Epilepsy and Seizures

Expert treatment for epilepsy and seizures in San Diego

A doctor talks with his patient, representing the expert treatment for epilepsy and seizure disorders at Scripps.

Expert treatment for epilepsy and seizures in San Diego

Whether you’re newly diagnosed with epilepsy or have been living with seizures for years, you’ll find the expert care and support you need at Scripps. 


Our board-certified neurologists are specially trained to care for people with epilepsy and seizures. We know that epilepsy is manageable, and we’re committed to your daily health and long-term well-being. 

About epilepsy and seizures

Seizures are caused by sudden abnormal electricity in the brain and can cause odd sensations, unusual behavior, involuntary movements and loss of consciousness. Not all seizures are epilepsy, which is defined by a tendency to have recurrent seizures.


Anyone can develop epilepsy at any age. The causes of seizures are complex, and not all causes are known. The condition may be inherited from a parent. Some developmental disorders may raise the risk. Changes in the brain due to trauma, disease, stroke, a brain tumor or other factors also may lead to epilepsy.

Epilepsy symptoms

Symptoms of epilepsy can vary from person to person. The most common signs and symptoms include:


  • Temporary confusion
  • Staring without responding to sound or visual stimuli
  • Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
  • Loss of consciousness or awareness
  • Feelings of fear, anxiety or deja vu


Having these symptoms does not mean you have epilepsy. Many of these symptoms can be caused by other conditions. But if you do have these symptoms, make an appointment with your physician to find the cause and appropriate treatment.

Diagnostic testing

Epilepsy is rarely diagnosed in a single visit. As part of your assessment, your doctor is likely to ask what your symptoms are like before, during and after a seizure. It is helpful to bring someone to your appointment who has witnessed your seizures and can describe them. Your doctor may also order diagnostic tests, including:


  • Blood tests to check for infections or other causes of seizures
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) to look for abnormal electrical activity in the brain
  • Neuropsychological testing to evaluate for memory and cognitive impairment that can occur in patients who have frequent seizures
  • Imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scan to look for damaged tissue, tumors, bleeding or positron emission tomography (PET) scan to look for damaged tissue, tumors, bleeding or other issues in the brain
  • Neuropsychological testing to evaluate for memory and cognitive impairment that can occur in patients who have frequent seizures.

Epilepsy treatment at Scripps

We take a collaborative approach to managing epilepsy and seizures. Our neurologists will partner with you to create a plan to help treat seizures and minimize side effects from treatment. 

Epilepsy medications

Daily medication is the first-line treatment to prevent seizures, and most of our patients use it successfully. The effectiveness and side effects of seizure medication may vary for each individual, so it’s important to let your neurologist know if you have side effects or other concerns.

Video EEG

If medication isn’t controlling your symptoms well enough, your physician may recommend long-term monitoring in our inpatient epilepsy unit at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.


Over a two- to five-day period, neurologists who are fellowship-trained in epilepsy management use continuous EEG monitoring combined with video surveillance to record the exact moment you have a seizure. 


By pinpointing precisely where in your brain the seizure occurred, your physician can confirm or rule out a true epilepsy diagnosis and determine the most appropriate treatment.

Epilepsy surgery

When seizures fail to resolve with two or more medications, we may recommend surgery to help alleviate symptoms of epilepsy. Surgical treatment options include:


  • Lobe resection, which involves removing the part of the brain that is causing the seizure
  • Laser ablation, a minimally invasive alternative to lobe resection
  • Implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), deep brain stimulator (DBS) or responsive neural stimulator (RNS), which can help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures.


If surgery is an option, we will refer you to an expert neurosurgeon.

Epilepsy treatment locations

Scripps Health offers epilepsy services at the following locations in San Diego County: