Epilepsy Treatment Cost in Istanbul

The primary aims of treating epilepsy are to prevent harm, reduce the frequency and severity of seizures, suppress or abolish them completely, and improve the patient's overall quality of life. Reducing drug side effects and enabling healthy physical, mental, and social development are also long-term care goals.

If you notice any of the following during a seizure, seek medical care immediately: The seizure lasts longer than five minutes. Even after anti-seizure medication, you continue to have seizures, a second seizure occurs immediately, and your breathing or consciousness does not return when the seizure stops. Seek medical attention if it is your initial seizure.

A neurological examination, an electroencephalogram (EEG), MRI or CT brain scans, and a detailed medical and seizure history are all included in the diagnosis and treatment planning. Patients may need blood tests before they start or change treatment, keep a seizure diary, and provide a list of all their current medications.

• Surgery: For those patients whose focal seizures cannot be controlled with medication, surgery is recommended. Involves the removal of seizure-causing brain tissue.
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): A device implanted in the chest stimulates the vagus nerve with electrical impulses.
• Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS): A device implanted in the head offers detection and response to real-time seizure activity.
• The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet that is particularly effective in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): When treatment is ineffective, electrodes are implanted in the brain to regulate abnormal activity.

It may take weeks or months to adapt to new drug regimens. Surgery usually lasts three to six hours, and hospitalisation lasts three to seven days. Placement of a VNS, RNS, or DBS typically requires one to three hours. Drug monitoring and follow-up over the long term are ongoing.

• Memory or cognitive difficulties
• Surgical complications involve bleeding, infection, and neurological deficits.
• Device-related difficulties (malfunction, infection)
• In ketogenic therapy, dietary intolerance

For the majority of patients, therapy significantly reduces or eliminates seizures, helping restore safety, independence, and daily functioning. With continuous treatment or surgery, individuals might stop having seizures.

Recovery from surgery involves rest, care of the wound, and a gradual return to normal activities. Medication and device changes may be required for months. Patients require frequent neurological checks, blood work, and monitoring of seizures for ongoing care.

Approximately 60\u201370% of patients experience good seizure control with medication. Surgery may yield seizure freedom in 50\u201380% of appropriate patients. Non-medication treatments provide uncertain success and are generally reserved for medication-resistant epilepsy.