July 2025

Best Neurologist in Vasai & Virar Dr. Siddharth Deepak KharkarMBBS, MD (Neurology, USA), MHSRecognized as one of theBest Neurologists in MumbaiBy India Today magazine (2020, 2021) & Outlook India Magazine (2020).Best Neurologist in Vasai & VirarEpilepsy Specialist in Vasai & VirarParkinson’s Disease Specialist in Vasai & VirarCall  –  727-624-9168Dr. Siddharth Kharkar has been recognized as one of the best neurologists in Mumbai by Outlook India magazine and India today Magazine.Dr. Kharkar is a USA board certified (American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology certified) Neurologist. He has trained in the best institutions in India, US and UK including KEM hospital in Mumbai, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), USA & Kings College in London.Dr. Siddharth Kharkar was part of the Epilepsy faculty at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, USA.Currently, Dr. Siddharth Kharkar is a General Neurologist, Epilepsy specialist (Seizure specialist) & Parkinson’s specialist practicing in Mumbai, India.He is also one of the current International coordinators of the Non-Motor Parkinson’s disease study Group (International Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Society). Please click one location Nanavati Hospital (Mumbai)Thane & nearby areasVasai-Virar & nearby areasNeuro+ Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar2nd floor, Thakur Arcade, Viva Super Market, Gaothan, Virar West, Virar, Maharashtra 401303Call  –  727-624-9168neuroplusclinic@gmail.com Dr. Siddharth Kharkar is one of the Best Neurologist in Vasai & Virar. He is one of the Epilepsy Specialists in Vasai & Virar and one of the best Parkinson’s specialists in Vasai & Virar. NeuroPlus provides compassionate expert clinical treatment for all neurological disorders, especially for Epilepsy (seizures) & Parkinson’s disease. The following conditions are treated by Dr. Siddharth Kharkar: Treatment of Epilepsy / Seizures Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease / Tremor Treatment of  Headache / Migraine Treatment of Memory loss / Dementia Treatment of Paralysis / Stroke Treatment of Dizziness / Vertigo Slowness or Unsteadiness during walking Pain or weakness in any part of the body. Because of his background, Dr. Kharkar is able to provide the best neurology treatment, tertiary-level therapy for Epilepsy (seizure) and Parkinson’s patients in Vasai & Virar. For a selected group of patients, Epilepsy surgery in Vasai & Virar can be offered. This can be life-changing and can enable many patients to have a normal productive life. Dr. Kharkar is very particular about the treatment of Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as depression, agitation, constipation and balance. Neuroplus clinic provides one of the best treatments for Epilepsy in Vasai & Virar. Epilepsy surgery by best neurologist in Vasai & Virar is provided by NeuroPlus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic. EEG, and Video EEG monitoring can be arranged. Excellent treatment for Parkinson’s disease in Vasai & Virar is provided.  Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery in Vasai & Virar is also provided. Frequently asked questions: Which is the nearest Neuroplus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar to this location? The nearest clinic to your location is at the following address:2nd floor, Thakur Arcade,Viva Super Market, Gaothan,Virar West, Virar,Maharashtra 401303 Click here for the location on google maps. How do I get to Neuroplus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar near Vasai? The clinic is located right next to the railway station. Get off the train and go to Virar(WEST). The clinic is located in the building adjoining the Virar railway station. The name of the building is Thakur Arcade. Please go to the second floor where you will be greeted by the receptionist. If you are located in some other part, you can take a rickshaw. You can also drive to this location – however, parking is a bit difficult since it is very close to the railway station (See below). If you are coming by car for example, here are some driving directions: Vasai-VirarMaharashtra Continue to Ambadi Rd/Vasai Rd/Vasai Flyover5 min (1.2 km) Take Tarkhad Rd/Vasai-Gass Rd, Gass Rd and Bolinj-Sopara Rd to Agashi Rd/Raja Chatrapati Shivaji Marg/Station Rd in Gokul Township, Virar34 min (12.8 km) Follow Agashi Rd/Raja Chatrapati Shivaji Marg/Station Rd to Gaothan Rd4 min (900 m)NeuroPlus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar2nd floor, Thakur Arcade, Viva Super Market, Gaothan, Virar West, Virar, Maharashtra 401303 OR Vasai-VirarMaharashtra Continue to Ambadi Rd/Vasai Rd/Vasai Flyover5 min (1.2 km) Continue on Ambadi