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Common Questions
About Epilepsy
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a condition in which a person has seizures that happen again and again. A seizure is an excited flood of impulses from the brain's nerve cells. It can cause a temporary upset of motor, sensory, or mental function.
What causes epilepsy?
In most cases, the cause of epilepsy is unknown. But it may be caused by:
- Genetic metabolic defects
- Head trauma
- Nervous system infections such as meningitis
- Down's syndrome
- Cerebral palsy
- Brain tumors
- Stroke
- Alzheimer's disease
- High blood pressure
- Multiple sclerosis
- Depression
Epilepsy can begin at any age. Often the first signs show up before the age of 20.
What is a partial seizure?
A seizure is the way the body reacts to nerve cells that are overexcited and fire too many signals to the rest of the body. When the flood of signals starts in a small part of the brain, it is called a partial seizure.
Are there different kinds of partial seizures?
Yes. In general, there are 2 kinds of partial seizures: simple and complex.
In a Simple Partial Seizure, a person:
- Stays alert
- Can answer questions and follow commands
- Can recall what happened during the seizure
In a Complex Partial Seizure, a person:
- Loses or has a change in consciousness
- May not be able to answer questions or follow commands
- Often cannot recall what happened during part or all of the seizure
What are the signs of a simple partial seizure?
They vary. It depends on what part of the brain is involved. (An “aura” is a term used to describe the signs and symptoms that may happen at the start of a seizure.)
Some signs and symptoms include:
- Odd muscle movements, like stiffening, twitching, or jerking (these may affect one part of the body or can spread)
- Change in the senses, like feeling pins and needles, having a bad taste in the mouth, smelling something bad, seeing flashing lights, or hearing buzzing or a person's voice
- Changes in heart rate or breathing rate
A person can also feel:
- As if he or she is in a dream
- Fearful, anxious, or depressed
- As if time is slowing down or speeding up
- That well known things seem strange or that strange things seem well known
A person stays alert and can recall what happened during the seizure.
After the seizure, the person may feel weak in the part of the body affected. He or she may also have problems seeing or talking. These problems can last from minutes to hours.
What are the signs of a complex partial seizure?
A loss of consciousness or change in consciousness is one sign of a complex partial seizure. Most often a person just stares. He or she does not answer questions or follow commands.
A simple partial seizure may come before a complex partial seizure. For example, some people may have an odd taste in their mouths or smell an odor. Other people may feel that they have already gone through what is happening.
Other signs may include:
- Smacking lips, chewing, or swallowing
- Making a face
- Making the same movement over and over, like picking at clothes or walking in a circle
- Making sounds, like grunts, or repeating a group of words
Often the person cannot recall all or part of what happened. He or she may be confused after the seizure. Most often, it lasts less than 15 minutes. Some symptoms, such as being tired, can last for hours.
How are partial seizures treated?
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are medicines used to control seizures. But, even with treatment about 40% of people will still have some seizures. Many people need 2 or more AEDs to improve seizure control. In some cases, people have surgery. Others try what is called nerve stimulation therapy.
LYRICA is a drug approved by the FDA to treat adults with partial seizures who take 1 or more AEDs but still have seizures.
In studies, up to 51% of people treated with LYRICA had a 50% or greater drop in how often they had seizures. LYRICA is the first new drug to be approved for epilepsy in more than 5 years.
I want to learn more about epilepsy. What should I do?
The best thing to do is talk to your doctor.
These Web sites can be helpful as well:
Epilepsy Foundation of America (EFA)
Epilepsy.org
About LYRICA
What is LYRICA?
LYRICA (LEER-i-kah) is a medicine designed to relieve 2 of the most common types of nerve pain: Diabetic Nerve Pain and Pain after Shingles (SHIN-gulls). It is also add-on treatment for adults with Partial Onset Seizures.
How does LYRICA work?
LYRICA works by reducing the flood of signals that are sent out by overexcited nerves in your brain. This can help you to have fewer seizures.
For what uses is LYRICA approved by the FDA?
LYRICA is approved for use by adult patients (18 years or older). It treats pain from damaged nerves caused by diabetes or Pain after Shingles. It is also approved to treat Partial Onset Seizures when used with other seizure medicines.
When can I expect relief?
Some patients start to feel relief in as soon as 1 week. But everyone is different. Some people may have to give LYRICA more time to work.
Can I take LYRICA with other medicines?
LYRICA and other medicines can affect each other. So be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. This should include:
- Prescription medicines
- Medicines you take without a prescription
- Vitamins
- Herbal supplements
Keep a list of the products that you take. This will make it easy to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.
How do I take LYRICA?
Your doctor will tell you how much LYRICA you need to take and when to take it. Please follow his or her instructions carefully. You can take LYRICA with or without food. And be sure to keep taking LYRICA even after you start feeling relief from your pain. Plan ahead. Refill your LYRICA prescription so you won’t run out. You should talk with your doctor before you stop taking LYRICA, or any other prescription medication.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose by a few hours, take it as soon as you remember. If it is too close to your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Just take LYRICA at your next regular time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.
How many people have taken LYRICA?
Over 1 million people worldwide have taken LYRICA.
What should I tell my doctor?
Be sure to tell your doctor if you:
- Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- Plan to father a child
- Take Avandia®* (rosiglitazone), Actos®† (pioglitazone), tranquilizers (such as oxycodone), medicines for anxiety (such as lorazepam) or other prescription medicines
- Take nonprescription medicines or natural/herbal remedies
- Have any change in your eyesight while taking LYRICA
- Have muscle pain along with a tired feeling while taking LYRICA
- Have skin sores due to diabetes
- Have ever had itching, wheezing, hives, or swelling of the throat or face after taking any medicine
- Have any kidney problems
- Have had a drug or alcohol problem in the past
What about side effects?
Like other medicines, LYRICA may cause side effects. The most common side effects of LYRICA are:
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Dry mouth
- Swelling of hands and feet
- Blurry vision
- Weight gain
- Trouble concentrating
These side effects were often mild to moderate. Few people in clinical trials stopped taking LYRICA because of the side effects.
Be careful about taking LYRICA with alcohol or with medicines that may make you dizzy or sleepy. You should not drive a car or work with machines until you know how LYRICA affects you.
For a complete list of side effects, see the Patient Product Information for LYRICA.
*Avandia is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.
†Actos is a registered trademark of Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. and used under license by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Co.