Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

Juvenile myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) begins in patients aged 8 to 20 years. These patients have normal IQ and are otherwise neurologically intact. The seizures are morning myoclonic jerks often with generalized seizures that occur just after waking. They are known to occur more often in young girls. Alcohol is a major contributing factor and those with severe JME should monitor their intake of units.

Treating JME

This condition is lifelong, thus patients must be taught appropriate sleep hygiene to prevent generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The severity of JME varies from person to person - some will experience full blown tonic-clonic seizures regularly, others will suffer only under sufficient stress from lack of sleep and intoxication. There are some time-tested as well as newer drugs to control JME.