Rd/Vasai Rd. Drive from Vasant Nagari Rd, Achole Rd, Central Park Rd and Virar – Nala Sopara Link Rd to Vartak Ward, Virar34 min (11.6 km) Drive to Gaothan Rd4 min (800 m)NeuroPlus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar2nd floor, Thakur Arcade, Viva Super Market, Gaothan, Virar West, Virar, Maharashtra 401303 Directions to best neurologist in Vasai – Virar Map of Neuroplus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar near Vasai Is Parking available at Neuroplus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar near Vasai? Since the clinic is close to the railway station parking for 4 wheelers is not available directly on the premises. However, just behind the building there is a road which is walking distance and can be used for Parking. Please note that even in this area parking may or may not be full, and the clinic staff cannot take responsibility for common public areas. Click here for the location on google maps. Parking is always available in the Virat Nagar area, which is a 10 minute walk away. Our advise would be to drop the patient off at the building using the main road, and then park your car in one of these areas. Is an elevator available at Neuroplus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar near Vasai? Yes. The OPD is located on the second floor, but a lift is available. Are wheelchairs available at Neuroplus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar near Vasai? Yes. You can ask the attendant at the clinic for a wheelchair and then keep this wheelchair with you during the duration of the visit. All locations are wheelchair-accessible. What are the Fees for the Neuroplus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar near Vasai? The fees are as follows: – Rs. 1500 for new patients– Rs. 900 for follow-up patients Follow-up after an

This is an article from the Safe Pregnancy in Epilepsy patient guide. In some people, Epilepsy may be hereditary.  But even if you have epilepsy, the chance that your child will have epilepsy is 5% or lower. Epilepsy is inherited through abnormal epilepsy genes. These epilepsy genes may be dominant or recessive (explained below). So transmission of epilepsy can be dominant or recessive. Genetic testing for epilepsy before pregnancy may be useful in the future. At present, genetic testing for epilepsy is rarely useful. Hello! I am Dr Siddharth Kharkar, a Neurologist in Thane, India and a Neurologist in Mumbai, India. I provide Parkinson’s treatment in India and am an Epilepsy specialist in India. I provide Epilepsy surgery in India at Mumbai & Parkinson’s surgery in India. Come, let’s learn together about this important topic. Table Of Contents Is Epilepsy a hereditary disease? How commonly is Epilepsy inherited? How is Epilepsy inherited? What are “Recessive” genes? What are “Dominant” genes? If I have a Dominant epilepsy gene, will my child have Epilepsy? Is Epilepsy more likely to be transmitted if the Parents are related? Is Genetic Testing for epilepsy before pregnancy useful? Summary: Dr. Siddharth Kharkar NeuroPlus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar Is Epilepsy a hereditary disease? The word hereditary means passed on from Parents to Children. People with Epilepsy can have abnormal genes. If you have epilepsy, some of your genes may be abnormal. These genes may be passed on to your children. So, Epilepsy can be an inherited disease. Parents pass on their DNA to their children. How commonly is Epilepsy inherited? Most children of patients with Epilepsy do not develop Epilepsy. It is unlikely that your child will have Epilepsy, even if you have Epilepsy. Overall about 1% of babies are born with epilepsy. If you have epilepsy, the chance increases but only slightly. About 5% of babies born to a parent with epilepsy will have epilepsy. Overall, the chance that you will transmit epilepsy to your child is small. For example:One Italian study looked at more than 10,000 people with Epilepsy. Only 2.5% of close relatives (parents, siblings, children) of these patients had epilepsy. Therefore, in most cases the answer to the question “Is epilepsy a hereditary disease” is NO, epilepsy is not a hereditary disease. The risk of your children getting Epilepsy is higher if: You have one of the “Dominant” genes mentioned below. You have an Epilepsy syndrome with only generalized seizures, e.g. JME. Let us know more how epilepsy is inherited. How is Epilepsy inherited? Epilepsy is inherited through abnormal genes. Epilepsy genes are present in some people with epilepsy. Many people with epilepsy do not have abnormal epilepsy genes. Many people have epilepsy due to causes such as old strokes or head trauma. These people cannot pass on epilepsy to their children. In these cases, it