Neurology Services for Epilepsy

If you have epilepsy, UPMC is here for you.

We understand the impact seizures have on everyday life — from physical symptoms to emotional and social challenges.

As a level 4 epilepsy center, we have earned the highest ranking given by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC). Our epileptologists provide expert diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of seizures using the latest techniques and therapies.

Find the Right Care For You

What Is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic condition that causes repeated, unprovoked seizures. The seizures are caused by abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain.

Seizures can present in different ways, from abnormal sensations to difficulty with movement, speech, and/or loss of awareness or consciousness. They usually don't last very long, but they can be scary. The good news is that there are many ways to manage epilepsy and reduce or eliminate seizures.

What types of seizures do we treat?

We treat all types of seizures, including:

Focal onset seizures

Focal onset seizures — also called partial onset seizures — start in one area on one side of your brain.

Types include:

• Focal preserved consciousness seizures — Awareness and consciousness are preserved or maintained throughout the seizure, with symptoms including changes in your senses, emotions, muscle movements, vision, or balance.
• Focal impaired consciousness seizures — Cause loss of awareness or consciousness, with symptoms often including a blank stare and decreased responsiveness, sometimes with odd facial or hand movements.
• Focal to bilateral tonic clonic seizure — May begin with preserved consciousness and minor symptoms with progression to loss of consciousness with body stiffening and jerking.

Generalized onset seizures

Generalized-onset seizures involve a larger network of abnormal electrical activity on both sides of the brain.

Types include:

• Absence seizures (petit mal seizures) — Cause a blank stare and sometimes associated with rapid eye blinking.
• Atonic seizures (drop seizure) — Cause loss of muscle tone and control that can lead to falls.
• Clonic seizures — Cause muscles to jerk.
• Myoclonic seizures — Cause brief muscle jerks, sometimes affecting the whole body or specific extremities.
• Tonic seizures — Cause muscle stiffness and tension.
• Bilateral tonic clonic seizures — Cause loss of consciousness with body stiffening and jerking, sometimes associated with tongue biting or loss of bowel or bladder control.

What Epilepsy Services Do We Offer?

Our center uses the most advanced technology for testing and diagnosing epilepsy.

Our goal is to control your seizures with the lowest doses of antiseizure medication possible, and the least amount of side effects. Our team of experts works to ensure an accurate diagnosis is made, and tailors treatment to each individual's seizures and type of epilepsy.

If medications don’t work to control your seizures, we offer the full spectrum of modern surgical procedures for epilepsy.

Diagnostic services for epilepsy

Epilepsy diagnostic tests

We offer a range of tests to diagnose epilepsy, including:

• Electroencephalography (EEG) — Measures electrical activity in your brain, which can help doctors pinpoint the area of the brain where your seizures may start.
• MRI — MRI produces detailed images of the brain by using a combination of powerful magnetic fields and radio waves looking for any small or subtle structural abnormalities that could explain why seizures may have started.
• Video-EEG (vEEG) monitoring — Usually performed in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). vEEG is a combination of EEG monitoring with video and sound to allow for recording of seizures that can help guide treatment.

Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)

If you need further evaluation, you may need to stay in our ten-bed, state-of-the-art EMU for three to seven days for video-EEG monitoring. Our EMU is a subspecialized diagnostic unit that provides gold-standard testing for people with seizures, both epileptic and nonepileptic.

During this study, we'll use a vEEG to record your seizures and analyze your brain's electrical activity during seizures. A vEEG is a simultaneous recording of your clinical symptoms via video and your brain activity via EEG to obtain the most accurate diagnosis and identify a seizure focus when possible.

During an EMU admission, your antiseizure medication(s) may be reduced or withheld in a safe way to help capture seizures. Nurses, doctors, and EEG technologists staff the EMU 24/7.

Treatment services for epilepsy

We offer a full range of epilepsy treatments, including:

Medication for epilepsy

Antiseizure medications help stop seizures in about two-thirds of people with epilepsy. For those whose seizures don’t stop after trying and failing two antiseizure medications, surgery may be an option.

Surgery for epilepsy

Surgery is an option for some people. Your care team can refer you to a neurosurgeon. Learn more about Epilepsy Surgery at UPMC.

What Can I Expect?

When you come to UPMC for epilepsy care, our team of epilepsy experts will:

• Assess your symptoms and condition to find out what type(s) of seizures you have and their cause, when possible.
• Use advanced testing to make a proper diagnosis.
• Design a treatment plan aimed to control seizures with the least amount of side effects.

Our level 4 epilepsy center

A level 4 epilepsy center is the highest ranking you can receive from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC).

This ranking means UPMC provides:

• Thorough expert assessments and complete testing to help make a correct diagnosis of epilepsy.
• All approved treatment options, including the latest antiseizure drugs and non-drug treatments.
• The benefit of getting a consensus expert opinion from a multidisciplinary team.
• The chance to meet with an epilepsy surgeon, when needed, to discuss brain surgery and help you decide if it's right for you.

We'll make sure you're offered the best possible medical treatment for your seizure type. If antiseizure medications don't help, epilepsy surgery may be a treatment option.

Our epilepsy team

At UPMC, our team of experts includes:

• Neurologists with specialized training in epilepsy (epileptologists).
• Neuropsychologists trained in diagnosing and treating brain-based disorders.
• Neuroradiologists and nuclear medicine doctors with special expertise in reading and interpreting imaging findings.
• Neurosurgeons with expert training in epilepsy surgery.
• Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with many years of caring for people with epilepsy.
• EEG and MEG technologists.

Why Choose UPMC for Epilepsy Care?

When you choose UPMC for epilepsy care, you will receive:

• Access to experienced epilepsy providers — We’re among the highest volume epilepsy centers in the country.
• Nationally accredited care — We’re a level 4 epilepsy center, the highest ranking by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC).
• Multidisciplinary care and support — We take a team approach to your care and offer expert opinions from epileptologists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, and supportive care professionals. 

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By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2026-04-13.