Many tests are recommended for a person with seizures. These may include blood and urine tests and CT and MRI scans. One test routinely recommended is the electroencephalogram , which measures the electrical activity of the brain. The EEG done during a seizure confirms the diagnosis of seizures and can pinpoint a lesion for possible surgical removal. It may also help classify the seizure disorder.
Classification is important for determining which anticonvulsant drug to start.
The first step in treatment of seizures is to identify the cause and remove it or avoid it, if possible. Drugs are the usual subsequent treatment for epilepsy, and the type and dose of drug depends on the type of seizure. All drugs used to treat the seizures have side effects, and it is important to monitor them on a regular basis. Monitoring the amount of drug in the bloodstream is also very important to assure a steady drug dose. This surgery is performed in only a few specialized medical centers and, like the drugs, is not without risk.