is incorrect to say that epilepsy is hereditary. A stroke is caused by a blood clot in the brain. It can cause seizures. This form of epilepsy is not hereditary. Even if you have an abnormal epilepsy gene, it is very unlikely that your children will have epilepsy. Epilepsy genes can be Recessive or dominant. They can have incomplete penetrance. So, even if you have an abnormal epilepsy gene, it may be incorrect to say that epilepsy is hereditary. Let us know more about the terms recessive genes, dominant genes and incomplete penetrace. What are “Recessive” genes? Let us assume that you have some abnormal genes. Still, it is unlikely that your child will have epilepsy. Why is it so? It is because your child will receive two sets of genes. One set from you and another from your partner. The egg has 23 chromosomes. The sperm has 23. They combine, and the baby gets 46 chromosomes! Even if one of these sets is normal, the child will not have Epilepsy. The normal genes prevent the harmful effect of abnormal genes. These abnormal genes are called “Recessive”. Luckily, many of the genes causing Epilepsy are Recessive. So, even though epilepsy is a hereditary disease if you have recessive genes – very few members of the family actually develop epilepsy. What are “Dominant” genes? Some genes are “Dominant” in nature. This means that even if only one set of genes is faulty, the child can develop Epilepsy. If you want, you can click on the plus sign below. You will see the known Dominant genes causing Epilepsy. This table seems large! But very few people have these genes. Most people have “recessive” epilepsy genes. Dominant Epilepsy genes Abnormal Gene Mechanism: Which channel is affected Epilepsy Syndrome that it produces KCNQ2, 3 Abnormal Potassium channels on cells Benign Familial Neonatal Convulsions SCN2A Abnormal Sodium channels Benign Familial Neonatal-Infantile Seizures SCN1A, 2A, 2B, GABRG2 Same as above Generalized Epilepsy with Febrile Seizures Plus (GEFS+) SCN1A Same as above Dravet Syndrome GABRA1, EFHC1, CACNB3, CLCN2 & others Abnormal Chloride/Calcium channels Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) TSC – 1&2 Unknown Tuberous Sclerosis CHRNA – 2,4, B2, KCNT1 Acetylcholine receptors / Potassium channels Autosomal Dominant Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (ADNFLE) LG11 Abnormal Potassium Channels Autosomal Dominant Epilepsy with Auditory features (ADEAF) Unknown (?GABRG2) Unknown Familial Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (FMTLE) DEPDC5 Abnormal signalling pathways inside cells Familial Focal Epilepsy with Variable Foci (FEVF) *Non-italic = These genes may produce both focal or primary generalized epilepsy. Italic = produce only focal epilepsy. Abnormal Gene Mechanism: Which channel is affected Epilepsy Syndrome that it produces KCNQ2, 3 Abnormal Potassium channels on cells Benign Familial Neonatal Convulsions SCN2A Abnormal Sodium channels Benign Familial Neonatal-Infantile Seizures SCN1A, 2A, 2B, GABRG2 Same as above Generalized Epilepsy with Febrile Seizures Plus (GEFS+) SCN1A Same as above Dravet Syndrome GABRA1, EFHC1, CACNB3, CLCN2 & others Abnormal Chloride/Calcium channels Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) TSC – 1&2 Unknown Tuberous Sclerosis CHRNA – 2,4, B2, KCNT1 Acetylcholine receptors / Potassium channels Autosomal Dominant Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (ADNFLE) LG11 Abnormal Potassium Channels Autosomal Dominant Epilepsy with Auditory features (ADEAF) Unknown (?GABRG2) Unknown Familial Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (FMTLE) DEPDC5 Abnormal signalling pathways inside cells Familial Focal Epilepsy with Variable Foci (FEVF) *Non-italic = These genes may produce both focal or primary generalized epilepsy. Italic =

This concise information about the cause of epilepsy, diagnosis and treatment is from a handout that I give to my clinic patients. I hope it helps you. You can download the original PDF by clicking here: [Epilepsy Patient Information Handout]. Its free for use and distribution. For more extensive information, you can read the complete Epilepsy Patient Guide. Table Of Contents What does Electricity Do Inside the Brain? What is A Seizure? What should I do if someone has a seizure? What is a Seizure called in India? What is Epilepsy? When can you say That Someone has Epilepsy? Which tests can be used to TEST if a person has Epilepsy? Why is the MRI & EEG sometimes normal? What is EEG Monitoring? Can Medications Control Seizures? Is there a Medication that cures Epilepsy Permanently? Can the brain learn to control itself and stop having seizures? What if seizures are not controlled with medications? What is “Resective” Epilepsy Surgery? What is Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)? What other options are available? Dr. Siddharth Kharkar NeuroPlus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar What does Electricity Do Inside the Brain? Each part of our brain communicates with other parts using electric currents. These electric currents are strictly regulated. For example, when you want to move a small current is sent to the brain area that controls the hand. So, your hand only moves when you want it to move. What is A Seizure? Sometimes, a small part of the brain starts producing too much electric current. When there is too much electric current, abnormal things start happening. For example, your hand may start shaking without reason. Or you may become unresponsive. This is a “small seizure”. Later, this abnormal current can spread. It can involve the entire brain. At this stage the entire body starts shaking violently. This is a “Big seizure”. What should I do if someone has a seizure? The most important thing is to avoid injury. Be calm Move hard furniture away from the person. Prevent the head from hitting the ground. Turn the person to one side. If he/she vomits, the vomit should fall to the ground. Do not put anything inside the mouth. It can go into the lungs. Wait. The seizure should get over in 1-2 minutes. After the seizure is completely over, clean the mouth with your finger. Wait for the patient to wake up. Do not give any water or food until completely awake. What is a Seizure called in India? A seizure has many different names: आकड़ी–Akdi (Marathi) ऐपिलेप्सी– Mirgi (Hindi) ખેંચ – Khench (Gujurati) फिट – Fit (Many languages) What is Epilepsy? A seizure is one event. If the person has a tendency to have seizures again and again, then he is said to have Epilepsy. So, you can say that “A person with Epilepsy has Seizures”. There is no matching word for “Epilepsy” in the Indian languages. When can you say That Someone has Epilepsy? The first way is very simple to understand. If a person actually has seizures again and again, then he has Epilepsy (a tendency to have seizures). Which tests can be used to TEST if a person has Epilepsy? Two tests are commonly done: MRI – This can show abnormal spots in the brain.A “3 Tesla (3T)” MRI can show very small abnormalities. But even a 3T MRI does not show very minute abnormalities. This means the abnormal parts are too small to be seen even with the best MRI. EEG – This can show electrical sparks. If the electrical sparks only occur sometimes, the EEG may be normal. Long EEGs can detect sparks more easily. I may ask you to do a very long EEG (4 hours) & sleep less before the test (4 hours only) so that we are able to detect sparks. If the MRI or EEG are abnormal, there is a chance the patient may have more seizures (Epilepsy). Why is the MRI & EEG sometimes normal? If the MRI is normal, its actually good news! It means the abnormality is so small that it is not seen on the MRI. 7 Tesla (7T) MRIs in the USA may be able to show even smaller abnormalities. Even long EEGs may not detect sparks that occur very rarely. Also, an EEG cannot detect sparks that occur deep inside the brain. What is EEG Monitoring? EEG Monitoring is an EEG that is done for 1 or more days. Usually it is done in a hospital, so that a video recording and ECG can be done as well. Not all patients need EEG monitoring. But in some patients it is very helpful: EEG monitoring can find a different reason for your attacks such as excessive stress or heart problems. It determines the kind of seizures you have (e.g. focal versus generalized), so that the correct medications can be selected. EEG monitoring quantifies seizure activity. For example, if you (or your child’s) EEG is very active at night, steroids may need to be given to prevent brain damage. It identifies the bad part of the brain. If medications are not effective, this bad part can be removed (Epilepsy Surgery). Can Medications Control Seizures? There are more than 30 anti-seizure medications. Your symptoms, life-style, the MRI and EEG help us to choose the right medications. Sometimes, EEG monitoring may be needed to choose the right medications. After the right medications are given, about 70-80% of patients stop having seizures. Is there a Medication that cures Epilepsy Permanently? There is no medication that cures Epilepsy permanently. But don’t be disappointed. I wear spectacles. I cannot see clearly without them! I didn’t like them at first but now I am not disturbed by my need to wear spectacles. Many patients need daily medications for high cholesterol or high blood pressure. They are not disturbed by the need to take medications. In the same way, most people with epilepsy feel better when they take their medications. Perhaps, it would help you to think of them as spectacles or routine tablets. Epilepsy

