Epilepsy Treatment in Sharjah

What is epilepsy management?

Epilepsy management is a long-term partnership between you, your family and a neurologist. It has three parts: confirming that the episodes are epileptic seizures and identifying their type, choosing a treatment that controls them with the fewest side effects, and building a daily routine that keeps you safe at home, at work and on the road.

At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, epilepsy care is led by the neurologist, with EEG recording in the hospital and brain imaging arranged through the radiology department. Each plan is shaped around your seizure type, your age, your work, and any plans for pregnancy.

Who needs it

Epilepsy care suits anyone who has had one or more unexplained seizures, people already diagnosed with epilepsy who want a fresh review, and people whose seizures continue despite treatment. It also suits those whose medicines cause troublesome side effects, and women with epilepsy who are thinking about pregnancy.

Seizures take many forms. Some cause stiffening and jerking of the whole body. Others look like brief staring spells, sudden jerks on waking, odd sensations or smells, or repeated movements such as lip-smacking with reduced awareness. Fainting and some heart rhythm problems can look similar, so telling them apart is an early step. Children are seen through pediatric neurology.

What happens

The diagnosis rests mainly on what happened during the episode. Because the person having a seizure often remembers little of it, the most useful evidence usually comes from someone who saw it. A short phone video, recorded by a family member once the person is safe, shows the neurologist the movements, eyes and breathing far more clearly than a verbal account. Note the time the episode started and ended as well.

Your neurologist then examines you and usually arranges tests:

• An EEG, a painless recording of the brain's electrical activity from small scalp sensors, which helps identify the seizure type
• Brain imaging, most often an MRI scan, arranged through radiology to look for a structural cause; see also neuroimaging
• Blood tests and an ECG to check for other causes of collapse

Treatment usually begins with one anti-seizure medicine, chosen to suit your seizure type, age and other health needs, and started at a low dose that is increased gradually. Taking it at the same times every day matters more than anything else; missed doses are a common reason seizures return. Setting phone reminders and using a weekly pill box both help. Your neurologist explains the side effects to look out for, and a second medicine may be added or swapped in if control stays incomplete.

When seizures continue after two well-chosen medicines, your neurologist arranges referral to a specialist epilepsy centre, where prolonged video-EEG monitoring and further options, including surgery for some people, can be considered.

Preparing for it

• Keep a seizure diary: date, time, what happened before, during and after, and any triggers such as missed sleep, missed doses, illness or alcohol
• Bring any phone videos of episodes, and bring the witness with you if possible
• Bring previous EEG and MRI reports, discharge letters and all current medicines in their packaging
• Write down questions about work, driving, sport, contraception or pregnancy

Women with epilepsy benefit from planning pregnancy well in advance. Some anti-seizure medicines are better suited to pregnancy than others, and a folic acid supplement, taken to support the baby's early development, is usually advised before conception. Your neurologist can review your medicine before you try to conceive and coordinate with your obstetrician.

Afterwards

Most people are reviewed regularly while medicines are adjusted, then less often once seizures are controlled. Everyday safety habits make a real difference: showers rather than baths, low beds, guards on heaters, care near heights, and swimming only with a companion who knows what to do. In the UAE summer, heat, dehydration and disrupted sleep can lower the seizure threshold, so drink water through the day. During Ramadan, discuss medicine timing with your neurologist before fasting begins. For driving, follow UAE licensing guidance and your neurologist's advice about when driving is appropriate. If family members live abroad, a written seizure plan helps anyone caring for you.

Seizure first aid: time the seizure, protect the head with something soft, move nearby hazards, turn the person onto their side into the recovery position once jerking stops, and put nothing in their mouth. Call emergency services if a seizure lasts more than five minutes, if seizures repeat without recovery in between, or if there is an injury or difficulty breathing. Contact the hospital if your seizures become more frequent, change in pattern, or you have new side effects from your medicine.

Cost and insurance

Most UAE health insurance plans cover neurology consultations, EEG and long-term anti-seizure medicines, while MRI and some newer medicines often need pre-approval. Referral to a specialist epilepsy centre may require separate approval. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover on 06 599 7777.