Seizures

Diagnosis

After a seizure, your healthcare professional reviews your symptoms and medical history and does a physical exam. You may have tests to find the cause of your seizure. Tests also may show how likely it is that you'll have another seizure.

Tests may include:

• A neurological exam. This is to look at your behavior, motor abilities and how your brain works.
• Blood tests. A blood sample can show blood sugar levels and look for signs of infections or gene conditions. A health professional also may check the levels of salts in the body that manage the balance of fluids. These salts are called electrolytes.
• A spinal tap. This procedure collects a sample of fluid from the spine for testing. Also called a lumbar puncture, a spinal tap may show whether an infection caused a seizure.

• An electroencephalogram (EEG). In this test, electrodes are put on the scalp to record the electrical activity of the brain. The electrical activity shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording. The EEG may show a pattern that tells whether a seizure is likely to happen again.

  EEG testing also may help rule out other conditions that have symptoms like those of epilepsy. This test may be done at a clinic, overnight at home or over a few nights in the hospital.

Imaging tests may include:

• MRI. An MRI scan uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create a detailed view of the brain. An MRI may show changes in the brain that could lead to seizures.
• CT scan. A CT scan uses X-rays to get cross-sectional images of the brain. CT scans can show changes in the brain that might cause a seizure. Those changes may include tumors, bleeding and cysts.
• Positron emission tomography (PET). A PET scan uses a small amount of low-dose radioactive material that's put into a vein. The material helps show active areas of the brain and brain changes.

• Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). A SPECT test uses a small amount of low-dose radioactive material that's put into a vein. The test creates a detailed 3D map of the blood flow in the brain that happens during a seizure.

  A healthcare professional also may do a type of SPECT test called subtraction ictal SPECT coregistered with MRI (SISCOM). The test may give results with even more detail. This test is usually done in a hospital with overnight EEG recording.

Treatment

Not everyone who has one seizure has another one. So your healthcare professional may not start treatment unless you've had more than one.

The goal in seizure treatment is to find the best therapy that stops seizures with the fewest side effects.

Medications

Treatment of seizures often involves antiseizure medicines. There are many types of antiseizure medicine.

Finding the right medicine and dosage can be hard. Some people try several medicines before finding the right one in the right dosage. Common side effects may include weight changes, dizziness, tiredness and mood changes. Very rarely, more-serious side effects can cause damage to the liver or bone marrow.

A healthcare professional thinks about your condition, how often you have seizures, your age and other factors when choosing which medicine to prescribe. The health professional also reviews other medicines you take to make sure that the antiseizure medicines won't interact with them.

Dietary therapy

Following a ketogenic diet can improve seizure management. A ketogenic diet is high in fat and very low in carbohydrates. But it can be hard to follow because there's a small range of foods allowed.

Other versions of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet also may be helpful but not work as well. These diets include low glycemic index and Atkins diets. Experts are still studying these diets.

Surgery

If treatment with at least two antiseizure medicines doesn't work, you might have surgery to stop the seizures. Surgery works best for people who have seizures that always begin in the same place in the brain. Types of surgery include:

• Lobectomy. Surgeons find and remove the area of the brain where seizures begin.
• Thermal ablation, also called laser interstitial thermal therapy. This less invasive procedure aims highly concentrated energy at a target in the brain where seizures begin. This destroys the brain cells that cause seizures.
• Multiple subpial transection. This type of surgery involves making several cuts in areas of the brain to prevent seizures. Surgeons do this most often when they can't safely remove the area of the brain where seizures start.
• Corpus callosotomy. This surgery cuts the network of links between the neurons of the right and left halves of the brain. This is used to treat seizures that start in one half of the brain and travel to the other half. But even after surgery, seizures may still happen on the side of the brain where they started.

• Hemispherotomy. This surgery separates one side of the brain from the rest of the brain and body. Surgeons use this type of surgery only when medicines don't manage seizures and when seizures affect only half the brain.

  This surgery can cause the loss of many daily functional abilities. But children often can get those abilities back with rehabilitation.

Electrical stimulation

If surgeons can't remove or separate the area of the brain where seizures start, devices that provide electrical stimulation may help. They can work with antiseizure medicines to reduce seizures. Stimulation devices that may offer seizure relief include:

• Vagus nerve stimulation. A device placed under the skin of the chest stimulates the vagus nerve in the neck. This sends signals to the brain that lessens seizures.
• Responsive neurostimulation. Surgeons place this device on the brain or in brain tissue. The device can tell when seizure activity starts. It sends electrical stimulation to stop the seizure.
• Deep brain stimulation. Surgeons place thin wires called electrodes in certain areas of the brain to produce electrical impulses. The impulses help the body manage the brain activity that causes seizures. The electrodes attach to a pacemakerlike device placed under the skin of the chest. The device manages how much stimulation happens.

Pregnancy and seizures

People who've had seizures most often can have healthy pregnancies. But some medicines used to treat seizures sometimes can cause health conditions that are present at birth.

Valproic acid is a medicine for generalized seizures that has been linked with cognitive issues and neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in babies. The American Academy of Neurology advises against using valproic acid during pregnancy because of risks to babies.

Talk with your healthcare professional about the risks of antiseizure medicines, including the risk of health conditions present at birth. Make a plan with your health professional before you get pregnant. Pregnancy can change medicine levels.

Some people may need to change the dosage of seizure medicine before or during pregnancy. The goal is to be on the lowest dose of the safest seizure medicine that manages seizures.