IMA virar Newsletter Seizures – 6 things to know How do we maintain our balance? Seizures happen due to uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. This uncontrolled electrical activity explodes, lasts for about 1 minute and then stops. The brain is stunned by this electrical jolt from the blue! Seizures can involve only one part of the brain. They usually cause this part of the brain to become hyperactive. So for example – if the seizure involves the part of the brain that handles smell, you can get a bad smell. If the seizure involves the part of the brain that “sees”, you may have visual hallucinations. Some people get the feeling of floating outside their body (autoscopy). Some may hear songs they had forgotten long ago… and so on. Case 1: Recently I saw a patient who had recurrent attacks of dizziness. These usually happened at night, were very short (about 1 minute), and terrified the patient. Many doctors had diagnosed her as having  a psychiatric problem. A very well-meaning neurologist thought they could be seizures and sent her to me. After listening to the patient, we discussed that these could be seizures. Now, she is much better on standard anti-seizure medications. Tip: Consider seizures in any patient who reports episodic stereotyped symptoms. Sometimes, the uncontrolled electrical activity spreads all over the brain. Then, you get dramatic symptoms. The person loses consciousness. His/her entire body first stiffens up (the tonic phase) after which it starts jerking (the clonic phase). Do these two phases always happen? Not at all! Often, the tonic phase is very short or absent. The person only has repetitive jerking during the seizure (a clonic seizure). Some children have purely tonic seizures. Their entire body suddenly stiffens up while walking and they fall down. So how do you recognize a seizure? Remember: “A seizure is a sudden burst of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which usually produces clinical symptoms.” Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent unprovoked seizures. Some patients with seizures (e.g. alcoholics) may not have Epilepsy. But that is a conversation for another day… 2. Other conditions can produce the same symptoms Many conditions can cause similar symptoms. Lets forget the uncommon conditions (e.g. Narcolepsy) & talk about 2 common conditions: Syncope (including Cardiac Arrhythmia) & Non-Epileptic seizures Syncope: The brain does not get enough blood/oxygen. Hence the patient loses consciousness. For example, this can happen if the patient gets up suddenly (orthostatic hypotension). But a more serious cause is a problem in the pumping of blood – heart problems. Cardiac arrhythmias are common in the elderly. They can cause syncope. If left untreated, they can also cause sudden death. Case 2: A 70 year old started to pass out. He used to suddenly fall to the ground and stiffen up. His eyes closed. After 20 seconds – he would suddenly sit up completely normal, as if he had woken up from the dead! His 2d echo, routine ECG, MRI and EEG were all normal. He was started on anti-seizure medications by the neurologist. When he started taking Lacosamide, his episode frequency increased. He started having events almost every day. When he came to us, we did video-eeg monitoring. We found that he had intermittent complete heart block. This junctional arrhythmia had become worse because of slow sodium-channel blockade by Lacosamide. He had a pacemaker/defibrillator on the same day and has been episode-free since then. Tip: In an elderly patient with episodic loss of consciousness, try to rule out cardiac arrhythmia before diagnosing seizures. Syncope: The brain does not get enough blood/oxygen. Hence the patient loses consciousness. For example, this can happen if the patient gets up suddenly (orthostatic hypotension). But a more serious cause is a problem in the pumping of blood – heart problems. Cardiac arrhythmias are common in the elderly. They can cause syncope. If left untreated, they can also cause sudden death. Case 2: A 70 year old started to pass out. He used to suddenly fall to the ground and stiffen up. His eyes closed. After 20 seconds – he would suddenly sit up completely normal, as if he had woken up from the dead! His 2d echo, routine ECG, MRI and EEG were all normal. He was started on anti-seizure medications by the neurologist. When he started taking Lacosamide, his episode frequency increased. He started having events almost every day. When he came to us, we did video-eeg monitoring. We found that he had intermittent complete heart block. This junctional arrhythmia had become worse because of slow sodium-channel blockade by