Most people can manage epilepsy. Your treatment plan will be based on severity of symptoms, your health, and how well you respond to therapy. Some treatment options include:

• Anti-epileptic (anticonvulsant, antiseizure) drugs: These medications can reduce the number of seizures you have. In some people, they eliminate seizures. To be effective, the medication must be taken exactly as prescribed.
• Vagus nerve stimulator: This device is surgically placed under the skin on the chest and electrically stimulates the nerve that runs through your neck. This can help prevent seizures.
• Ketogenic diet: More than half of people who don’t respond to medication benefit from this high fat, low carbohydrate diet.
• Brain surgery: The area of the brain that causes seizure activity can be removed or altered.

Research into new treatments is ongoing. One treatment that may be available in the future is deep brain stimulation. It’s a procedure in which electrodes are implanted into your brain. Then a generator is implanted in your chest. The generator sends electrical impulses to the brain to help decrease seizures. Another avenue of research involves a pacemaker-like device. It would check the pattern of brain activity and send an electrical charge or drug to stop a seizure. Minimally invasive surgeries and radiosurgery are also being investigated.

Medications for epilepsy

The first-line treatment for epilepsy is antiseizure medication. These drugs help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures. They can’t stop a seizure that’s already in progress, nor is it a cure for epilepsy. The medication is absorbed by the stomach. Then it travels from the bloodstream to the brain. It affects neurotransmitters in a way that reduces the electrical activity that leads to seizures. Antiseizure medications pass through the digestive tract and leave the body through urine. There are many antiseizure drugs on the market. Your doctor can prescribe a single drug or a combination of drugs, depending on the type of seizures you have.

Common epilepsy medications include:

• Levetiracetam (Keppra)
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• Topiramate (Topamax)
• Valproic acid (Depakote)
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Ethosuximide (Zarontin)

These medications are generally available in tablet, liquid, or injectable forms and are taken once or twice a day. You’ll start with the lowest possible dose, which can be adjusted until it starts to work. These medications must be taken consistently and as prescribed. Some potential side effects may include:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Skin rash
• Poor coordination
• Memory problems

Rare, but serious side effects include depression and inflammation of the liver or other organs. Epilepsy is different for everybody, but most people improve with antiseizure medication. Some children with epilepsy stop having seizures and can stop taking medication.

There was a time when in western Rajasthan there were many misconceptions about epilepsy and there was a huge lack of information among the people, due to which the epileptic patient was considered to be in the shadow of ghosts and took them to the Bhopas and Tantriks for treatment. But now Dr. Nagendra has almost changed the entire scenario related to this matter here. Journey of 22 years like this, Dr. Nagendra Sharma told that he has been working in this field for 22 years of his life. Doctor Sharma says that the biggest problem in this disease was to convince people that epilepsy is not a shadow of a ghost but a disease whose treatment is possible.

According to the information received, Dr. Sharma has benefited almost 85 thousand patients in 264 camps so far. Marriage provided to epilepsy patients, Dr. Sharma says that one of the biggest challenges faced by epileptic patients was to make a living because no one gives employment to the epileptic patient easily. But due to our persuasion and awareness program, business is being provided to these epilepsy patients through various NGOs.

Dr. Sharma says that the biggest problem comes in the marriage of epileptic patients, in such a situation, we have also got two epileptic patients freed from caste bondage and got them married and settled so that the example is set in the mind of the people. So far 8 such couples have got married.

Ayurveda Medicine will soon come in the Market regarding Epilepsy

Ayurveda University Ethical Committee member and neurosurgeon Dr. Nagendra Sharma said that a trial is going on medicine of Ayurveda for the treatment of epilepsy. He told that in the Ayurveda Book it is mentioned that the symptoms associated with epilepsy can be treated with the root of a plant called Nirgundi. So in his team, 2 trials of this drug used on the root, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruits of this plant have been done so far. There have been positive results. Doctor Sharma said that Ayurveda medicine will soon come on the market regarding epilepsy and this first medicine will be related to the epilepsy of Ayurveda.

