Seizures are the brain’s equivalent of an electrical storm. They may begin in the brain’s central
pacemaker or in a localized region, and spread to affect larger areas of the brain.
Depending on the part of the brain involved, one may experience sensory symptoms, a
memory flashback, inattention and staring, or progress all the way to unconsciousness
with shaking of the entire body. Often people bite their tongue or suffer loss of bladder
control, these events make a seizure more likely than a simple faint which is the most
common other cause for loss of consciousness. There are many causes of seizures:
brain tumors, strokes, and head injuries are often cited. These serious conditions can be safely excluded with a common imaging technique called an MRI scan. In most cases, the MRI is normal and the cause cannot be definitively identified. This can be frustrating, but is certainly preferable to the identifiable conditions that are often disabling and sometimes fatal.

Like many conditions, there may not be a cure, but these conditions can usually be successfully controlled with medications. Fortunately in 75% of adult patients, seizure control can be obtained with one or two medications. The brain has its own mechanism to isolate abnormal electrical activity that can lead to seizures by suppressing the spread to larger areas of the brain. This is accomplished by using inhibitory nerves to suppress the abnormal excitatory neuronal activity. Seizure medications work in a similar way. The most common medications Dilantin (phenytoin), Tegretol (carbamazepine), and a more recent one, Lamictal (lamotrigine) work by blocking fast sodium channels that can be subject to continuous and repetitive electrical discharges in seizure disorders. Depakote (valproate) boosts GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Keppra (levetiracetam), works on a special type of calcium channel and stops burst firing without affecting normal neuronal excitability. Topiramate works in a multitude of manners.

The newest anticonvulsant, Vimpat (lacosamide) is a first-in-class anticonvulsant that works on slow sodium channels. It is approved for add-on therapy (all new anticonvulsants start with this indication) and has been found to be very effective with low side effects. It has been shown to have a good effect on those people with the hardest to control seizures (this population generally tests new medications first to get initial approval of a new seizure medication). The present study is to demonstrate how well it works on more typical seizure patients that are not resistant to most medications.

NervePro is pleased to be one of the sites participating in this study. Those individuals who have had incomplete control on their current medication or for some other reason are unhappy with their present medication can now have this medication added free of charge for the duration of the study. No participants will get a placebo. If the medication works well and is agreeable to the individal, the medication they are taking prior to the study may be decreased during the study. Vimpat is approved and may be obtained by a prescription outside of the study. By participating in the study, additional visits and physician contact, as well as lab tests, in addition to free medication may also be obtained. Participants are required to keep an accurate diary of their seizures and their seizures must have some motor component such as a twitch or shake so their number can be accurately counted.