Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a rare and severe form of epilepsy characterized
by multiple seizure types. Even so, treatments are available to help reduce the
severity and/or frequency of seizures.
Medications called antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are often used as treatment for seizures
associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). BANZEL is an antiepileptic drug (AED)
for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with LGS in patients 4 years
and older. Learn more about BANZEL.
Diet and other therapies
Because seizures associated with LGS are difficult to control, a combination of
therapies may be part of the treatment plan for seizure control.
Some of these may include:
- Diet – The ketogenic diet is a special high-fat, low-protein diet. It has
been found to reduce seizures in some people with epilepsy. The diet makes the body
burn fat for energy instead of glucose.1 The ketogenic diet requires
that you partner with your healthcare team to accurately administer it.
Be sure to talk with the doctor before starting this diet, as side effects can be
serious. Dehydration, renal stones, cardiac abnormalities, and abnormal lipid profile
may occur.2
- Nerve stimulation – Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy sends mild electrical
pulses to the brain through the vagus nerve to help prevent seizures. A battery
is surgically implanted under the skin — usually in the chest. The procedure takes
50-90 minutes with the patient under general anesthesia. The battery
delivers small stimulations to the vagus nerve every few seconds. A
special magnet can be held over the battery allowing users to stimulate the vagus
nerve if a pre-seizure “aura” occurs.3
- Surgery – During a corpus callosotomy, neurosurgeons cut the large fiber
that connects the two halves of the brain in an attempt to reduce seizures. This
may interrupt the spread of seizures from one side to the other.4
Talk to your healthcare provider about which seizure therapies might be right for
your loved one. It is important to consider all the options and educate yourself
as much as possible. Learn more about these treatments through our Helpful Links.
Alternative/Complementary Therapy
Consult with your healthcare team about whether any of these therapies may be beneficial
for your loved one. So-called “complementary and alternative medicines”
(CAM) are sometimes used together with conventional LGS therapies. The effectiveness and
safety of most complementary and alternative medicines have not been scientifically
proven to treat epilepsy.
NEXT: Tools and Resources
| References: |
| 1 |
Ketogenic diet. Epilepsy Foundation Web site. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/medical/treatment/diet. Accessed March 28, 2011. |
| 2 |
Glauser, TA, Morita DA, Stannard KM. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. eMedicine Web site. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1176735-treatment. Updated April 26, 2010. Accessed March 28, 2011. |
| 3 |
Vagus nerve stimulation. Epilepsy.com Web site. http://www.epilepsy.com/EPILEPSY/VNS?print=true. Accessed March 28, 2011. |
| 4 |
Treatment Options: Surgery. Epilepsy Foundation Web site. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/surgery/benefitsrisks.cfm. Accessed July 7, 2011. |