what kind of yoga can a person do to help with seizures can i be shown here now

Seizures are a pregnant concern in autism because of their loftier prevalence and clan with increased bloodshed and morbidity among individuals with autism.  Adding to this concern is that many symptoms of seizures look like the symptoms of autism, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Therefore, if y'all suspect that seizures are causing whatsoever of your child's autism-like behaviors, nosotros strongly recommend you take them in for a comprehensive evaluation with a knowledgeable and experienced physician.

This article will help y'all navigate seizures in autism.  In it, you volition notice the following data:

• Seizures vs. epilepsy
• Symptoms and types of seizures
• Seizures in autism (prevalence, concerns, diagnosing, causes, etc.)
• Treatment options
  • Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs)
  • Adverse effects of specific AEDs
  • Pros and cons of non-AED treatments
  • Emergency handling options

Seizures and Epilepsy

Your encephalon consists of billions of nerve cells. It functions by sending electrical signals through these nerve cells. A seizure is the consequence of an abnormal electrical discharge between brain cells. Epilepsy is simply defined as having two seizures without an obvious trigger.

Seizures and epilepsy are adequately common in childhood.  Many children experience febrile seizures when ill with a fever, and 1-ii% of all children have a diagnosis of epilepsy.  For nigh of these children, the seizures resolve within a twelvemonth or ii. Withal, a small per centum of children with epilepsy go on to accept refractory epilepsy, which is difficult to control with anti-epileptic treatments.

Seizure Symptoms

Symptoms of seizures vary widely.  While some episodes of seizure activity nowadays no visible outward signs, others may manifest in ane or more of the following ways:

• Staring spells
• Nausea/dizziness
• Loss of focus
• Disrupted sleep
• Rapid eye movements/blinking
• Involuntary body movements, such as muscle twitching or stiffening
• Unusual sensations (even visceral sensations, smells, tastes, or tingling)
• Loss of consciousness
• Complex behaviors
• Anxiousness or changes in mood
• Defoliation or disorientation

Types of Seizures

There are two broad types of seizures: generalized and focal (partial). Below is a brief description of each.

Generalized Seizures

Generalized seizures bear upon both sides of the brain. There are 2 types of generalized seizures:

• Absence seizures (petit mal): can cause a person to blink apace, stare out into space, or lose focus for a few seconds.
• Tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal): is one of the near severe types of clinical seizures where the unabridged brain can demonstrate aberrant electrical activeness.
  • When most people think of seizures, they think of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in which the whole trunk shakes rhythmically, and in that location is a loss of consciousness.
  • While most tonic-clonic episodes last less than 5 minutes, they can exist unsafe if they go along for xv minutes or more.

Focal (Partial) Seizures

In focal (partial) seizures, only ane function of the brain experiences abnormal electric activity.

• Focal seizures can be very subtle, manifesting just as staring episodes or they might accept no visible signs to indicate that a seizure is happening.
• Or, they can cause one function of the trunk, such as an arm or leg, to demonstrate rhythmic move.
• Ultimately, how a focal seizure looks and feels depends on which area of the encephalon the seizure activity occurs because different parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions and sensations.

Information technology is of import to note that a seizure can begin equally a focal seizure, in one role of the brain, and progress to a generalized seizure, affecting both sides of the brain.

Seizures in Autism

Seizures are relatively common among individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While 1-2% of children in the general population develop epilepsy, the prevalence of epilepsy in ASD is much college, with estimates varying from 5% to 38%.

Some individuals with ASD develop seizures in childhood, some at puberty, and some in machismo. Although the prevalence of seizures by historic period is not well studied, recent studies propose the take a chance remains high into adulthood.

Information technology is noteworthy that specific subgroups within autism have a higher risk of developing seizures and epilepsy.  Namely, individuals with comorbid intellectual disabilities, genetic abnormalities, and/or brain malformations.

The most apropos issue is the clan betwixt seizures with the increased mortality and morbidity among individuals with autism. For adults with autism, they are the leading cause of premature death.

Diagnosing Seizures in Autism

Seizures can be challenging to diagnose in autism. This is because overlapping symptoms (east.g., staring episodes, motor tics, and stereotyped movements) make information technology hard to differentiate between the subtle signs of seizures and the characteristics of autism. However, it is important to determine if these symptoms can be attributed to seizures or another neurological abnormality considering they are treated very differently.

