Diagnosis A doctor will want to find out several things before a diagnosis of epilepsy is made. The EEG of people with epilepsy often shows large spikes. Sometimes the EEG must be recorded for a whole day in the hospital or at home because a short test does not always pick up the abnormal activity. Sometimes seizures stop without treatment. These drugs, however, do not cure the disorder.
Antiepileptic drugs work by reducing the abnormal firing of cortical neurons.
These drugs may change the activity of neurotransmitters responsible for seizures or alter the way ions flow in and out of neurons. Unfortunately, many of these drugs have side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness and nausea so doctors must balance these undesirable effects with seizure control. It is also important to remember that different drugs are used to treat different types of seizures. When medication fails and the area of the brain where the seizure occurs is known, surgery may be performed to treat epilepsy. This is performed to remove brain tissue where the epileptic seizure starts.