Epilepsy Treatments
Designated as a Level 4 epilepsy center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, Cedars-Sinai offers treatment for mild to severe forms of epilepsy. Whether you need seizure medications or epilepsy surgery, we develop a treatment plan uniquely tailored to your needs.
Seizure Medications
Many people with epilepsy achieve long-term relief with seizure medications. Cedars-Sinai offers dozens of medications, including newly approved options. We help you achieve the greatest benefit while minimizing side effects.
Here's what you need to know about seizure medications:
- The seizure medications that are right for you depend on the type of epilepsy you have.
- We consider your circumstances, such as the way your body processes medications, in determining which options will work best.
- Your care may include one or more seizure medications.
- You will need to take these medications every day at specific times.
Specialized Care for Intractable Epilepsy
Cedars-Sinai is among a select number of programs in the country capable of caring for people with intractable epilepsy. Epilepsy is considered intractable if two or more seizure medications are unable to control a person's symptoms.
If you have intractable epilepsy, we may recommend:
- Functional imaging tests: Your care may include tests such as Ictal SPECT and PET scans to help us identify where in the brain the seizures start.
- Clinical trials: Our participation in epilepsy research means that you have access to clinical trials of new medications. Find out more about epilepsy clinical trials.
- Surgery: We treat some forms of intractable epilepsy with surgery. You receive care from an experienced neurosurgeon who specializes in epilepsy surgery. We deliver precise surgical treatments, helping you achieve exceptional results.
Surgery for Epilepsy
For difficult-to-treat cases that don't respond to seizure medication, we may consider surgery. Our team reviews your case carefully and only recommends surgery if all doctors agree it's the best option.
Your care may include:
- Resective surgery, which involves removing the abnormal brain tissue causing your seizures.
- Neuromodulation, which uses implantable devices to in the brain. Our offerings include:
- Vagus nerve stimulation: The device sends electrical pulses to your brain through the vagus nerve.
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS): The device uses electrical signals to help regulate brain and seizure activity affecting broad areas of the brain.
- Responsive neurostimulation (RNS): The device monitors brain waves and responds to unusual activity.
Have Questions or Need a Second Opinion?
Call us or send a message to our care team. You can also request that we call you back at your convenience.