Menthol Inhalers can fend off a seizure

[RonGuidry49]

A menthol inhaler (the lipstick shaped tube that's used for a stuffy nose) has been a great way for me to stop a seizure before it starts. My mom keeps one for vertigo, and I recently started using them. I keep one in my pocket, and one by the bed at all times. The hard part is remembering that I have it when I start to feel bad.

[lavatera]

That is very interesting. I wonder why it works, but am glad it does work for you.

lavatera

[RonGuidry49]

Mom knows best!

[epileric]

I know many who believe in aromatherapy & homeopathy (which I don't) say that menthol is contraindicated to epilepsy.

My personal opinion is that it is the focusing on doing something that helps lessen or stop the seizure.

Years ago my neurologist told me that when I feel a seizure starting to count backwards by 2's starting at 99. I never got far but the mental action of focusing on doing something helped lessen or stop the seizure. I would wonder if it's the focusing on remembering what to do that is helping Rons seizures rather than the menthol itself.

Like Ron said the hard part is remembering & fighting for that memory creates a new pathway of active neurons.

[lavatera]

I say do what works for you.

lavatera

[Nakamova]

There is some scientific evidence that menthol can potentially play an anti-seizure role:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2560999/

[RonGuidry49]

It sounds like what works for me, may be bad for others, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Also, of course, menthol will not stop a drop seizure, and it's efficacy has it's limits - and you don't go around all day breathing in menthol. A few sharp blasts from the inhaler is all I need, and I'll go weeks without it. I'm sure many of us have trouble with a lot of the same smells, but they should never be described here. My personal history/scenarios with it wont help either.
Menthol may be a "big umbrella" that blocks out many other scents, real or imagined. Maybe it helps many of us, while hurting a few of us, or vice versa. Finally, be careful with any remedy. If you are as sensitive to smells as I am, then you know how little it takes to affect you one way or the other.