Medication will vary will length of time ans strength. I have been taking dilantin for over 30 years and it has thinned out my bones so when I fell I shattered a leg and had to have a bone replaced instead of just a reset. Check what you are using and check in with online or with your dr. I have a VNS and have not heard anything at all about any side effects long term there. But of course the type of epilepsy you have, as well as the frequency of seizures and the other side of effects of the seizures could have an issue. I have had mris done since I was in my teens could not see anything abnormal which made it hard to diagnose and now that I am in my 50s they are just seeing something in my brain but they aren't worried about it. Hope you are having a good day as well!

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I was taking phenytoin for years changed to keppra my teeth are that bad now they are loose. Tell the dentist what medication you take. The damage has been done now even though the dentist knew. They are phasing phenytoin out but there are milder versions under different names. Look up phenytoin on the Internet and you will see. There are nasty side affects to that drug.

Valid question. Watching my daughter (diagnosed for 1.5 yrs now with JME), I can't imagine that her grand mal seizures are not causing permanent damage somewhere. We were also told not to call 911 to take her to ER for evaluation either (because they wouldn't be able to do anything for her). Yes we are rookies, but when the medics came after her last seizure - they were absolutely stunned when I declined transport to ER for evaluation. My own daughter who was 'out of it' looked at me like I'd lost my mind & said to the firefighters 'Take me to the ER - I really don't feel well at all'. Lesson learned. Out of the mouths of teens - even they know something is not right within. Listen to your gut. Don't let adults or books tell you what you know to be true for yourself. I hope you find what you are looking for. Unlike cancer, I can't locate much of anything current on Epilepsy & related research that's made available to patients & caretakers. Most of what I've been able to find on my own is very dated. Ill be sure to share with you if I do come across any content along the lines of what you're searching for!

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