How to Treat Brain Tumor Seizures

Seizures may occur when the growth of a tumor in the brain causes pressure within the confined space of the skull. As the tumor presses against areas of the brain, abnormal electrical activity occurs and seizures are a result. Consult your physician immediately for a diagnosis if you think you had a seizure.

1. Determine if you're suffering from seizures. Most cause a loss of consciousness, along with shaking and twitching of the body. Generalized seizures, also known as Grand Mal seizures, can cause a loss of consciousness, and symptoms may manifest on just one side of the body. Symptoms may present within seconds of a seizure, or a full minute may pass. Blocks of time that can’t be recalled, inappropriate laughter, fear or panic are signs to look out for. Many seizure sufferers also report a bitter metallic taste in their mouths, unusual sensations of the skin that spread and sudden falls. Symptoms may come and go quickly, or last as long as 15 minutes.


2. Go on a drug protocol. The doctor may prescribe anti-epileptic drugs, known as anti-convulsants or AEDS. If a patient has not suffered from seizures before, its presence is considered more diagnostically relevant. Common anti-seizure drugs are Dilantin (phenytoin), Tegretol (carbamazepine), Topomax (topiramate) and Lamictal (lamotrigine). Chemotherapy drugs may interact with AEDS, altering the effectiveness of either drug. A doctor performs a blood test to check. The medication used to treat patients varies according to the type and severity of seizures. Common side effects are nausea, fatigue, general weakness and a lack of coordination.


3. Have surgery to remove the tumor. Surgical removal of it, or a portion, is tried if the drug protocols are not totally successful. If the tumor cannot be totally removed, surgery can help ease the pressure on the brain, thereby reducing the number of seizures. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are often follow-up treatment. Tumors that cannot be completely removed may return and cause more growths.