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Department of Neurology at the Medical College of Georgia, Epilepsy

 

 
 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

 

What should you do if someone is having a seizure?

Can I have dental X-rays or dental cleanings if I have a VNS?

What medicine can I take if I have a cold?

Do antiepileptic medications cause weight gain?

What is a pseudoseizure or conversion disorder?

 

 

What should you do if someone is having a seizure?

  • Don’t be afraid. Stay calm.

  • Do not try to stop the person from shaking. If the person is walking, gently guide him/her away from dangerous places like stairs.

  • Call 911 and tell them that you need an ambulance.

  • To make sure the person doesn’t get hurt, move any sharp things out of the way.

  • Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.

  • If you can, check a clock to see what time the seizure started and what time the shaking stops or the person wakes up.

  • If the person is lying down, turn him/her on their side.

  • If the person wakes up, try to calm them by speaking in a quiet voice.

  • Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives  

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Can I have dental X-rays or dental cleanings if I have a Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS)?

Yes

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What medicine can I take if I have a cold?

Patients who are taking anti-epileptic medicine should not take over the counter cold medication.  This may cause a person to have more seizures.  It is recommended that you use only saline (salt water) nose spray, throat lozenges and warm liquids to treat colds.

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Do antiepileptic medications cause weight gain?

Some medications seem to affect patient's weight.  This may be due to the fact that antiepileptic medication may make a person tired and less active than they were before beginning the medicine.  If this becomes a problem, you should ask your doctor to substitute another antiepileptic medication.

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What is a pseudoseizure or conversion disorder?

Pseudoseizures look like epileptic seizures but there is no change in electrographic (EEG) activity in the brain during the event.  There is not a clear reason why or how person with pseudoseizures exhibit these symptoms, but counseling seems to help reduce the events.

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  © 2003 MCG

Questions and Comments to Bill Hamilton 


  January 03, 2006


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