For patients & families

When seizures keep happening, it is reasonable to ask what comes next.

A comprehensive epilepsy evaluation can revisit the diagnosis, bring a long treatment history into focus and clarify the options available.

Review your care pathway ↓Join a live family program

Two medications can be an important signal

The ILAE definition of drug-resistant epilepsy focuses on two tolerated, appropriately selected and used medication schedules that have not achieved sustained seizure freedom.

Read the ILAE overview ↗

≠

Evaluation helps clarify the next step

The first goal is to understand what is happening and whether additional testing or a different treatment path should be considered.

Your neurologist can remain central

Specialty evaluation can add focused expertise while supporting communication and ongoing care with the clinician who knows you.

Your treatment story

The pathway can be long. Make each step visible.

Use this checklist to organize questions for your healthcare team. You do not need every box checked before asking for an epilepsy specialist’s perspective.

Your review progress0 of 8

Use this list to prepare for a conversation with your neurologist or epilepsy team.

01Describe what is happeningDo you have a clear description of the events, how long they last and what recovery looks like? A safe smartphone video may sometimes help a clinician understand an event.02Confirm the diagnosisHas an epilepsy specialist reviewed whether the events are epileptic seizures and, if so, the likely seizure type or syndrome?03Build the medication historyCan you list each antiseizure medication, the highest dose, whether it helped and why it was stopped?04Count appropriate medication trialsHave two medications that were appropriate for the seizure type been tried at tolerated doses without sustained seizure freedom?05Review EEG informationHas an epileptologist reviewed prior routine, ambulatory or video EEG results and compared them with the event history?06Ask about epilepsy-protocol imagingWas the MRI performed with an epilepsy-focused protocol, and should the images be reviewed again by a specialist neuroradiologist?07Reach a comprehensive epilepsy teamHas a multidisciplinary program reviewed the complete story rather than only changing one part of the treatment plan?08Understand the full range of optionsHave you discussed continued medical care, dietary therapy, resection, ablation and neuromodulation when relevant?

Inside an evaluation

No single test tells the whole story.

A comprehensive team may compare multiple sources of information to understand whether events are seizures, where they may begin and how treatment could affect important brain functions.

Video EEGCompares brain-wave patterns with recorded events.

Epilepsy-protocol MRIUses focused sequences and expert review to look for subtle structural findings.

NeuropsychologyAssesses memory, language, attention and other functions relevant to planning.

Team conferenceBrings the information together before recommending a next step.

Watch & learn

A trusted starting video library.

These links open educational resources from national epilepsy organizations.

▶Safety

Epilepsy FoundationSeizure First Aid Video LibraryWatch on source site ↗

▶Evaluation

National Association of Epilepsy CentersHow an Epilepsy Center Can HelpWatch on source site ↗

▶Treatment

CURE EpilepsyEpilepsy Surgery Explained: Part 1Watch on source site ↗

▶Video series

CURE EpilepsyEpilepsy ExplainedWatch on source site ↗

Patient & family resources

Reliable information beyond this site.

External resourceEpilepsy Foundation

Plain-language information about diagnosis, treatment, living with epilepsy and seizure safety.

Visit resource ↗External resourceFind an Accredited Epilepsy Center

Search the National Association of Epilepsy Centers directory by location.

Visit resource ↗External resourceCDC Epilepsy Resources

Public-health guidance on epilepsy basics, treatment, safety and daily life.

Visit resource ↗External resourceILAE Patient Care

International educational resources about drug-resistant epilepsy and epilepsy surgery.

Visit resource ↗

For emergencies

Call 911 when a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, repeats without recovery, occurs in water, causes injury or breathing difficulty, or is a first seizure. Follow the person’s seizure action plan when one is available.

CDC seizure first aid guidance ↗