Category: Clinician’s Corner

Douglas Heck, Ph.D.; Duluth Psychological Clinic Ann Hempel, PhD, ABPP; Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Minnesota Epilepsy Group Armantina Espinosa, MD, Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology In 2018 the International League Against Epilepsy published a review of the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in those with epilepsy (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30178479/). ADHD is a condition in which

Thomas R. Henry, MD, MINCEP Epilepsy Care & University of Minnesota Comprehensive Epilepsy Center Two types of brain electrical stimulation have been developed as alternatives to resective-ablative epilepsy surgery (removing or laser-ablating a part of the brain where seizures start), for patients whose seizures cannot be controlled with medications. The

What is it?  Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) happens when a person with epilepsy who was otherwise healthy dies unexpectedly This sudden death does not happen because of a known injury, accident, drowning, seizure emergency such as status epilepticus, or another known cause.  Although SUDEP has been reported for

By: Jeannine Conway, PharmD, BCPS You may have seen news stories of pharmacy staff walking out of the pharmacy due to a stressful environment and unsafe understaffing. You may have also experienced finding your pharmacy closed due to short-staffing. Why is this happening?Community pharmacy is not immune to the challenges

By: Dr. Patricia Penovich, EFMN Professional Advisory Board Chair This story is for all women who have the potential to conceive and bear a child, whether she has epilepsy or not. The special emphasis for women with epilepsy is because these young women are usually taking anti-seizure medications (ASMs) to aid

By Kathleen Rieke, MD – CentraCare, Member of Professional Advisory Board at EFMN Sleep is an essential activity that supports healthy brain functioning and allows one to maintain physical health. During sleep, the electrical and hormonal activity in the brain change. These changes reduce stress, improve concentration, help regulate mood,

By Jeannine M. Conway, PharmD, BCPS, FAES The legal landscape of cannabis is changing significantly in Minnesota and throughout the United States. It is helpful to be clear on terminology. Medical cannabis and recreational cannabis can be the same product with the intent of use being what differentiates it. Phytocannabinoids

By Douglas Heck, PhD Licensed Psychologist, and Tess Sierzant, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CNRN Seeking and maintaining effective epilepsy care is a different experience for everyone. For some, it’s a very straightforward process of working with a physician and staying on medication that brings about good seizure control. For others, it’s

By Dr. Patricia Penovich  A non-epileptic seizure is an event that looks to all those who observe it like the person is having an s epileptic seizure. Yet it is not an epileptic seizure. An epileptic seizure is the result of disordered brain cells firing excessively and not being shut

What have we learned about COVID and epilepsy and its effects on seizures among adults and children? An update with two years of information.