Lacosamide. He had a pacemaker/defibrillator on the same day and has been episode-free since then. Tip: In an elderly patient with episodic loss of consciousness, try to rule out cardiac arrhythmia before diagnosing seizures. Non-Epileptic Seizures: These are a problem of the mind, rather than the brain. We used to call them pseudoseizures. But this terminology is incorrect. It underestimates the problem. It makes doctors less sympathetic. A better term is Non-Epileptic Seizures (NES). Non-epileptic seizures (NES) can lead to severe injury, including tongue bite & fractures. They are disabling. A patient with uncontrolled non-epileptic seizures cannot hold a job. Finally, they point to a serious mental health condition. In western studies, 50% of patients with NES have a history of childhood sexual abuse. Case 3:Many patients are quickly diagnosed as “non-epileptic” because of their florid psychiatric history. One woman in particular is very clear in my mind. She was disheveled when she came to my OPD. Her family reported bizarre short events of confusion. Doctors had earlier diagnosed these as non-epileptic seizures. These sometimes happened while the patient was sleeping. With video-EEG, we were able to determine that these were actually epileptic. She is now much better with anti-seizure medications. Tip: Having a mental health problem does not rule out epileptic seizures. Seizures (especially in the frontal lobes) can cause prolonged agitation and antisocial behavior. Some people go to jail because of this behavior. Uncontrolled seizures can lead to severe

Dr. Siddharth Deepak Kharkar MBBS, MD (Neurology, USA), MHSRecognized as one of theBest Neurologists in MumbaiBy India Today magazine (2020, 2021, 2024) & Outlook India Magazine (2020, 2024). Best Epilepsy Treatment in India at Mumbai, including Epilepsy Surgery Dr. Siddharth Kharkar is an internationally trained Epilepsy specialist in Mumbai, India who runs the NeuroPlus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s clinics. He is noted as one of the best Epilepsy doctors in India. He provides the best Epilepsy treatment in India itself, including Epilepsy surgery in India. He is available at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, India and in clinics around Mumbai. He finished his MBBS from KEM hospital, MHS from Johns Hopkins University, USA his MD Neurology from Drexel University, USA. He completed his 2-year fellowship in Epilepsy surgery from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), USA which is one of the centers offering best epilepsy treatment in the world. He was part of the Epilepsy faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) before returning to India. Since then, He has been recognized as one of the best neurologists in Mumbai by India Today & Outlook India magazines. Epilepsy is common and treatment of Epilepsy is possible in almost all cases. As one of the best epilepsy doctors in India, Dr. Siddharth Kharkar conducts medically resistant Epilepsy treatment specialist clinics. This means that many of the patients with Epilepsy who come to this clinic have Epilepsy that is not controlled with medications. This can happen due to many reasons. Misdiagnosis:For example, a patient who is passing out repeatedly may have a cardiac problem, instead of Epilepsy. Problems with heart beat rhythm can be wrongly diagnosed as seizures. Improper characterization of Epilepsy: Epilepsy is of many different types. For the best Epilepsy treatment in India or any other city to be given, the exact type of Epilepsy should be identified. This leads to the correct choice of medications. There are 2 types of seizures: Generalized & Focal. They have different treatments. For example, in a condition called Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a medication called Clobazam may be the best treatment for seizures. Incomplete explanation given to the patient:  Very often, patients don’t take their medications correctly either because they are disturbed by their diagnosis and want to deny it. Sometimes, they may not understand how exactly to take their medications. The best Epilepsy treatment in India does not end with a mathematical calculation of medication names and dosages. It is very important to explain Epilepsy completely to the patient. This helps in settling emotional turmoil and helps in taking antiepileptic medications regularly. Medically resistant Epilepsy needing Epilepsy surgery in India at Mumbai: In about 20–30% of patients, Epilepsy is not completely controlled by medications. Seizures keep happening even if medications are changed multiple times. In such cases, a different thought process is required. Such cases may require the removal of the diseased part of the