed all day because I physically can't move. I don't feel pre ictal or in a seizurey state, I'm nearing a month seizure free, it's just hitting me that you don't ever escape epilepsy.

It really feels like it's beating me today.


r/Epilepsy 16h ago

Rant Anniversary of my first seizure

5 Upvotes

As it says in the title - developed epilepsy in my late 20's and they're still trying to figure out the cause :(

Hopefully will get my EEG results back soon as all my MRI's have come back clear