Gene Clues Found In Adults With Hard-To-Treat Epilepsy
This study looked at the genes of 10 adults with genetic generalized epilepsy that had not responded to medicine.
Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
This hub covers drug-resistant epilepsy: When seizures aren’t controlled after trying two appropriate medicines. Research-backed next steps on diet therapies, devices, surgery evaluation, and safety.
What you’ll find in this topic:
- Plain-language summaries of new epilepsy studies
- What the research means for real life
- Practical questions to ask your neurologist
- Related topics you can explore next
Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: What Families Usually Want to Know
- What “drug-resistant” means (and what it doesn’t)
- When to ask for an epilepsy center referral
- Treatment options beyond meds (diet, devices, surgery)
- How to think about risk, safety, and quality of life
Options Beyond Medication in Plain English
- Ketogenic diet / modified Atkins: Nutrition therapy that can reduce seizures
- VNS / RNS / DBS: Devices that modulate brain activity
- Surgery evaluations: Tests to see if seizures start in one removable area
- Rescue meds: Fast meds for clusters/prolonged seizures
- Sleep + triggers: Sometimes a meaningful lever (especially in teens)
Related Topics
Drug-Resistant Epilepsy FAQ
When should we consider surgery?
If seizures aren’t controlled after two meds, it’s worth at least an evaluation at an epilepsy center.
Is VNS a “last resort?”
Not necessarily. Some familiar consider it earlier depending on seizure type and goals.
Can seizures still improve later?
Yes. Treatment response can change over time, and combinations/approaches matter.
What should we track?
Seizure frequency, triggers, sleep, missed meds, side effects, and rescue med use.
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Some Keto Diets For Epilepsy Cost More
This study looked at the weekly food cost of several ketogenic diets used for adults with epilepsy in Australia.
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CBD Added To Treatment May Lower Hard-To-Control Seizures
This paper combined results from 7 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of cannabidiol (CBD) used in addition to usual seizure medicines for drug-resistant epilepsy.
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Devices & Neuromodulation | Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | Imaging & EEG | New Studies | Status Epilepticus
Rare Alcohol-Related Seizure Syndrome Can Become Life-Threatening
This paper looked at a rare condition called Subacute Encephalopathy with Seizures in Alcoholics (SESA).
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Brain Responses Change After Stimulation In Epilepsy
Researchers looked at whether a brain signal called the corticocortical evoked potential, or CCEP, changes right away after brief brain stimulation in people with drug-resistant epilepsy.
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Brain Scan And EEG Match Linked To Better Outcomes
This paper was a systematic review of studies about epilepsy surgery for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy caused by hippocampal sclerosis, also called mesial temporal sclerosis.
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Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | Imaging & EEG | New Studies | Pediatrics | Safety & First Aid
Brain Surgery In Babies Can Reduce Seizures
This study looked at hemispheric surgery in infants with early drug-resistant epilepsy caused by hemimegalencephaly (HME) or hemispheric cortical dysplasia (HCD).
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Devices & Neuromodulation | Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | Genetics | New Studies | Pediatrics
Brain Device Reduced Seizures For Many Children With LGS
This study looked at outcomes of responsive neurostimulation (RNS) in people with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a severe epilepsy that is often hard to control with medicine.
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Epilepsy Transition Clinic Helped Teens Move To Adult Care
This pilot evaluation looked at a new “Epilepsy Transition Clinic” started in 2023 at one institution for young people moving from pediatric epilepsy care to adult epilepsy care.