brain, the part that is not working and producing seizures. Epilepsy surgery in India removes the diseased part of the brain completely. This stops seizures from being generated. If done correctly, Epilepsy surgery success rates are very high. Best Epilepsy Treatment in India at Mumbai Services The following services are provided at the NeuroPlus clinics at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, Thane and Virar: 1. Evaluation & Characterization of Seizures by Epilepsy specialist in India: The best epilepsy treatment in India begins with evaluation of epileptic seizures, including differentiation from other disorders which can mimic seizures including syncope and non-epileptic seizures (psychogenic seizures, PNES) Sub-categorization and identification of pathologies including temporal lobe epilepsy, occipital lobe epilepsy, focal cortical dysplasia, hippocampal sclerosis or mesial temporal sclerosis etc. Seizures frequently arise from the temporal lobe Characterization of seizures, with Video EEG monitoring in Mumbai if needed. Defining the Epilepsy syndrome e.g. Lennox-Gastaut, Panayitopoulos syndrome etc. This helps to provide the best treatment for Epilepsy. 2. Antiepileptic medication adjustment Selecting the first anti-epileptic medication is relatively easy. However, if 2 or more anti-epileptic medications need to be given for seizures, a number of things need to be kept in mind to ensure the best treatment for Epilepsy. Some of the medication adjustments needed are as follows. When 2 or more medications needs to be taken together, it needs to be done with a lot of care to ensure the best treatment for Epilepsy. A major part of providing the best epilepsy treatment in India is to make sure that all anti-epileptic medications given are appropriate for the type of epilepsy. Next, the best epilepsy treatment in India is only possible by making sure that the anti-epileptic medications don’t interact with one another. For example, if someone is taking both phenobarbitone and lamotrigine, the lamotrigine becomes ineffective. And finally, the best epilepsy treatment in India includes making sure that the anti-epileptic medications don’t interact with other medications that the patient is taking. 4. Video EEG in Mumbai In certain cases, the patient may be admitted and continuous video EEG monitoring (also called Epilepsy monitoring) is done. Video EEG monitoring is done inside the hospital. The EEG is recorded 24 hours a day. Long term Video-EEG monitoring is done for the following reasons: When the diagnosis of Epilepsy is in doubt. When the type of Epilepsy is not clear. When the anti-epileptic medications need to be changed rapidly. When the EEG background needs to be studied closely, especially during sleep. When the patient is not responding to medications – to plan Epilepsy surgery. How long does the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit admission or video EEG monitoring in Mumbai, India take? Ideally, all types of events that you are having should be recorded. Ideally, we try to record 2-3 events of each type. The duration of monitoring depends on seizure frequency. Here is an approximate guide: Seizure Frequency Duration of stay Daily 1 – 3 days 3 to 6 days in a week 3 – 5 days 2 to 3 days in a week 5 – 7 days 1 week or less Variable 3. Epilepsy surgery in Mumbai, India Epilepsy surgery for Epilepsy treatment in India is done only in cases which

In 2024, Epilepsy surgery cost in India is between Rs. 2 Lakh and Rs. 15 lakhs (USD 2500 to USD 18,000). This includes the cost of evaluation and of the surgery itself. This article’s purpose is to educate patients so that they can properly plan their finances. It is critical to know that Epilepsy surgery can be affordable in most cases. Anticipating Epilepsy surgery cost in India correctly will prevent financial surprises. At the same time, it is useful to know which therapies are very expensive. This will prevent unanticipated financial problems. You need to pay attention to the evaluation cost. Sometimes, the cost of evaluation can be more than the surgery itself. I recommend reading the article, to understand the process. But if you are in a hurry then click here to download the quick sheet [Epilepsy Surgery Cost in India – Calculation sheet]. Table Of Contents Why is Epilepsy surgery cost in India variable? How is Epilepsy surgery in India done? Step 1: Epilepsy surgery evaluation cost in India A. Simple Epilepsy surgery evaluation cost in India B. Complex Epilepsy surgery evaluation cost in India C. Very complex Epilepsy surgery evaluation cost in India Step 2: Epilepsy surgery cost in India (The surgery itself) Resective (Removal) Epilepsy surgery cost in India Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) Epilepsy surgery cost in India Cost of other epilepsy surgeries in India What is the minimum cost of Epilepsy surgery in India? Calculation sheet for Total Epilepsy surgery cost in India: Summary: Epilepsy surgery cost in India Dr. Siddharth Kharkar NeuroPlus Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Clinic – Dr. Kharkar Why is Epilepsy surgery cost in India variable? Epilepsy surgery cost in India is variable because each person needs different tests & surgeries. To understand this, you need to understand how Epilepsy surgery in India is done. So, How is Epilepsy surgery in India done? You can read the Epilepsy surgery in India article to get a detailed description of the process. The same process is described briefly here. This will help you understand how to calculate the Epilepsy surgery cost in India. The process of Epilepsy surgery involves two steps: Step 1: Evaluation: This is also called Epilepsy surgery evaluation. This is a set of tests. They tell us which is the abnormal part of the brain, what problems could happen if we take it out etc. Step 2: The surgery itself: There are many different types of surgeries. But the two most common surgeries are resective (removal) epilepsy surgery & Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) surgery. To calculate Epilepsy surgery cost in India correctly, the cost of evaluation needs to be taken into account. So, when calculating the epilepsy surgery cost in India, we need to calculate the cost of evaluation + the cost of the surgery itself. Type of room & Foreign nationals The cost can be much higher based on the kind of room that you want. Most of these costs are for general ward admissions. The costs for a single/luxury room can be much higher, depending on the hospital. The cost can be higher for Foreign nationals. In general, most private hospitals charge foreign nationals about 30% more than Indian citizens. Let us first talk about the cost of epilepsy surgery evaluation in India. Step 1: Epilepsy surgery evaluation cost in India Epilepsy surgery evaluation may be simple, complex or extremely complex. The complexity of this evaluation depends on your MRI, EEG and type of seizures. A. Simple Epilepsy surgery evaluation cost in India Epilepsy surgery evaluation starts with a basic set of tests. Some of these tests locate the abnormal brain part producing seizures. The f-MRI scan, psychiatric & Neuropsychological evaluations us understand if we can safely remove this area. High-resolution MRI:The abnormal areas producing seizures can be very small. Therefore, a high-resolution MRI (3 Tesla or 3T MRI) needs to be done. Special methods are used to detect very small abnormalities. These may detect small abnormal areas missed on earlier scans. A 3T MRI using special techniques can detect very small abnormal areas. These areas may not be visible on low resolution MRIs. PET scan & PET-MRI fusion: A PET scan measures which areas of the brain are using less glucose. Usually, the abnormal area and normal areas around it use less glucose. These areas are less bright on PET images. Ideally, the PET scan and the MRI scan should be overlaid over one another (see figure below). This process is called PET-MRI fusion. This is a critical part of the evaluation, without which abnormal areas in the brain may be missed. PET-MRI fusion is a new evaluation technique for Epilepsy surgery. Functional MRI (fMRI) scan: Functional MRI is a special MRI. Functional MRI (fMRI) shows which brain part is processing language, controlling movement etc. Functional MRI helps us to find brain areas controlling language and limb movement. Video EEG monitoring: The patient is admitted to the hospital. Video and EEG are recorded continuously. 2-3 seizures are recorded. Both the video and EEG are carefully studied. Video EEG is very comfortable. Sometimes, patients may get bored because they need to stay in the hospital. Neuropsychological & Psychiatry assessment: A neuropsychologist is a person who measures the functioning of your brain by making you solve simple puzzles, draw objects, remember lists and so on. A psychiatrist helps us to understand your mental health and willingness for surgery. He/she helps to treat any underlying issues such as depression, anxiety etc. Please note that the cost of Video EEG monitoring in India is different for each patient. Each day of Video-EEG monitoring costs about Rs. 30,000 (USD 360) in India. We need to capture 2-3 seizures of each seizure type. This may take just one day or up to 1 week. Let us calculate the cost using 3 days. The approximate cost of these tests in India is as follows: Test Cost in India Cost in India in US dollars 3 Tesla MRI Rs. 12,000 USD 145 PET scan & PET-MRI fusion Rs. 15,000 USD