When it is unclear if a symptom is or isn't being acquired by a seizure, an extended, overnight, or 24-hr electroencephalogram (EEG) should be performed.  Because EEGs provide a continuous recording of the brain's electrical activeness, they let you to capture what is going on in the encephalon during suspicious behaviors.

Many doctors recommend a 24- to 48-hour EEG to gather needed information during both wakefulness and sleep. Ultimately, obtaining an extended EEG will increase your chance of getting a clear and accurate diagnosis.

Sub-Clinical Electrical Discharges

Individuals with ASD accept a loftier rate of seizure-similar activity when their brain waves are measured with an electroencephalogram. These are referred to as sub-clinical electrical discharges. The significance of these abnormalities is not clear as they rarely consequence in symptoms of seizure. However, some research studies associate them with cognitive dysfunction in children with epilepsy.

Furthermore, these seizure-similar discharges are associated with specific epileptic syndromes that share characteristics with ASD, such as Landau-Kleffner Syndrome and Continuous Spike-wave Activity during Deadening-wave Slumber.

Early on enquiry suggests that anti-epileptic medications may improve cognitive, behavioral, or psychiatric symptoms for individuals with sub-clinical discharges.

Causes of Seizures in Autism

Conditions that can trigger seizures in individuals (with or without ASD) include caput injuries, infection or inflammation affecting the encephalon (e.one thousand., encephalitis), ingestion or withdrawal from certain medications or recreational drugs, and disturbances of electrolyte levels.

Additionally, there is an association between specific genetic and metabolic syndromes and both ASD and seizures. For this reason, every child with ASD and seizures should have a comprehensive medical evaluation for known medical disorders that includes the following:

• A genetic workup, consisting of a chromosomal microarray, Fragile X, and Rett syndrome testing
  • If these render normal, farther testing may include an epilepsy genetic panel or whole exome genetic sequencing.
• Genetic testing for the following syndromes (if your child has sure dysmorphic features or characteristics):
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Angelman, Prader–Willi, Velocardiofacial, and Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndromes
• Testing for Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Cerebral Folate Deficiency, metabolic disorders with a high prevalence among individuals with ASD and seizures
  • If supporting clinical characteristics exist, consider testing for other, much more rare metabolic disorders, such as:
    • Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency, Adenylosuccinate lyase deficiency, Creatine Metabolism Disorder, Phenylketonuria, Pyridoxine dependent and responsive seizures, and Urea Cycle Disorders

Handling Options for Seizures

Seizures are most commonly treated with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), just non-AED treatments are also available. If a specific genetic or metabolic syndrome is associated with seizures in a kid with ASD, in that location may be a specific treatment for that underlying condition.  Withal, for the most function, AEDs are necessary to command seizures–even in children where an underlying genetic or metabolic disorder has been identified.

Below you lot will find data about AED, not-AED, and emergency treatment options for seizures.

Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs)

Although AEDs are starting time line for treating seizures, no AED has undergone evaluation for efficacy for the handling of seizures in the ASD population. Recently, to determine whether specific treatments were more benign than others for individuals with ASD and seizures, 733 parents of children with ASD and seizures were asked to rate the issue of AEDs on seizures and other clinical factors including sleep, communication, behavior, attending and mood.  The results of the ratings appear to confirm the clinical feel of many clinicians:

• Out of all AEDs examined, four provided the best seizure control and worsened other clinical factors the least:
  • Valproate, Lamotrigine, Levetiracetam, and Ethosuximide
  • Specifically, Valproate and Lamotrigine had the to the lowest degree detrimental effect on mood, and Lamotrigine appeared to have the least overall adverse effects.

Adverse Effects of Specific AEDs

When taking AEDs, it is common for individuals to feel ane or more of the following:

• Neurological side-effects (i.east., ataxia, tremor, nystagmus)
• Behavioral side-effects (i.east., hyperactivity, agitation, aggressiveness)
• Gastrointestinal side-effects (i.e., abdominal pain, nausea)
• Some AEDs tin cause an allergic reaction, which can exist severe in some cases.