Taking folic acid before pregnancy may help prevent some complications related to taking antiseizure medicines while pregnant. Folic acid is in standard prenatal vitamins. Experts suggest that all people of childbearing age take folic acid while taking antiseizure medicines.

Birth control and antiseizure medicines

Some antiseizure medicines keep birth control from working as well. Check with your healthcare professional to see whether your medicine affects your birth control. You may need to try other forms of birth control.

Potential future treatments

Researchers study other therapies that might treat seizures. These include therapies to stimulate the brain without surgery.

One area of research showing promise is MRI-guided focused ultrasound. The therapy involves pointing ultrasound beams, which are sound waves, to an area of the brain that's causing seizures. The beam creates energy to destroy brain tissue without surgery.

This type of therapy can reach deeper brain structures. It also can focus on a target without damaging the nearby tissue.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Here are some steps you can take to help manage seizures:

• Take medicine correctly. Don't change the dose without first talking with your healthcare professional. If you think that your medicine needs a change, always talk with your health professional.
• Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can trigger seizures. Be sure to get enough rest every night.
• Wear a medical alert bracelet. This will help emergency responders know how to treat you if you have a seizure.
• Be active. Exercising and being active may help keep you healthy and reduce depression. Make sure to drink enough water. And rest if you get tired during exercise.
• Make healthy life choices. Managing stress, limiting alcohol use and not smoking all are part of a healthy lifestyle.

Personal safety

Seizures don't often result in serious injury. But if you have repeated seizures, you might injure yourself. These steps can help you avoid injury during a seizure:

• Take care near water. Don't swim alone or ride in a boat without someone nearby.
• Wear a helmet. Wear a helmet during activities such as bike riding or playing sports.
• Take showers. Don't take baths unless someone is near you.
• Soften your home. Pad sharp corners, buy furniture with rounded edges and choose chairs that have arms to keep you from falling off. Think about having carpet with thick padding to protect you if you fall.
• Don't work high up. And don't use heavy machinery.
• Have a list of seizure first-aid tips. Put them in a place where people can see them. Include phone numbers people might need if you have a seizure.

• Consider a seizure detection device. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared a watchlike device that can tell when a tonic-clonic seizure is about to happen (EpiMonitor). The device alerts loved ones or caregivers so that they can check on you and make sure you're safe.

  Another FDA-approved device attaches to a muscle in the arm called the bicep to watch for seizure activity (Brain Sentinel SPEAC). Talk with your healthcare professional to see if using this type of device might be right for you.

Seizure first aid

It's helpful to know what to do if you see someone having a seizure. If you're at risk of having seizures, give this information to family, friends and co-workers. Then they'll know what to do if you have a seizure.

To help someone during a seizure, take these steps:

• Carefully roll the person onto one side.
• Place something soft under the person's head.
• Loosen tight neckwear.
• Don't put your fingers or other objects in the person's mouth.
• Don't try to restrain the person.
• Clear away dangerous objects if the person is moving.
• Stay with the person until medical help arrives.
• Watch the person closely so that you can tell medical helpers what happened.
• Time the seizure.
• Stay calm.

Coping and support

Stress due to living with a seizure condition can affect your mental health. Talk with your healthcare professional about your feelings. Look for ways to find help.

At home

Your family members can provide support you may need. Tell them what you know about your seizures. Let them know they can ask you questions. Ask them about their worries. Help family members learn about your condition. Share materials or other resources that your healthcare professional gives you.

At work

Talk with your supervisor about your seizures and how they affect you. Discuss what you need your supervisor or co-workers to do if you have a seizure at work. Talk with your co-workers about seizures. This will help them understand and give you more support.

You're not alone

Reach out to family and friends. Ask your healthcare professional about local support groups or join an online support community. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Having a strong support system is vital to living with any medical condition.

Preparing for your appointment

Sometimes seizures need medical help right away. So there's not always time to prepare for an appointment.

But you may see your primary healthcare professional or be sent to a specialist. You might see a specialist trained in brain and nervous system conditions, called a neurologist. Or you might see a neurologist trained in epilepsy, known as an epileptologist.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

• Write down what you remember about the seizure. Include when and where it happened, symptoms you had and how long it lasted, if you know. Ask anyone who saw the seizure to help you fill in the details.
• Be aware of any restrictions before your appointment. When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do ahead of time to be ready for medical tests or exams.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medicines, vitamins or supplements that you take, including doses.
• Take a family member or friend to your appointment. Someone who's with you can help you remember all the information you get. And the person who goes with you may be able to answer questions about your seizure that you can't.
• Write down questions to ask your healthcare professional. Making a list of questions can help you make the most of your time during your visit.

For seizures, some basic questions to ask include:

• What do you think caused my seizure?
• What tests do I need?
• What treatment do you suggest?
• How likely is it that I might have another seizure?
• How can I make sure that I don't hurt myself if I have another seizure?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Are there restrictions that I need to follow?
• Are there brochures or other printed material that I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Be sure to ask all the questions you have.

What to expect from your doctor

A healthcare professional is likely to ask you questions, such as:

• Can you describe your seizure episode?
• Was anyone there to see what happened?
• What did you feel just before the seizure? What about right after the seizure?
• Have you had a seizure or other neurological condition in the past?
• Do you have any family members who have been diagnosed with a seizure condition or epilepsy?
• Have you recently traveled outside the country?