I have used the Ketogenic diet along with a very low dose of Keppra and it is extremely helpful to me as long as I remember to take my medication and stay true to the diet. I have recently met with a dietician and have started using the MAD (Modified Atkins Diet) instead of the classic "Keto diet". The MAD is beneficial because there is not as much weighing and measuring so it's easier to stick to for the long haul. Basically you count carbs and try to eat healthy high fat and moderate protein with your 15-20 carbs per day. It may not be for everyone, and it is hard to follow, but I know for a fact that I would need a much higher dose of Keppra if it wasn't for the diet. I'm certain of this because I went off the Keto diet for a few months and started having more simple seizures. I went back on the Keto diet (and now MAD diet) and seizures are completely under control as long as I don't "slip". Another bonus of the diets for me has been increased mental clarity. I am convinced that the effects of these diets (because of the keytones produced) actually counteract the side effects of the medication I take. Hope this info is helpful and clear. I'm happy to share info from my visit with the dietician if it would be helpful. Blessings!

a keto diet is a great way to control seizures. i was on the keto diet for 5+ years. the first week i went to the hospital because i cant eat for a lot of days. then i had to introduce the good fats and i had to weigh everything. the ketogenic diet is basically you starve yourself and then restrict yourself to healthy fats. it is like starving yourself and then going on a extreme weight watchers. the sad thing is, you can't cheat. your body is in a state of ketosis. ketosis is if your body does not have enough glucose (wheat, rye, and/or barley) for energy, it burns stored fats instead. if you overeat or get wheat, rye, and/or barley on only one thing, the body will reset itself and you will have to do it all over again.

I just started the keto diet almost two weeks ago. While my seizures haven't completely disappeared, they have decreased! The first week was difficult for me, but it's becoming easier and more rewarding.

I have been on the modified atkins diet for just over a month, I started it because I couldn't get in to see my specialist for 4 months and couldn't wait to try something to help my increasing seizures! So far I have found it quite easy to stick to by using the total keto diet app which has been great! Although my partial seizures haven't completely gone they have decreased and I haven't had a full blown one for a year or so. I am hoping that I will be able to cut down my meds as much as possible by using the diet as well.

@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member the scale broke and mom didn't want to get another weight scale. i have complex partial so my seizures are a few seizures a day but before the keto diet i had a lot more seizures. from 5+ years of keto, my body tells me to 'stop eating' sign but sometimes i ignore my body. there is the strict keto and the loosely keto. i got the strick keto, where i had to go to the hospital for more than a week to starve myself for less than a week and the dr introduce me to selected foods.

Mentioned Users

A MyEpile...