Senior neurosurgeon Dr. Nagendra Sharma considers the reason for the increase in epilepsy to be a lack of awareness along with superstition, ignorance, backwardness, and illiteracy. From Dr. Sharma, who started his journey for epilepsy patients 22 years ago (1999) with ‘Ek Safar Umeed Ka..’, came to know that so far that year around 3200 patients have reached Jodhpur for treatment from different districts of Marwar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Nagendra Sharma provides epilepsy treatment in Rajasthan and has been organizing a free Epilepsy Camp in Jodhpur since 1999 for the treatment of epilepsy patients at Rathi Hospital on the 30th of every month continuously for the last 22 years, in which free medicines are provided to the patients after examining them. Dr. Sharma believes that awareness has come among the people through the camps, but it is still very important to make people aware especially about road safety. In particular, he gives a message to the two-wheeler drivers that wearing a helmet is mandatory as the chances of epilepsy are highest after a head injury. According to Dr. Sharma, he is determined to eradicate this disease from the root, including the treatment of epilepsy patients to make the common man aware of this disease and his campaign will continue uninterruptedly.

As a neurosurgeon, he has been doing battle against treating epilepsy for 22 years. He provides proper treatment to epilepsy patients. He approaches medical companies. About a dozen big firms supply free medicines for patients every month. They distribute free medicine on the basis of prescriptions. Each patient who attends the camp is given a booklet on epilepsy and medicines for a month. He has helped a lot of patients to lead happy life. The fact that the camp has healed the souls, not simply the bodies of the patients, is perhaps as fulfilling to Dr. Sharma. His campaign has helped to debunk the myths associated with epilepsy. People are beginning to accept epilepsy as an illness that is nothing to be ashamed of. He has treated 80,067 patients free of cost till June 2021 and is still treating free of cost.

Even during Covid-19, Dr. Sharma showed a continuous effort to help patients. Dr. Sharma decided to create a team of medical professionals who helped Jodhpur residents address their medical needs over the telephone during the lockdown. He collaborated with the Jodhpur city police to bring medical consultations for free to the people of Jodhpur. Even Today, Dr. Sharma recommends medicines only to those who don’t require emergency treatment. He takes video calls, and audio calls over Whatsapp.

Mission ‘Awareness of Road Safety’

Dr. Sharma believes that with the increasing incidence of epilepsy and road accidents, there is an urgent need to include both of these subjects in the books of education in colleges and schools. According to Dr. Sharma, with the control of epilepsy, now his mission will be about awareness of road safety. Under this, he has given his first lecture in September 2015 at Sardar Patel Police College, Jodhpur in a program organized by the State Government under the joint supervision of the Police College, Transport Department and Traffic Police. In this context, he has also sent special suggestions to the Director General of Rajasthan Police Manoj Bhatt and the Transport Department of the state. According to Dr. Sharma, the increasing number of epilepsy patients in Marwar is worrying, despite the efforts made by him for the treatment and awareness of epilepsy over the years. One percent of the world’s population, three percent of India and about 4.5 percent of the people of western Rajasthan are victims of this disease.

• Appointed as a member of the management “Board of the Rajasthan Health University” (syndicate member) by the State Government.
• Prestigious Government of Rajasthan Award “Hindi Sewa Samman” for the book on epilepsy in Hindi.
• “Rao Jodha Smriti Puraskar (Marwar Ratna)” by Mehrangarh Museum Trust, Jodhpur.
• “Samaj Ratna” by Idd Millanudabi Society – Social Society of Muslim Community for rendering services to poor.
• “Veer Durga Das Samiti Award” for rendering free services to the poor and rural public of western Rajasthan.
• “Jodhpur Gaurav Alankaran” by Jodhpur Municipal cooperation for free camps.
• “Marudhar Media Fellow” by Marudhara Patrakar Sansthan for the educative and enlightening contribution in print media by publishing articles.
• “Manavta Ke Prati Samarpit Nar Narayan Seva Samman” awarded by “Antarrashtriya Samanvayak Parivar”.
• Honoured by Times Group by writing articles in their prestigious yearly book “Foot Prints“.
• “Vraksh Bandhu Puraskar” for rendering good services in the field of plantation and spreading awareness regarding pollution-oriented disease and preservation.
• “Marwar Ratna” by Marwar Group for educating people and free services to society.
• “Media Fellow” by media associates for enlightening and educative articles in print media honoured by the Health Minister Dr. Digambar Singh.
• Awarded by the “District Collector on 15th August for services in this Medical field“.
• “Health Excellence Award” by Himalaya Pharma for providing excellent services in the field of neurosurgery.
• “K.R. Singhvi Rotary Vocational Service Award” by the Rotary Club of Jodhpur.
• “Vishishath Jan Samman” by International Lion (W. Rajasthan Club Zone)
• “Dedicated to Humanity” Award by Jodhpur Savayam Sevi Sansthan Sangh.
• 92.7 FM jiyo dil se award for serving epilepsy patients by conducting free camps.