Epilepsy Care

Epilepsy can be triggered by genetic factors, Alzheimer's disease or other congenital conditions such as Down syndrome. Epilepsy itself is not fatal, although injury or death are possible if seizures occur at dangerous times, such as while driving.

Common symptoms of epilepsy include:

• Seizures
• Temporary confusion
• Staring spells
• Uncontrollable jerking movement of the arms and legs
• Loss of consciousness or awareness

The generalized tonic-clonic seizure is the most familiar type. It affects the entire brain and body, causing rigidity, convulsions and sometimes loss of consciousness. But no single seizure type defines epilepsy. Seizures differ patient by patient, varying based on the part of the brain affected by the condition.

Seizures may be triggered by:

• Failure to take medication as prescribed
• Flashing or flickering lights
• Lack of food or sleep
• Stress

We offer the most advanced expertise and technologies for making correct diagnoses. Through inpatient and outpatient services, we obtain all the information we need to determine:

• The type of epilepsy
• The precise origin of the seizure activity
• The cause of the seizures

Diagnostic tools may include:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG), a measurement of the brain's electrical activity and the primary test used to diagnose epilepsy
• 24/7 video EEG monitoring to determine the type and origin of seizures
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with epilepsy protocol that helps providers locate subtle lesions
• Functional MRI (fMRI), which allows care teams to localize language, motor and vision activities in the brain and includes specialized oversight by a neuropsychologist
• Positron emission tomography
• Ictal single-photon emission computerized tomography
• Neuropsychological tests

Our specialty focus, collaborative approach to care and position as a premier academic medical center at the forefront of research and discovery combine to give you access to a complete range of treatment options. We create personalized care plans based on your condition and wishes.

Treatment options include:

• Medication treatment. About 65% of people with epilepsy can be free of seizures with 1-2 seizure medications. Our experts help you assess the most effective medication options for controlling seizures while monitoring and managing any accompanying side effects.
• Surgical treatment. Research indicates that people who continue to have seizures after trying 2 different medications have a less than 4% chance of finding success with additional medications. For individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy, we offer the latest surgical techniques:
  • Minimally invasive laser thermal ablation brings surgical precision to the removal of diseased tissue while protecting the surrounding healthy tissue.
  • Responsive neurostimulation is implanted technology that senses seizures and stops them before patients become aware they have begun.

In simple terms, epilepsy is a condition in which a person's brain has a tendency to have seizures more often than average. We typically reserve this term for someone who has suffered 2 or more unprovoked seizures in their life. A seizure occurs when a group of brain cells becomes hyperactive or hypersynchronized. This leads to a variety of involuntary symptoms that a person may experience.

Seizures and epilepsy can begin at any age. Although a large population of people with epilepsy is individuals younger than age 10, another large population includes those older than 65. 

There are many causes of epilepsy, including genetics or a brain injury, such as stroke, tumor, infection, head trauma, scar tissue or autoimmune disorder. Sometimes even with sophisticated testing, we cannot identify the cause.

Some of the most common side effects of all seizure medications are sedation, fatigue and dizziness. Starting at a lower dose and slowly working up on the dose limits these side effects. Additional side effects vary depending on the medicine. There should always be a full discussion with your doctor so you know what to watch for. Although less common, allergic reactions such as rash and changes in mood should be monitored and discussed with the prescribing provider. Long-term side effects of certain seizure medications, in particular some of the older medicines, include liver damage and osteoporosis.

The larger group of patients with epilepsy can stop having seizures with 1-2 seizure medications. However, about 35% of patients will continue to have some seizures despite treatment with medications. In this group of patients, further testing by an epilepsy specialist is can help investigate additional treatment options, such as surgery.