Refractory epilepsy is a form of disease in which it is impossible to control the frequency and intensity of seizures with a properly chosen combination and dosage of drugs. That's why it is also called pharmacoresistant or uncontrolled.
This type of disease is diagnosed in about 20-25% of patients with a confirmed diagnosis. It develops in both adults and children.
Important! If the revision of treatment tactics and changing the combination of drugs still helps to stop the frequency and severity of seizures, such epilepsy is not refractory.
Symptoms and signs
Epileptic seizures occur with varying frequency and last from a few seconds to several minutes. The combination of symptoms and their severity may also vary from patient to patient.
The most common manifestations of the disease are as follows:
• cramps (twitching of the legs, arms, muscles in the body);
• freezing in a certain pose, falling to the floor;
• staring into the void;
• disturbance of consciousness;
• random urination, defecation;
• biting the tongue.
