Epilepsy is one of the most common diseases of the nervous system. It is a collective term for a range of conditions with different causes, manifestations and prognoses. People with epilepsy have a persistent tendency to experience unprovoked epileptic seizures.
The prognosis for epilepsy depends primarily on the cause of the seizures and the type of epilepsy. Around 70 percent of people with epilepsy respond well to medication and become seizure-free. Around 30 percent continue to have recurrent seizures, even with medication. For these people, other treatment options should be considered.
See also:
Evidence-based guideline for the treatment and follow-up of epilepsy
If epilepsy is suspected, your GP will refer you to a paediatrician if you are under 18, or to a neurologist if you are over 18. If the paediatrician or neurologist believes you may have epilepsy, you will be assessed for it and treatment will be started. If treatment with several different epilepsy medicines at your local hospital has not been effective, you should be referred to the National Centre for Epilepsy at Oslo University Hospital.
The National Centre for Epilepsy provides a nationwide treatment service and offers assessment and treatment for patients with epilepsy who do not achieve satisfactory seizure control after trying two appropriate types of epilepsy medicine at the correct doses, and who have additional neurological, cognitive and/or psychosocial difficulties. The centre has paediatric and adult departments.
Anyone who experiences brief episodes (under 2–3 minutes) with neurological symptoms should be suspected of possibly having epilepsy. They should be referred for assessment by a neurologist, or a paediatrician with expertise in neurological diseases.
The assessment begins with a consultation and examination by a neurologist or paediatrician. A thorough medical history from the patient and their family is most important. Video recordings of the seizures on a mobile phone may be useful. If epilepsy is suspected, the patient should be referred for an EEG. Most people should also have an MRI scan of the brain to see whether the cause of the seizures can be identified.
Epilepsy is a clinical diagnosis. It is made only after the patient has had two confirmed, unprovoked epileptic seizures. An exception is made for those whose EEG shows definite epileptic activity and/or whose MRI shows structural abnormalities often associated with epilepsy. In such cases, the diagnosis can be made after just one epileptic seizure.
It should be emphasised that a person can have epilepsy, and that it may be appropriate to start treatment, even if neither the EEG nor the MRI scan shows anything abnormal.
We offer advanced multidisciplinary expertise for children and adolescents with various types of epilepsy across the county, and take a holistic approach to children and young people with epilepsy.
Our paediatric neurologist specialises in the treatment and assessment of childhood epilepsy and complex epilepsy with various causes. We work closely with multidisciplinary teams to provide you with the best possible treatment. In addition to a doctor and nurse, patients may, when indicated, receive services from a special education teacher, clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, child psychiatrist, social worker, physiotherapist, milieu therapist, social educator and dietitian.
We also offer neurophysiological examinations such as EEG and long-term video EEG, and have an outpatient clinic for the follow-up of children and adolescents with epilepsy who are treated with a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS).
Epilepsy is primarily treated with seizure-preventing medicines, previously called antiepileptic drugs. More than 25 medicines for the treatment of epilepsy are available in Norway. They all have somewhat different efficacy and side-effect profiles, and work best for different types of epilepsy.
With today’s medicines, 60 to 70 percent achieve good seizure control.
Read about different epilepsy medicines (oslo-universitetssykehus.no)
Among the just over 30 percent who do not achieve seizure control with medication, some may be offered epilepsy surgery.
A vagus nerve stimulator may be considered if seizure control cannot be achieved with medication and epilepsy surgery is not an option.
Dietary treatment may be an option for people with difficult-to-control epilepsy when medication has not provided satisfactory seizure control and surgery is not an option.
The Norwegian Epilepsy Association, in collaboration with the National Centre for Epilepsy, has made a series of short information videos. Each episode answers a question about epilepsy that people often wonder about. The short episodes are available in both Norwegian and English. The videos are well suited for teaching and public education.
Watch the videos on the SSE website (oslo-universitetssykehus.no)
We know that many people with epilepsy are more likely to have seizures if they forget to take their medication or are exposed to negative stress, lack of sleep, too little food or excessive alcohol. By avoiding such seizure triggers, including through a regular and healthy lifestyle, people can improve their own seizure situation. Improving physical fitness may also reduce the tendency to have seizures for some people.
Waiting time: 12 weeks
Contact the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescents (BUA), Arendal
Sykehusveien 1
Sykehusveien 1, 4838 Arendal
Egsveien 100, Building 5
Egsveien 100, 4615 Kristiansand
Waiting time: 12 weeks
Contact Child and Adolescent Rehabilitation Services (HABU), ArendalSykehusveien 1
Sykehusveien 1, 4838 Arendal
Waiting time: 12 weeks
Contact the Department of Neurology
Visiting hours
Egsveien 100, building 10
Egsveien 100, building 10, 4615 Kristiansand
