New Treatment Options for GABA-B Encephalitis and Cancer Screening
This study looked at two women with a rare condition called anti-GABA-B receptor encephalitis, which can cause severe epilepsy that doesn’t respond well to standard treatments.
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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Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | Genetics | Imaging & EEG | New Studies | Safety & First Aid
Combining Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Epilepsy Treatment
This study looked at how well a combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine works for people with refractory epilepsy (RE), which is a type of epilepsy that doesn’t respond well to standard treatments.
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New Insights Into Metabolic Markers for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Researchers studied drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), which affects people who do not respond to standard seizure medications.
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MRgLITT and Surgery Offer Similar Seizure Control for Epilepsy
A recent study looked at two different treatments for people with epilepsy caused by a brain condition called focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) that shows up on MRI scans.
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Comorbidities | Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | New Studies | Pediatrics | Status Epilepticus
Improving Quality of Life After Refractory Status Epilepticus
This study looked at the long-term quality of life for people who survived a severe type of epilepsy called new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE), including a specific form known as febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES).
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Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | New Studies | Pediatrics | Safety & First Aid
Epidyolex Safely Increases CBD Levels in Children with Epilepsy
This study looked at the blood levels of two substances, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in children with epilepsy that does not respond to standard treatments.
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Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | Genetics | Lifestyle & Sleep | New Studies | Pediatrics
New Drug Shows Promise for KCNT1 Epilepsy Treatment
Researchers studied a specific type of epilepsy linked to mutations in the KCNT1 gene, which causes potassium channels in the brain to become overly active.
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Comparing Laser Therapy and Surgery for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Researchers studied two surgical treatments for people with drug-resistant epilepsy: open resective surgery (ORS) and laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT).
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Drug-Resistant Epilepsy | Epilepsy Research Summaries | Genetics | New Studies | Pediatrics | Safety & First Aid
Lacosamide May Help Reduce Seizures in Children with Epilepsy
This study looked at how effective and safe the medication lacosamide (LCM) is for children and teenagers with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), which means their seizures do not respond well to standard treatments.