Specific adverse effects are highly dependent on the medication. Overall, newer AEDs, such as Lamotrigine, Oxcarbazepine, Topiramate, and Levetiracetam, have fewer serious agin effects than older AEDs Phenobarbitol, Phenytoin, Primidone, and Carbamazepine. The exception to this is Valproate, an older anti-epileptic medication that appears to accept good efficacy for many individuals with ASD. Still, Valproate does have some severe side effects (come across more than below).

In general, it is best to avoid older AEDs (Phenobarbitol, Phenytoin, Felbamate). They take a high incidence of cognitive and neurological adverse furnishings, which can exacerbate existing behavioral and cognitive abnormalities.

You tin can avoid serious side effects with careful monitoring. For this reason, information technology is best to have an experienced practitioner prescribe AED medications and monitor the patient. Particular care should exist taken when using multiple AEDs equally agin furnishings tin can be cumulative. Since many AEDs elevate the risk of congenital disabilities, it is of import to carefully consider the choice of AEDs in females of childbearing age.

Below is a guide to selecting AEDs followed by data about the adverse furnishings of specific AEDs.  Please note, adverse effect profiles have not been studied in ASD specifically, so information technology is unknown whether individuals with ASD have a higher incidence of adverse furnishings than other populations of individuals with epilepsy.

Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

• Lamotrigine has a low incidence of serious adverse furnishings and is generally well-tolerated.
• The most serious adverse effect of Lamotrigine is a life-threatening whole-body rash known as a Steven-Johnson'south reaction.
  • You can reduce the gamble of this occurring by increasing the Lamotrigine dose slowly towards the target dose.

Levetiracetam (Keppra)

• Levetiracetam has a low incidence of serious adverse effects and is probably one of the safest anti-epileptic drugs.
• The almost prevalent adverse effects are behavioral, including agitation, ambitious behavior, and mood instability.
• Levetiracetam has been linked to suicide in a few individuals without ASD.
  • In some cases, adding pyridoxine (vitamin B6) helps reduce agin behavioral effects.

Valproate (Depakote)

• As mentioned above, Valproate is an older anti-epileptic medication that appears to have good efficacy for many individuals with ASD. Although Valproate can have serious side effects, you can take precautions to prevent them.
• Serious side effects include hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity), hyperammonemia (high ammonia), and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
  • Therefore, during the initial period of starting the medication, your kid's doctor must advisedly monitor the toxicity of Valproate on the liver, pancreas, and blood cells.
    • Complete blood count, liver role tests, amylase, and lipase during the initial period of starting the medication and if the patient experiences gastrointestinal symptoms.
    • Once the doctor determines a stable dose, they will begin monitoring your child approximately every three months.
  • L-carnitine may mitigate liver damage resulting from Valproate. Thus, co-handling with L-carnitine is recommended.
• Common adverse effects of Valproate include weight proceeds and thinning of the hair.
  • The latter may respond to supplementation with selenium (10-xx mcg per mean solar day) and zinc (25-l mg per day).
• Also, there is a link between long-term use of Valproate with bone loss, irregular menstruum, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
• The following should avert Valproate:
  • Individuals with certain mitochondrial disorders.
  • Very young children - Hepatotoxicity may be more prevalent in children nether 2 years of historic period.
  • Also, children with Alpers syndrome - Valproate can be fatal to children with this affliction resulting from the depletion of the mitochondrial DNA/ PolG-i factor mutation.
  • Women of childbearing age - there is prove that prenatal exposure to the drug interferes greatly with concurrent fetal evolution.

Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)

• Hyponatremia (low blood sodium) can develop in some individuals when taking Trileptal.

Topiramate (Topamax)

• Topiramate requires minimal metabolization by the liver and is excreted mostly unchanged by the kidney.
• Common adverse effects include weight loss and cognitive and psychomotor slowing.
• Topiramate tin cause metabolic acidosis (loftier claret acid), nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and oligohidrosis (decreased sweating).
  • Because of this, individuals with kidney disorders should avoid Topiramate.
  • Additionally, extra care during hot weather is necessary.
• Additionally, glaucoma (increased middle pressure level) has occurred in rare cases, so you should take your child in for an evaluation if any vision symptoms ascend.
• If possible, individuals with sulfa allergies should avoid Topiramate.

