Epilepsy In The News

Brain Receptor in Eyes May Link Epilepsy, Cataracts and Anti-depressants

UCB announces FDA approval for Keppra in infants and children from one month of age with partial onset seizures

University of Charleston to Open Speaker Series with Healthcare Panel Featuring Tony Coelho

Dept of Education Issues ADA Amendments Act ‘Dear Colleague’ Letter to Provide Guidance Under Amended Legal Standards

New Gene Discovery Unlocks Mystery of Epilepsy in Infants

Caution Needed When Choosing Seizure Drugs for People with HIV/AIDS

New Drug for LGS Patients Now Available

Why Patients Opt For or Against Epilepsy Surgery

Barriers to epilepsy care

Study finds superior drug combo for difficult-to-control epilepsy

A lamotrigine/valproate treatment regimen significantly reduced seizure frequency

Department of Labor Seeks to Improve Job Opportunities for Americans with Disabilities

Epilepsy Organizations Award Grants for Promising New Technologies

Study: Adverse Effects of Epilepsy Drug Persist

Autism Risk Linked to Prenatal Drug Exposure

Gamma Knife Surgery Benefits Epilepsy Patients Beyond Seizure Reduction

Photosensitivity Rate Unexpectedly High with Autism-Epilepsy Co-morbidity

Undiagnosed Autism and Developmental Delay in Children with Epilepsy

Study Zeroes in on Nuclear Anatomy of Laughing Seizures

Progesterone Therapy for Women with Epilepsy Shows Favorable Outcome

Causative Gene May Differ Among Patients with Dravet Syndrome

Research Shows Seizure Trends in Women with Epilepsy

Novel Approach Reveals Potential Mechanism Underlying Dravet Syndrome

Novel Musical Event to Highlight Hoyer Lecture at Baltimore Convention Center

Latest Twilight Movie Reportedly Caused Seizures

Flexible Brain Implant Shines New Light on Seizures

NIH Rewards Duke University 25 Million Dollar Grant for Epilepsy Research

It Is Time to Get Seizure Smart

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month

FDA Approves Onfi to Treat Severe Type of Seizures

Epilepsy Foundation Chair and Board Member Discuss Promising News on Epilepsy Surgery Study on ABC News

California Governor Signs Epilepsy Bill into Law

Premature Birth May Increase Risk of Developing Epilepsy

USA Network Joins Epilepsy Foundation in National Campaign to Make America Seizure Smart

Study Finds Bidirectional Relation Between Epilepsy and Schizophrenia

Adjunctive antiepileptic drug treatment can lower risk of dying from a sudden unexpected death

Mighty Mike Bounces Back

New generic versions of Keppra XR

Eisai’s antiepileptic agent, Banzel, receives approval in Canada

Non-epileptic seizures may be misdiagnosed longer in veterans

California SB161 Passes in Assembly

Lifesaving Legislation in California Needs Support

Researchers Identify Possible Trigger Point of Epileptic Seizures

NIH Announces New Funding Opportunity for Epilepsy Research

Epilepsy Foundation and the Epilepsy Therapy Project Award New Therapy Grant

New trials for MRI-guided laser surgery

7-Year-Old Child Author Raises Money for Seizure Assistance Dog

Epilepsy Foundation Welcomes New Vice President of Development

New, stronger MRI could lead to improved care

NFL Player Suffers a Seizure

Epilepsy Foundation Announces Research Grant Winners

Texas Children’s Hospital pioneers new MRI-guided laser surgery

Texas Children’s Hospital pioneers new MRI-guided laser surgery- Epilepsy Foundation Funding Furthers New Options to Treat Epilepsy

Study Found Greater Seizure Frequency in Women during Anovulatory Cycle

Study Found Greater Seizure Frequency in Women during Anovulatory Cycle

Support Epilepsy Awareness Resolution in the House of Representatives

Support Epilepsy Awareness Resolution in the House of Representatives

Pennsylvania State Funding Restored

Pennsylvania State Funding Restored

Epilepsy Foundation Metropolitan New York Secures Funding for Epilepsy Clinic

Epilepsy Foundation Metropolitan New York Secures Funding for Epilepsy Clinic

FDA Issues Safety Communication on Valproate

FDA Issues Safety Communication on Valproate

Drug Shortage Alert: Pfizer Announces DILANTIN® 30 mg (Extended Phenytoin Sodium Capsules, USP) Shortage

Drug Shortage Alert: Pfizer Announces DILANTIN® 30 mg (Extended Phenytoin Sodium Capsules, USP) Shortage

Epilepsy Foundation Chair Brien Smith Interviewed for the New York Times

New Epilepsy Foundation Board Chair, Dr.  Brien Smith, was recently interviewed for The New York Times in the nationally recognized “Well” blog.

University of California Riverside Neuroscientists’ Discovery Could Bring Relief to People with Epilepsy

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have made a discovery in the lab that could help drug manufacturers develop new antiepileptic drugs and explore novel strategies for treating seizures associated with epilepsy – a disease affecting about 3 million Americans.

Epilepsy Awareness in the News!

Hear the story of patient Daniel Jakubowitz tomorrow, Wednesday, June 22, between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m., when he speaks with reporters from the CBS Early Show to discuss the success of his epilepsy surgery. 

