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Study Looks At Epilepsy Drugs Vs. Surgery
Results Could Change Approach To Seizures
UPDATED: 2:57 p.m. EDT August 8, 2003
CHICAGO -- The most common treatment for epilepsy, which affects more than 3 million Americans, is medication. Surgery is usually considered a last resort. But is that the best approach to treating seizures, which can interfere with a person's quality of life?
Doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago are about to begin a national study to see if the usual treatment for epilepsy needs to be revised.
Greg Lindy, an epilepsy patient, said he is feeling well these days, but it took a long time for him to be able to say that. Five years ago, Lindy's world changed when he had his first seizure while driving.
"I was driving down the road. (The seizure was) totally unexpected, and I acutally wrapped my car around a pole," Lindy recalled.
Over time, the seizures continued and became more frequent.
"It got up to the point where I was having one, maybe two, a day," Lindy said.
Lindy said he tried a number of medications but could not get relief.
Dr. Scott Mintzer, a neurologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, did not find that surprising. Mintzer said 30 percent of patients with epilepsy do not respond to medication.
"There are now 12 different medicines used to treat epilepsy," Mintzer said. "Patients and doctors will go through medication No. 1, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 8; then No. 8 with No. 2; (and so on). You could do that for a lifetime and still never find an effective treatment."
Lindy did not want to experiment with drug combinations, so about 5 months ago, he had surgery to remove the part of his brain believed responsible for his seizures.
The operation is often a last resort. But should it be?
"Epilepsy surgery has proven itself to be well and safe and effective," Mintzer said. "Now the question is, how early in the course of the disease should we be using a therapy that is so obviously pretty aggressive?"
To find out, the hospital is pairing with the National Institutes of Health to compare drug treatment to surgery in certain epilepsy patients to see which works better.
"In four years, we hope to know what is the most appropriate treatment for epilepsy patients early in the disease," Mintzer said.
Lindy said that for him, surgery was a lifesaver.
"No more seizures," he said. "They're gone. I feel pretty close to the way I did before the seizures started."
Doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago are about to begin a national study to see if the usual treatment for epilepsy needs to be revised.
Greg Lindy, an epilepsy patient, said he is feeling well these days, but it took a long time for him to be able to say that. Five years ago, Lindy's world changed when he had his first seizure while driving.
"I was driving down the road. (The seizure was) totally unexpected, and I acutally wrapped my car around a pole," Lindy recalled.
Over time, the seizures continued and became more frequent.
"It got up to the point where I was having one, maybe two, a day," Lindy said.
Lindy said he tried a number of medications but could not get relief.
Dr. Scott Mintzer, a neurologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, did not find that surprising. Mintzer said 30 percent of patients with epilepsy do not respond to medication.
"There are now 12 different medicines used to treat epilepsy," Mintzer said. "Patients and doctors will go through medication No. 1, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 8; then No. 8 with No. 2; (and so on). You could do that for a lifetime and still never find an effective treatment."
Lindy did not want to experiment with drug combinations, so about 5 months ago, he had surgery to remove the part of his brain believed responsible for his seizures.
The operation is often a last resort. But should it be?
"Epilepsy surgery has proven itself to be well and safe and effective," Mintzer said. "Now the question is, how early in the course of the disease should we be using a therapy that is so obviously pretty aggressive?"
To find out, the hospital is pairing with the National Institutes of Health to compare drug treatment to surgery in certain epilepsy patients to see which works better.
"In four years, we hope to know what is the most appropriate treatment for epilepsy patients early in the disease," Mintzer said.
Lindy said that for him, surgery was a lifesaver.
"No more seizures," he said. "They're gone. I feel pretty close to the way I did before the seizures started."
Previous Stories:
- March 19, 2003: Atkins-Like Diet May Help Kids With Epilepsy
- January 21, 2003: FDA Approves Epilepsy Drug For Children
- August 9, 2002: Military Software Helps Control Juvenile Epilepsy
- June 4, 2002: Radiation Procedure May Control Epilepsy
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