What Is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which there are seizures that happen repeatedly. Depending on what type of seizure the person is experiencing, symptoms can vary. Some seizures involve violent shaking while others involve loss of alertness.

Treatment for epilepsy includes medication, surgery, and lifestyle changes. Common drug classes used to treat epilepsy are anti-epileptics, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, potassium channel openers, and adrenocorticotropic hormones.