Generalized Seizures (Grand Mal Seizures)

Prevention

Most of the time epilepsy cannot be prevented. But whether or not you have epilepsy, you can help prevent a generalized seizure by observing the following:

• Avoid using illegal drugs.

• Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all.

• Faithfully follow your doctor's treatment plan if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.

• Protect yourself from head trauma by wearing seat belts and bicycle helmets. If you play sports, wear appropriate protective headgear.

• If you are pregnant, see your doctor regularly for prenatal care.

Treatment

If you have had only one unprovoked seizure, you may not have another. For this reason, your doctor may decide to monitor your condition without prescribing medication. In most cases, you will be considered to have a low risk of a second seizure if you have no history of brain injury (tumor, trauma, infections), no family history of epilepsy and normal results on diagnostic tests, including an EEG.

If you have had at least two seizure episodes, and you have been diagnosed with epilepsy, your doctor will treat you with an anti-epileptic medication (an anticonvulsant). Common anti-epileptic medications used to treat generalized seizures include valproate (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol and others), phenytoin (Dilantin), and topiramate (Topamax). If your seizures cannot be controlled with one drug alone, you doctor will try a combination of two drugs.