What is known as intractable epilepsy?

Untreatable: About 60% of seizures are controlled by one medication 20% with more than one med, 10% with surgery, but fewer than 10% do not respond to any measures they are termed intractable, with recent advances in surgery, vagal nerve stimulation, special diets etc this number is shrinking!

Difficult to control: Most epilepsy is easy to control. At least 60% of epileptic patients can be controlled with just one medication. Another 30% take more complex regimen to control. At least 10% of epilepsy patients are not fully controlled even with multiple medications, surgeries, implanted devices, etc. These are considered as intractable. Most epilepsy centers have specific clinics just for these patients.

Not controlled by me: Epilepsy which cannot be (or is not) adequately controlled by meds. Typically we use this label after someone has not adequately responded to good trials of 4+ anti seizure meds.

Intractable epilepsy: There is so much information on intractable epilepsy - every year we learn more. There are some wonderful support group websites with information: epilepsy.com youngepilepsy.org.uk. epilepsysociety.org.uk and some where you can find a doctor who specializes American Epilepsy Society is: AESnet.org