Epilepsy Treatment

My brother just got diagnosed with epilepsy and the doctor said that for the moment the only thing he has to do is not to drink alcohol, change his diet and excersice. I am worried becuase I don't know if it is the right treatment or if he needs to have some drugs prescribed. I am new to all of this but he worries me a lot, so if anyone has info that can help it would be really appreciated.

Thanks :D

Hi  Amethyste i really hope this helps my girlfriend (17) has epilepsy and has done since she was 10 days old and has still got it 

She takes sodium valproate  1000mg morning and night 

Here are the doses and side effects 

Average total daily dose: 1000mg – 2000mg daily divided into 1 or 2 doses, up to 2500mg daily.

Doses per day: 1 – 2

Treatment: Effective for all types of seizures. 

Most common possible side effects include the following. Report severe reactions, such as a skin rash, to your doctor.
Hair loss – not usually severe and is usually reversible if the dose is reduced. Nausea, stomach upset, diarrhoea, and weight gain (due to increased appetite), increased levels of ammonia in the blood, and reduced platelets in the blood. Has been associated with polycystic ovaries and menstrual problems. Sodium valproate carries a higher risk than other AEDs of causing developmental problems in unborn babies if taken during pregnancy. Having preconceptual counselling is recommended.

but in children? 

Average total daily dose: 1 month – 12 years: 25 – 30mg/kg daily divided into 2 doses. Up to 60mg/kg daily divided into 2 doses for infantile spasms.

Doses per day: 2

Treatment: Effective for all forms of seizures including infantile spasms.

Most common possible side effects include the following. Report severe reactions, such as a skin rash, to your doctor.
Hair loss – not usually severe and is usually reversible if the dose is reduced. Nausea, stomach upset, diarrhoea, and weight gain (due to increased appetite). Hyperactivity and behaviour problems. Has been associated with polycystic ovaries and menstrual problems.

I have had epilepsy for 45 years now and have been on Carbamazepine and Phenytoin for at least 30 years. 

In my early stages of being diagnosed at the age of 16, I was tried on just about every medication under the sun! Very few of them worked and always had a reaction, until the 2 above were found. It took sometime before the correct dosage was found, but these now control my tonic clonic seizures well.

I re-located from Africa last year and am due for more testing and review soon... My worry is now I will be used as a 'guinea pig' once again and medication played with. 

@GildaT I have been on the same meds now for over 30 years thankfully they have found the right formula I’m on Valporate & Primidone & now thankfully controlled the phenobarbitals in the Primidone make me tiered & one of them have caused me to have osteoporosis so may be worth any lady pre menapaual to ha e a bone density test so they can treat it before like me you end up with a multitude of fractures I’m in my late 50s

@lesmal whereabouts are you living now , when you go for your review state that you are happy with the meds your on & you will let them know if you want them changed Good Luck Sharon 

Thank you all for information and advice given... I am based in Northern Ireland and look forward to testing and finding out more, i.e. through an MRI hopefully knowing which part of the brain is affected etc. So far so good; no tonic clonics for almost 14 months but still having minor petit mal attacks which seem to have taken on a different pattern.