Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Statement Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To see our full nondiscrimination statement, click here.

Campus Construction Update

Starting September 14, we’re closing the Menino building lobby entrance. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

A seizure is sudden uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain that can cause a variety of physical manifestations, including shaking or stiffening of the arms and legs, changes in awareness, loss of consciousness, or abnormal behaviors. They usually last up to minutes at a time. Seizures that last longer are considered a medical emergency. Seizures are divided into those that are generalized and focal. Generalized seizures involve all areas of the brain when they start, while focal seizures involve only one part of the brain and may later spread to others.

Epilepsy is defined as recurrent seizures. Epilepsy can have a variety of causes, including head injuries, stroke, brain infections, and genetic predisposition. An individual may also experience seizures without having epilepsy. For example, a person may experience only one seizure in his or her lifetime if triggered by certain medications, illicit drugs, a high fever, electrolyte abnormalities, or severe lack of sleep.

Epilepsy can often be controlled by medications. However, in cases in which medications are insufficient, patients may receive neurological procedures or even brain surgery to control seizures.

Common Symptoms

  • Uncontrollable shaking of arms and legs
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Loss of awareness
  • Staring
  • Sensation of fear or anxiety

Diagnostics

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Treatment

  • Medications (“Anti-epileptic drugs”)
  • Vagal nerve stimulation
  • Brain surgery (rare cases)

Our Program

The Epilepsy Program at Boston Medical Center provides comprehensive consultation for patients within the clinic and hospital setting. We are a Level 4 Epilepsy Center as reported in US News and World Report. We offer our patients diagnostic clarity with a full range of imaging and diagnostic evaluations including EEGs, epilepsy-specific imaging, and neuropsychological evaluations.

Departments and Programs Who Treat This Condition

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Neurosurgery

We provide comprehensive surgical treatment of the spine for trauma, degenerative conditions, congenital problems, and more. Our surgeons are experts in less invasive surgical tec…
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Neurology

The Neurology Department offers a full spectrum of neurological care for all neurological disorders, from epilepsy to headaches to Alzheimer’s disease. Our robust research program…
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Epilepsy Program

The Epilepsy Program offers a full range of diagnostic tests and treatments for epilepsy, with doctors who are focused solely on this condition. 
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Pediatric Neurosurgery

We have extensive experience in pediatric neurosurgery, using state-of-the-art techniques and compassion to provide expert care and guidance during a potentially difficult time.