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Diagnosis & Treatment

The goal of epilepsy treatment should be “no seizures and no side effects.” Not everyone will be able to reach that goal, but doctors and patients should always be working toward it together. A strong doctor-patient relationship, access to needed treatments and healthcare services, and healthy behaviors all contribute to the successful management of seizures. Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan staff can work with you to make sure you’re doing everything you can to manage your seizures.

Diagnosis

An accurate diagnosis increases the chances of successful treatment. Epilepsy can be confused with nonepileptic seizures and many other conditions. Doctor’s must rule out these other conditions before making a diagnosis of epilepsy. In addition, diagnosis should include information on what type of epilepsy is suspected, what type of seizures are being experienced, and what to expect in the future. 

A variety of tools can help doctors with diagnosis, including electroencephalography or EEG (standard EEG, ambulatory EEG, video EEG monitoring), neuroimaging technologies (MRI, CT, PET, SPECT, MEG, MRS), neurological exam, physical exam, and blood tests. Perhaps the most important diagnostic tool, however, is the medical history. This provides the doctor with important information on what happened before, during, and after each seizure and can give clues regarding a possible cause.

Treatment

Typically, the first treatment tried in patients with epilepsy is daily medication. There are over 20 antiseizure medications (AEDs) available. Most people with epilepsy are able to get complete seizure control by taking one ore more antiseizure medications; however, in 30 – 40% of patients, seizures continue despite treatment.

If you have tried two appropriate medications, and you’re still having seizures or significant side effects, you should see an epileptologist (a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy) to confirm your diagnosis, review your current treatment regimen, and discuss other treatment options. Most epileptologists work at Comprehensive Epilepsy Centers, which feature a staff of epilepsy experts, including clinical nurse specialists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, and others, and access to the full array of diagnostic and treatment options.

 In addition to medication, the following treatment options may be considered:

How do I find a doctor?

The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan can assist you in finding the appropriate level of care to treat your epilepsy. Learn more about how to find a neurologist, epileptologist, or Comprehensive Epilepsy Center in Michigan.

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