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An encyclopedia entry for "status epilepticus" (SE) is presented. It refers to a common and life-threatening neurologic emergency that presents prolonged seizures. It notes that the most common type of Se is generalized convulsive SE (GCSE). In the U.S., 42,000 deaths are caused by SE while events total to 195,000.

An encyclopedia entry for "syncope" is presented. It refers to a sudden brief loss of consciousness caused by a relative ischemia to the brain due to a decrease in cerebral blood flow. It accounts for 3 percent of emergency department (ED) visitations in the U.S. It notes that syncope is similar to seizure.

An encyclopedia entry for "phenytoin (PHT, diphenylhydantoin, Dilantin)" is presented. It refers to an efficacious drug for partial-onset and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The most widely used antiepileptic (AED) drug in the U.S., phenytoin is ineffective in absence and myoclonic seizures and may lead to exacerbation of such seizure types. The side effects of the AED include anorexia, nausea, dysarthria and ataxia.

An encyclopedia entry for "surgery for epilepsy" is presented. It is noted that people with epilepsy (PWE) gain more benefits from surgical therapy than taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The standard of care in the U.S. for common epilepsy surgery is temporal lobectomy. Palliative surgery lessens occurrence of seizure and improves quality of life.

An encyclopedia entry for "self-medication and alternative medicine" is presented. It explores modes of treatment for seizures including altering antiepileptic drugs (AED), usually dosage, or taking other treatments. It is noted that an estimated 40 percent of U.S. citizens use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for several conditions.

An encyclopedia entry for "retiagabine" is presented. It refers to a drug that was initially licensed in the U.S. for development in the late 1990s. It has shown effectiveness in adults with refractory partial-onset seizures. The entry also describes the mechanism of action of the drug, which involves altering potassium conductance regulating excitability in neuronal cells.

An encyclopedia entry for "Generic Antiepileptic Drugs" is presented. The Hatch-Waxman act in the U.S. was intended to promote competition and cost savings through generic medication following termination of patent rights. There is limited research on the problem of switching name brand to generic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Majority of neurologists are opposed to generic AED substitution without prior consultation.

An encyclopedia entry for "dementia" is presented. Five to 11 percent of the population by age 65 and up to 50 percent beyond age 85 suffer from memory loss with aging caused by dementia. It relates that dementia is one of the most common aetiologies of epilepsy. It outlines the rate of prevalence of epilepsy among the elderly in the U.S.

An encyclopedia entry for "aspartame" is presented. It refers to a famous low-calorie peptide used as a sweeter in the U.S., with Nutrasweet® as one of its brands. It notes that aspartame has been linked to seizures and neurotoxic changes because of its chemical relations to excitatory amino acids.

An encyclopedia entry for "Obesity" is presented. It offers clinical information on obesity in relation to epilepsy. Obesity is said to be prevalent in the U.S. and is associated with various medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer. Drugs that were found to promote weight gain include carbamazepine, gabapentin and pregabalin.

An encyclopedia entry for "Magnesium" is presented. Magnesium plays an important role in the mechanisms of neuronal excitation at the cellular level. Particular focus is given to the basis of magnesium's theoretical antiepileptic properties. In the U.S., obstetricians use magnesium sulfate for the treatment of eclampsia. Cerebral arterial vasoconstriction may be reversed by magnesium.

An encyclopedia entry for "the cost associated with epilepsy" is presented. It relates the annual cost of the epilepsy cases in the U.S. based on 1995 population figures. Direct costs of the epilepsy cases can be attributed to medical care, antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and diagnostic testing. While the indirect costs which may represent 85% of the total, can be attributed to loss of wages, excess unemployment and reliance on governmental support.