Help NIH Prevent Closing an Important Epilepsy Study

Epilepsy surgery can be an effective therapy for some people whose seizures cannot be controlled by anticonvulsant medications. A new clinical trial is testing whether a minimally-invasive approach called radiosurgery is as effective as standard open surgery at reducing or eliminating seizures in patients with medically refractory partial epilepsy. 

Connecticut Governor Signs Legislation with Protections for People with Epilepsy

The Epilepsy Foundation of Connecticut announced that after a 4-year legislative effort, the Patient Prescription Protection Act has finally passed the legislature and was signed into law today by Connecticut Governor Dannell Malloy.

FDA Approves Potiga for Seizures in Adults

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Potiga(TM) (ezogabine) Tablets, a potassium channel opener, as adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients aged 18 years and older.

Study Reveals Birth Defects Increased with Four Common Epilepsy Drugs

A total of 230 pregnancies associated with major birth defects were identified by the end of the first year after birth. An increase in the rate of birth defects was noted with increasing dose for all drugs. The rate was lowest for low doses of the drugs lamotrigine (less than 300 mg per day) and carbamazepine (less than 400 mg per day).

Seizure Recognition Training for First Responders Proves Popular and Beneficial

Epilepsy Foundation announces free, online epilepsy and seizure response training for law enforcement and emergency medical service personnel. 

New Research Study on Most Effective Seizure Treatments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

New Research Study on Most Effective Seizure Treatments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Unique Nerve-Stimulation Treatment Proves Effective Against Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Unique Nerve-Stimulation Treatment Proves Effective Against Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

California Advocates Help Pass Lifesaving Legislation

The united voice of the California epilepsy community spoke up in support of Senate Bill 161—and the Senators in Sacramento heard it.

California Advocates Fight for Right to Administer Life-Saving Seizure Medication

California Advocates Fight for Right to Administer Life-Saving Seizure Medication

Epilepsy Foundation Announces Brien J. Smith, M.D. as New Board Chair

The Epilepsy Foundation has elected Brien J. Smith, M.D. as chair of its board of directors. Dr. Smith is Chief of Neurology for the Spectrum Health Medical Group, the Michigan healthcare system recently named one of the Top 10 healthcare systems in America by Thomson Reuters.

Difficult to Treat Epilepsy and Higher Death Rates More Common for People with both Autism and Epilepsy, Says New Studies

People living with both autism and epilepsy have more treatment-resistant seizures and a much higher death rate than people living with just one of the conditions, according to two new studies published this month.

FDA Approves Lamictal XR for Monotherapy

FDA Approves Lamictal XR for Monotherapy

Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Voluntarily Recalls Two Lots of TOPAMAX®

Titusville, N.J., April 14, 2011 – Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced it is voluntarily recalling two lots of TOPAMAX® (topiramate) 100mg Tablets.

Epilepsy Treatment Has a New Direction

If common anticonvulsant drugs fail to manage epileptic seizures, then perhaps the anti-inflammatory* route is the way to go. That’s according to Mattia Maroso and colleagues from the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, Italy, who found that giving mice repeated doses of a specific enzyme inhibitor significantly reduced both chronic epileptic activity and acute seizures.

Epileptic Seizures Linked to Significant Risk of Subsequent Brain Tumor

Epileptic seizures can precede the development of a subsequent brain tumor by many years, suggests research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

Higher Prevalence of Psychiatric Symptoms Found in Children with Epilepsy

Gender plays major role in development of psychiatric problems.

Epilepsy Foundation Applauds EEOC for New Rules Under the ADA

The Epilepsy Foundation applauds the newly issued regulations from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)  for implementing Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA). Title I protects people with disabilities, like epilepsy, from discrimination in the workplace.

epilepsyUSA Journalist Wins Premier Journalism Award for Article on Native Americans and Epilepsy

Ortho-McNeil-Janssen's statement with additional safety information

New Role for an Old Molecule--Protecting the Brain from Epileptic Seizures

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — For years brain scientists have puzzled over the shadowy role played by the molecule putrescine, which always seems to be present in the brain following an epileptic seizure, but without a clear indication whether it was there to exacerbate brain damage that follows a seizure or protect the brain from it.

FDA Warns of Increased Risk of Oral Birth Defects in Children Born to Mothers Taking Topiramate

New data suggest that the drug Topamax (topiramate) and its generic versions increase the risk for the birth defects cleft lip and cleft palate in babies born to women who use the medication during pregnancy.

FDA Approves Rufinamide Oral Suspension for Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BANZEL® (rufinamide) Oral Suspension, 40 mg/mL, for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) in children 4 years and older and adults.

Study to Analyze Seizure Risk for HIV Patients

EAST LANSING, Mich. — A Michigan State University researcher is looking to uncover the risks of treating seizures in HIV-positive patients, providing much-needed data

Health Care Disparities Seen in Epilepsy Patients with Low Socioeconomic Status

More uncontrolled seizures and drug-related side effects found in this patient group

Voluntary Recall of Drug Mislabeled as Phenobarbital

Qualitest, a generic drug manufacturer recently acquired by Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., issued a voluntary recall of three lots (11,000 bottles) of its hydrocodone with acetaminophen product on February 5, 2011.

Hundreds to Rally at Candlelight Vigil in Support of Fairfax Family

Epilepsy Foundation Funds New Therapy Grant to Support Innovative Approach to Treat Epilepsy

Epilepsy Foundation presents remarks to FDA on medication switching