Looking for Other Disorders

Medical disorders involving other systems of the body can cause seizures, so your doctor will perform a general medical examination as an important part of your first visit for seizures. An examination and some laboratory tests can tell the doctor whether your liver, kidneys, and other organ systems are working properly.

Some people have both epilepsy and a medical disorder such as kidney disease or an overactive thyroid gland. If you have a disorder of this kind, both your neurologist and your primary doctor should know about it. Your medical disorder may be involved in causing your seizures. Even if it is not, the presence of another disorder may affect the seizure medicines that are prescribed for you. Either the disorder itself may affect the way the medicine works in your body, or the medicine prescribed to treat it may interact with your seizure medicine.

Topic Editor: Carl W. Bazil, M.D., Ph.D.
Last Reviewed: 3/8/04