Zonisamide (Zonegran)

• Zonisamide's side furnishings are similar to the adverse effects of Topiramate (see above).

Clobazam (Onfi)

• Behavioral changes tin can often be seen in association with this medication.
• Additionally, Clobazam can cause excessive sleepiness.
  • Therefore, accept precautions when using other sedative drugs, especially in the benzodiazepine category.
  • Furthermore, concurrent employ with cannabidiol tin lead to a buildup of a Clobazam byproduct, leading to excess sedation.
• Also, excessive drooling can occur.

Lacosamide (Vimpat)

• Those with cardiac history should use Lacosamide with caution.
• This medication can lead to alterations in heart rhythm at higher doses, indicating the demand for an EKG (electrocardiogram) in such cases.

Rufinamide (Banzel)

• Adverse effects include headache and vomiting.
• Individuals with cardiac history should use Rufinamide with caution, as it can potentially alter heart rhythm.
  • Higher doses of Rufinamide may crave a need for an EKG (electrocardiogram).
• Also, individuals with sulfa allergies should avoid Rufinamide (if possible).

Cannabidiol (Epidiolex)

• Cannabidiol (CBD) is available over-the-counter or by prescription as make name Epidiolex.
• Gastrointestinal side effects, such equally ambition change and diarrhea, are mutual.
• See above regarding concurrent usage with Clobazam.

Perampanel (Fycompa)

• Lookout for increased ambitious behavior.
• In rare instances, there is an association with significant psychiatric disturbance and Perampanel.
• Additionally, weight gain is a common adverse effect of Perampanel.

Vigabatrin (Sabril)

• At that place is an association between Vigabatrin with progressive and permanent visual loss.
• Thus, its use is typically restricted to controlling a particular type of seizure known as infantile spasms in a specific condition known as Tuberous Sclerosis.

Non-AED Options for Treating Seizures in Autism

When AEDs are not constructive by themselves, parents may desire to discuss alternative methods to treating seizures, such as special diets. Like AEDs, none of these treatments have undergone evaluation for efficacy in treating seizures within the ASD population.

A recent survey of 733 parents of children with ASD and seizures found that sure non-AED treatments improved slumber, communication, behavior, attention, and mood. The all-time treatments appear to be low-saccharide diets, such as the ketogenic, Atkin's, or modified Atkin's diets. These diets can too be effective in individuals without ASD who have epilepsy.

Below is an outline of information regarding several non-AED treatments.

Low Carbohydrate Diets

• Low carbohydrate diets, such as the ketogenic nutrition, accept been very effective at controlling seizures in some children with refractory epilepsy.
• It is important to conduct whatsoever dietary treatment under a trained professional's guidance, especially the ketogenic diet.
  • The ketogenic diet can cause acidosis (high blood acid), so anyone on this diet needs careful monitoring.
• Because the ketogenic diet is very restrictive, some have tried the modified Atkins diet and establish information technology constructive.
  • Another less restrictive diet to implement may exist the depression glycemic index diet, which emphasizes complex carbohydrates over elementary carbohydrates.

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG)

• Regular infusions of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may help in cases of refractory epilepsy, where epileptic encephalopathy is the cause.
• Mutual adverse effects of IVIG include rash, headache, and fever and require prophylactic pretreatment.
• IVIG is contraindicated in individuals with kidney or heart problems and should exist administered by a practitioner familiar with the treatment.
• Furthermore, some individuals develop increasingly severe allergic reactions to intravenous immunoglobulin treatment. In such cases, changing the brand may reduce adverse furnishings.

Steroids

• In the course of treating epileptic encephalopathy or infantile spasms, treatment with high-dose steroids may help.
• While daily steroids may as well exist constructive, they are difficult to maintain considering of the high run a risk of adverse furnishings, including weight gain, edema, mood instability, and insomnia.
• Serious adverse effects include hypertension, immunosuppression, gastrointestinal ulceration, glucose instability, and osteoporosis. Therefore, doctors closely monitor anyone on steroids for extended periods.
• ACTH is a related medication with similar side furnishings.

Elimination Diets

• There are reports of isolated cases of improvement in seizures with the emptying of certain foods or preservatives. Nonetheless, no extensive studies confirm this practice as effective.
• As mentioned in a higher place, it is essential to conduct whatsoever dietary treatment nether a trained professional'south guidance.

