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Dr. Loftus is a Board Certified Houston Neurologist in private practice. For those who actually know the Houston area, he is really a Bellaire Neurologist. He has developed areas of special interest within neurology that include migraines, seizures, multiple sclerosis and the use botulinum toxin (Botox®, Myobloc®).

His interest in migraines developed as he discovered his own migraines during his neurology residency. He lectures frequently to other physicians on the latest treatments in this field which have been shown to lead to greater patient satisfaction with decreased overall health care costs. The migraine section of this web site covers diagnosis, migraine treatment, and migraine prevention as well as the current thinking of the actual cause of migraine and head pain. Most patients with diagnosed sinus headache actually have migraine and this web site will hopefully help them seek better treatment. In addition specific medications and their side effects are also discussed.

There is also a headache overview page for those who do not know what kind of headache they have. If you also have frequent headaches of many types, this is a good place to start as well.

His interest in seizures developed from interactions with some of the patients at Brookwood, a unique center for adults with functional disabilities. Many of their residents have difficult-to-control seizure disorders and this has given Dr. Loftus extensive experience in using the newer antiepileptic medications (Diastat® or Rectal Valium, Keppra® or Levetiracetam, Lamictal® or Lamotrigine, Neurontin® or Gabapentin, Topamax® or Topiramate, Trileptal® or Oxcarbazepine, and Zonegran® or Zonisamide) as well as the Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS). With the use of the newer medications and the VNS, many more seizure patients have had success in improving their seizure control and most importantly their quality of life. There are pages for each of the antiepileptic medications which includes their side effects as well as the other neurologic uses for these medications. As part of an effort to bring the best possible practice of epilepsy to the most patients possible, Dr. Loftus has placed on his website an anti-epileptic adverse event profile which the patient can bring to their physician to show if they are having an adverse reaction to their current regimen.

Dr. Loftus considers the use of botulinum toxin (Botox®, Myobloc®) one of the most interesting treatments in all of medicine. He has remained current on the use of botulinum toxin within the field of neurology. He uses it to treat migraines, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), hemifacial spasm, blepharospasm, and cervical dystonia. He has spoken to support groups on the use of botulinum toxin in the treat of these disorders and has realized there is a lack of information for patients on this breakthrough therapy. You can find information about these diseases and treatments in medical section of this web site.

Multiple sclerosis is one of the most interesting enigmas in the field of neurology. Without a clearly defined cause or cure, the treatment of these patients must clearly be individualized. The MS patient must feel that she/he and the physician are a team who will be able to work together for decades as this entity is truly a marathon disease. Only by listening can the treatment for the MS patient be properly individualized. While there is currently treatment available in MS, Dr. Loftus is currently conducting a trial of a new therapy for MS called Tcell vaccination. Dr. Loftus is also developing software to bring the MS quality of life scales to regular clinical practice. It is the intent of Dr. Loftus to provide this software free to interested neurologists.

Dr. Loftus has had many professional responsibilities as well. These include:

• Past President, Harris County Neurological Society
• Former Elected Neurology Chief, Neurology Service, The Methodist Hospital
• Former Adjunct Associate Professor, Neurology Department, Baylor College of Medicine
• Clinical Advisory Committee Member, Lone Star Chapter, Multiple Sclerosis Society

If you are looking to find a Houston (or more specifically Bellaire) neurologist, please see the appointment page for information regarding being a patient.

This web site represents the views of Dr. Loftus alone. It is not intended to allow nonphysicians to self-diagnose but rather to increase patient's understanding of their medical condition. Dr. Loftus believes that an informed patient can assist better in their own medical care which results in a better outcome for the patient.

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