MONDAY, Sept. 15 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an extended release form of Keppra (levetiracetam) as an add-on treatment for people with epileptic seizures aged 16 and older, Belgian drug maker UCB said Monday.

"While many people with epilepsy are successfully treated with one or more of the currently available anti-epileptic drugs, a significant percentage still live with uncontrolled seizures or intolerable side effects," the company said in a news release.

FRIDAY, Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) -- A new wireless deep brain stimulation sensor that can monitor levels of brain chemicals has been developed by Mayo Clinic researchers and colleagues.

The wireless instantaneous neurotransmitter concentration sensor (WINCS) is surgically implanted in the brain to provide real-time measurement of chemicals such as dopamine, glutamate and serotonin.

Monitoring levels of these chemicals may help neurosurgeons determine the best placement of stimulating electrodes during deep brain stimulation (DBS) and improve patient outcomes, the researchers said.

MONDAY, Aug. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Having epilepsy might put you at a significantly higher risk for death by drowning, a new report says.

The study, which looked at information compiled from all over the world, found that epileptics had a 15 to 19 times greater chance of drowning compared with the general population. Epileptics with a learning disability, those in institutional care and those who have had brain surgery were at the greatest risk, according to the study published in the Aug. 19 issue of Neurology.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- About one in 100 American adults has active epilepsy and more than one-third of those with epilepsy aren't receiving adequate treatment, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that examined the prevalence of epilepsy or seizure disorders among more than 120,000 adults in 19 states.

FDA Wants Suicide Warning for Epilepsy Drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to add a "black box" warning detailing an increased risk of suicide connected with drugs used to treat seizures in people with epilepsy.

I thought I'd share some news coming about about treating children with epilepsy. It is based on a diet called the ketogenic diet and is based on a high fat, low carb way of eating.

At first I was thinking Atkins? South Beach? But this has nothing to do with 'diet' in terms of weight loss.

This is a doctor prescribed diet that has been seen to reduce seizures in children.

Sugar is banned completely from this diet (completely! not even regular cough syrup is allowed!) and portion are kept small to decrease the chance of weight gain (since the diet is high in fat).