Vagus Nerve Stimulator

• A vagus nervus stimulator is a small-scale device implanted under the skin with a wire that wraps effectually the vagus nerve. The device stimulates the vagus nervus, which has neural inputs into the brain.
• It is believed that stimulation of the encephalon results in changes in several levels of neurotransmitters, specially gamma-aminobutyric acrid, which can help control seizures.
• Vagus nervus stimulators can cause alterations in voice, coughing, throat hurting, and hoarseness.
• More serious side effects include spasms of the vocal cords, obstacle of the airway, and sleep apnea.

Corticectomy

• If seizures arise from 1 small-scale expanse of the brain, it is possible for a neurosurgeon to remove the dysfunctional part of the brain.
  • In guild to determine if 1 portion of the brain is generating seizures, a patient must typically go through several extended hospitalizations.
• Because brain surgery tin can have serious adverse effects, doctors simply advise this option for most refractory patients.
• Similarly, guided light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation therapy-related ablative procedures permit surgeons to remove dysfunctional portions of the brain without invasive surgery and minimal harm to surrounding structures.

Multiple Subpial Transection

• If a dysfunctional portion of the brain is found but cannot exist removed, information technology is possible for a neurosurgeon to make small cuts in the encephalon areas surrounding the dysfunctional areas.
  • Similar a corticectomy, this requires brain surgery which can take serious adverse effects and requires an extended in-infirmary workup.
• This item therapy is not widely used, and there are only a few cases published to back up its use.

Emergency Treatments

Individuals with epilepsy, peculiarly those with frequent or prolonged seizures, should take an emergency medication readily available to stop any generalized seizure that occurs for five minutes or more.

The most common emergency medication is rectal Diazepam, which tin can crusade drowsiness. Additionally, high doses or multiple doses of Diazepam can crusade slow and ineffective breathing. Therefore, if information technology is necessary to use this medication, medical personnel should exist called to evaluate the patient.

Newer, easy-to-use nasal spray devices are at present available that administer either Midazolam or Diazepam to stop a seizure. Alternatively, some providers may prescribe Clonazepam dissolvable oral tablets as a rescue medication.

Additional Resource with Data Most Seizures and Epilepsy:

• The Epilepsy Foundation of America
• Autism Research Institute

Dr. Richard Frye

Dr. Richard Frye, Dr., Ph.D. is the Chief of the Division of Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Director of the Autism Plan at Phoenix Children'due south Hospital and Professor of Child Health at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix, AZ. Dr Frye is a well-recognized adept in the diagnosis and treatment of ASD and other developmental disorders. He is fellowship trained in Behavioral Neurology and Psychology and has clinical expertise in the assessment, diagnosis and handling of children with ASD.

Dr. Suzanne Goh

Dr. Suzanne Goh is a board-certified pediatric behavioral neurologist, a neuroscience researcher, and author. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Harvard Academy where she received her Bachelors of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in History and Science (1993-1997). She went on to attend Oxford University equally a Rhodes Scholar (1997-1999). In 2004, she graduated from Harvard Medical School, cum laude. Dr. Goh completed her Pediatrics Internship at Massachusetts Full general Hospital and her Pediatric Neurology Residency at University of California San Francisco. Specializing in the treatment of autism, she is the founder of Cortica, and creator of the Cortica Care Model.

Dr. Rishi Malla

Dr. Rishi Malla, M.D., M.Sc. is a fellow member of the American University of Neurology, and the Kid Neurology Society. He is a board-certified pediatric neurologist, who serves as the Medical Director of Pediatric Neurology at the Torrance and San Diego locations of Cortica. Dr. Malla is also a Pediatric Epilepsy Specialist, uniquely qualified to read and interpret pediatric electroencephalograms (EEGs). Additionally, he has expertise in caring for patients with refractory epilepsy.

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All content in this commodity is for informational purposes but, including links to products and/or websites mentioned. To clarify, TACA does non receive any compensation or commission for providing them.

Furthermore, the data on this page is not a substitute for professional communication, diagnosis, or treatment. For this reason, always seek the advice of your physician, therapist, or other qualified wellness provider with whatever questions or concerns you lot may accept.

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Source: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/seizures/

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