Epilepsy: A Patient and Family Guide

by Orrin Devinsky MD

Epilepsy is the most common neurologic disorder in children, adults, and the elderly, affecting over 2.7 million people in the United States. Every year almost 200,000 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy and will face drastic lifestyle changes but a proper understanding of epilepsy is the first step toward managing this disease and living life to the fullest.

Epilepsy: Patient and Family Guide, 3rd Edition offers a comprehensive and authoritative discussion of epilepsy for the patient. Written by a leading expert in the field, this extensively updated third edition incorporates many comments and suggestions from real patients and their families. This guide will answer commonly asked questions about epilepsy, dispel uncertainties and fears, and encourage those diagnosed with epilepsy to become strong advocates in their medical care. Ideal for patients or parents of children with epilepsy, this book discusses:

Genres: Nonfiction, Medical, Health

408 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2001

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of three epilepsy books I've read, this was by far the best. Direct, clear, well-structured, reliable. It helped me diagnose my own history of seizures: "simple partial seizures" (or "psychic seizures" like deja-vu I've experienced a lot in pregnancy and a few other times in my life), and "grand-mal" or "tonic-clonic" generalized seizures (when the whole brain goes on the fritz). Anxiety disorders are much more common in people with epilepsy, as is irregular irritability.

This book is the best basic guide for learning the entire anatomy and response to seizures: how the brain "learns/trains" to have seizures, but also can learn to "forget" how to have them. (Seizures beget seizures, and the lack of seizures begets a lack of seizures.) Also covers anti-epileptic drug (AED) half-lives, assures AED takers that we can still have up to two alcoholic beverages a day without complications, and illustrates how most cold medicines are a bad thing for seizure sufferers (pseudoephedrine isn't good for our brain chemistry).

Also important: dose-related side-effects of AEDs happen most frequently at peak levels of taking the drug, while seizures are most likely to occur at trough levels. Common side-effects of most AEDs include tiredness, dizziness, stomach upset, irritability, mild depression. Take AEDs with a meal/after a meal to minimize side effects (slower absorption).

Lists vitamins and herbs which likely assist the body's ability to stave off seizures (or enhance them: sage and rosemary are possibly tied with seizures).
Also good info here on epilepsy and AEDs during pregnancy. I wish this book was regularly updated, as it seems the understanding of epilepsy keeps evolving, and the drugs certainly keep changing.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource for anyone dealing with epilepsy (or their caretakers). Even though my dd has been having seizure for 2 1/2 years and I've read a lot about epilepsy, I learned new and important things from this book. I'd highly recommend buying it to have on hand.

[Tish Bachmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epilepsy lesson

My child developed epilepsy at age 26 and we needed an education this book is easy to read and the glossary is well written. Great education

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm trying to learn about epilepsy so I do not know if the information here is accurate enough for a recommendation -- so I only gave it three stars for now. This is a big book and did not answer all of my questions.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-written, extremely valuable resource.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was mentioned in an interview of the author in Newsweek in April

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on a complicated subject that affects 1% of the population of the US.

[Heatherlv1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning

[Bridgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful introduction to epilepsy. It taught me some of the basics and I related to a lot of it.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended. I learned a lot.