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Epilepsy

Seizure disorder; Epileptic - epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over time. Seizures are episodes of uncontrolled and abnormal firing of brain cells that may cause changes in attention or behavior.

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Causes

Epilepsy occurs when changes in the brain cause it to be too excitable or irritable. As a result, the brain sends out abnormal signals. This leads to repeated, unpredictable seizures. (A single seizure that does not happen again is not epilepsy.)

Epilepsy may be due to a medical condition or injury that affects the brain. Or, the cause may be unknown (idiopathic).

Common causes of epilepsy include:

• Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Dementia, such as Alzheimer disease
• Traumatic brain injury
• Infections, including brain abscess, meningitis, encephalitis, and HIV/AIDS
• Brain problems that are present at birth (congenital brain defect)
• Brain injury that occurs during or near birth
• Metabolism disorders present at birth (such as phenylketonuria)
• Brain tumor
• Abnormal blood vessels in the brain
• Other illness that damages or destroys brain tissue
• Seizure disorders that run in families (hereditary epilepsy)

Epileptic seizures usually begin between ages 5 and 20. There is also a higher chance of seizures in adults older than 60. But epileptic seizures can happen at any age. There may be a family history of seizures or epilepsy.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. Some people may have simple staring spells. Others have violent shaking and loss of alertness. The type of seizure depends on the part of the brain that is affected.

Most of the time, the seizure is similar to the one before it. Some people with epilepsy have a strange sensation before each seizure. Sensations may be tingling, smelling an odor that is not actually there, or emotional changes. This is called an aura.

Your doctor can tell you more about the specific type of seizure you may have:

• Absence seizures include seizures involving a change in behavior but without changes in motor movement (such as staring spells). They may occur along with generalized seizures.
• Focal onset seizures may occur with no change in awareness. Symptoms depend on what part of the brain is affected. These seizures may spread to the whole brain.
• Generalized seizures involve both sides of the brain and cause impaired awareness. Abnormal movements involving the whole body are often present. Clenching of jaw and losing control of urine and bowels may occur.

Exams and Tests

The doctor will perform a physical exam. This will include a detailed look at the brain and nervous system.

An EEG (electroencephalogram) will be done to check the electrical activity in the brain. People with epilepsy often have abnormal electrical activity seen on this test. In some cases, the test shows the area in the brain where the seizures start. The brain may appear normal after a seizure or between seizures.

To diagnose epilepsy or plan for epilepsy surgery, you may need to:

• Wear an EEG recorder for days or weeks as you go about your everyday life.
• Stay in a special hospital where brain activity can be recorded while video cameras capture what happens to you during the seizure. This is called video EEG.

Tests that may be done include:

• Blood chemistry
• Blood sugar
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Kidney function tests
• Genetic tests
• Liver function tests
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
• Tests for infectious diseases

Head CT or MRI scan is often done to find the cause and location of the problem in the brain.

Treatment

Treatment for epilepsy includes taking medicines, lifestyle changes, and sometimes surgery.

If epilepsy is due to a tumor, abnormal blood vessels, or bleeding in the brain, surgery to treat these disorders may make the seizures stop.

Medicines to prevent seizures, called anticonvulsants (or antiepileptic drugs), may reduce the number of future seizures:

• These drugs are taken by mouth. Which type you are prescribed depends on the type of seizures you have.
• Your dosage may need to be changed from time to time. You may need regular blood tests to check for side effects.
• Always take your medicine on time and as directed. Missing a dose can cause you to have a seizure. Do not stop taking or change medicines on your own. Talk to your doctor first.
• Many epilepsy medicines cause birth defects. Women who plan to become pregnant should tell their doctor in advance in order to adjust medicines.

Many epilepsy drugs may affect the health of your bones. Talk to your doctor about whether you need vitamins and other supplements.

Epilepsy that does not get better after 2 or 3 anti-seizure drugs have been tried is called "medically refractory epilepsy." In this case, the doctor may recommend surgery to:

• Remove the abnormal brain cells causing the seizures.
• Place a vagal nerve stimulator (VNS). This device is similar to a heart pacemaker. It can help reduce the number of seizures.

Some children are placed on a special diet to help prevent seizures. The most popular one is the ketogenic diet. A diet low in carbohydrates, such as the Atkins diet, may also be helpful in some adults. Be sure to discuss these options with your doctor before trying them.

Lifestyle or medical changes can increase the risk for a seizure in adults and children with epilepsy. Talk with your doctor about:

• New prescribed drugs, vitamins, or supplements
• Emotional stress
• Illness, especially infection
• Lack of sleep
• Pregnancy
• Skipping doses of epilepsy medicines
• Use of alcohol or other recreational drugs
• Exposure to flickering lights or stimuli
• Hyperventilation 

Other considerations:

• People with epilepsy should wear medical alert jewelry so that prompt treatment can be obtained if a seizure occurs.
• People with poorly controlled epilepsy should not drive. Check your state's law about which people with a history of seizures are allowed to drive.
• Do not use machinery or do activities that can cause loss of awareness, such as climbing to high places, biking, and swimming alone.

Support Groups

The stress of having epilepsy or being a caretaker of someone with epilepsy can often be helped by joining a support group. In these groups, members share common experiences and problems.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Some people with epilepsy may be able to reduce or even stop their anti-seizure medicines after having no seizures for several years. Certain types of childhood epilepsy go away or improve with age, usually in the late teens or 20s.

For many people, epilepsy is a lifelong condition. In these cases, anti-seizure drugs need to be continued. There is a very low risk for sudden death with epilepsy.

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

• Difficulty learning
• Breathing in food or saliva into the lungs during a seizure, which can cause aspiration pneumonia
• Injury from falls, bumps, self-inflicted bites, driving or operating machinery during a seizure
• Permanent brain damage (stroke or other damage)
• Side effects of medicines

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call 911 or the local emergency number if:

• This is the first time a person has a seizure.
• A seizure occurs in someone who is not wearing a medical ID bracelet (which has instructions explaining what to do).

In the case of someone who has had seizures before, call 911 or the local emergency number for any of these emergency situations:

• This is a longer seizure than the person normally has, or an unusual number of seizures for the person.
• Repeated seizures over a few minutes.
• Repeated seizures in which consciousness or normal behavior is not regained between them (status epilepticus).

Call your doctor if any new symptoms occur:

• Loss of hair
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rash
• Side effects of medicines, such as drowsiness, restlessness, confusion, sedation
• Tremors or abnormal movements, or problems with coordination

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent epilepsy. Proper diet and sleep, and staying away from alcohol and illegal drugs may decrease the likelihood of triggering seizures in people with epilepsy.

Reduce the risk for head injury by wearing a helmet during risky activities. This can lessen the likelihood of a brain injury that leads to seizures and epilepsy.

Related Information

References

Abou-Khalil BW, Gallagher MJ, Macdonald RL. Epilepsies. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley's and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 100.

González HFJ, Yengo-Kahn A, Englot DJ. Vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of epilepsy. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2019;30(2):219-230. PMID: 30898273 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30898273/.

Thijs RD, Surges R, O'Brien TJ, Sander JW. Epilepsy in adults. Lancet. 2019;393(10172):689-701. PMID: 30686584 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30686584/.

Wiebe S. The epilepsies. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 375.

Review Date: 1/23/2022  

Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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