Share, Send, or Save AAA

Diagnosing Partial Onset Seizures in Adults With Epilepsy

Doctors use many tools for diagnosis


When a doctor sets out to diagnose the cause of seizures, he or she follows several steps:
  • Completing a full patient history
  • Performing a neurological exam
  • Doing blood and other clinical tests
  • Ruling out other conditions, such as fainting, hypoglycemia, or non-epileptic seizures
  • Determining if the symptoms fit a recognized syndrome
Once these steps are complete, the doctor can often identify the type of seizure and select the most appropriate therapy.

What you should tell your doctor


If you have had a seizure, your doctor will want to know about all the circumstances surrounding the seizure. This is because certain temporary conditions can cause seizures, such as head injury, exposure to certain drugs, a high fever, or abnormal levels of glucose or sodium in the blood. So tell your doctor about the details surrounding your seizure. Your doctor will also want to know how often these seizures occur.

Other tools your doctor may use


A careful exam and a thorough medical history are always the first steps. But many times a doctor may use tools such as an electroencephalograph (EEG). This is a machine that records brain waves. Brain waves during a seizure may show patterns that indicate epilepsy.

A doctor may also order other scans, such as a CT (computerized tomography) scan or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, to look for scars or growths on the brain that may cause seizures.

Certain medicines can help control seizures


There are medicines that can help control seizures. But many people who take 1 or even 2 or more of these medicines still have seizures. Once your doctor knows about your symptoms, he or she may suggest an adjunctive (add-on) therapy, such as LYRICA. LYRICA is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an adjunctive treatment for partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy.

On the next page, learn how you may benefit from adjunctive treatment.
LYRICA is indicated to treat fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve pain, and pain after shingles. LYRICA is also indicated to treat partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy who take 1 or more drugs for seizures.

Important Safety Information

LYRICA is not for everyone. LYRICA may cause serious, even life threatening, allergic reactions. Stop taking LYRICA and call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a serious allergic reaction. Some signs are swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat or neck or if you have any trouble breathing, or have a rash, hives or blisters.

Drugs used to treat seizures increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. LYRICA may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your doctor right away if you have new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, do not stop LYRICA without first talking to your doctor.

LYRICA may cause swelling of your hands, legs and feet, which can be serious for people with heart problems. LYRICA may cause dizziness and sleepiness. You should not drive or work with machines until you know how LYRICA affects you. Also, tell your doctor right away about muscle pain or problems along with feeling sick and feverish, or any changes in your eyesight including blurry vision or if you have any kidney problems or get dialysis.

Some of the most common side effects of LYRICA are dizziness, blurry vision, weight gain, sleepiness, trouble concentrating, swelling of your hands and feet, dry mouth, and feeling "high." If you have diabetes, tell your doctor about any skin sores.

You may have a higher chance for swelling and hives if you are also taking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors so tell your doctor if you are taking these medications. You may have a higher chance of swelling of your hands or feet or gaining weight if you are also taking certain diabetes medicines. Do not drink alcohol while on LYRICA. You may have a higher chance for dizziness and sleepiness if you take LYRICA with alcohol, narcotic pain medicines, or medicines for anxiety.

Before you start LYRICA, tell your doctor if you are planning to father a child, or if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you have had a drug or alcohol problem, you may be more likely to misuse LYRICA.

In studies, a specific type of blood vessel tumor was seen in mice, but not in rats. The meaning of these findings in humans is not known.

Do not stop taking LYRICA without talking to your doctor. If you stop suddenly you may have headaches, nausea, diarrhea or trouble sleeping and if you have epilepsy, you may have seizures more often.

View the Medication Guide

View the Full Prescribing Information
The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.
Copyright © 2012 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. PBP01545A/291119-01