Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Because epilepsy is caused by abnormal activity in brain cells, seizures can affect any process your brain coordinates. A seizure can produce:

  • Temporary confusion
  • A staring spell
  • Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs
  • Complete loss of consciousness

Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time, so the symptoms will be similar from episode to episode.

Doctors classify seizures as either partial or generalized, based on how the abnormal brain activity begins. In some cases, seizures can begin as partial and then become generalized.

Partial seizures
When seizures appear to result from abnormal activity in just one part of the brain, they're called partial or focal seizures. These seizures fall into two categories.

  • Simple partial seizures. These seizures don't result in loss of consciousness. They may alter emotions or change the way things look, smell, feel, taste or sound. They may also result in involuntary jerking of part of the body, such as an arm or leg, and spontaneous sensory symptoms such as tingling, vertigo and flashing lights.
  • Complex partial seizures. These seizures alter consciousness, causing you to lose awareness for a period of time. Complex partial seizures often result in staring and nonpurposeful movements — such as hand rubbing, twitching, chewing, swallowing or walking in circles.

Generalized seizures
Seizures that seem to involve all of the brain are called generalized seizures. Four types of generalized seizures exist.

  • Absence seizures (also called petit mal). These seizures are characterized by staring and subtle body movement, and can cause a brief loss of consciousness.
  • Myoclonic seizures. These seizures usually appear as sudden jerks or twitches of your arms and legs.
  • Atonic seizures. Also known as drop attacks, these seizures cause you to lose normal muscle tone and suddenly collapse or fall down.
  • Tonic-clonic seizures (also called grand mal). The most intense of all types of seizures, these are characterized by a loss of consciousness, body stiffening and shaking, and loss of bladder control.

When to see a doctor
Seek medical advice if you experience a seizure for the first time. Also, seek immediate medical help if any of the following occurs.

  • The seizure lasts more than five minutes.
  • Breathing or consciousness does not return after the seizure stops.
  • A second seizure follows immediately.
  • You're pregnant.
  • You have diabetes.
  • You've injured yourself during the seizure.
Causes Definition
References
  1. Seizures and epilepsy: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/epilepsy/detail_epilepsy.htm. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
  2. Schachter SC, et al. Overview of the management of epilepsy in adults. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
  3. Wilfong A, et al. Overview of the classification, etiology, and clinical features of pediatric seizures and epilepsy. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
  4. Boggs JG. Seizures and epilepsy in the elderly: Etiologies, clinical presentation, and differential diagnosis. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
  5. Information for healthcare professionals: Suicidal behavior and ideation and antiepileptic drugs. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/HCP/antiepileptics200812.htm. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
  6. Krumholz A, et al. Driving restrictions for patients with seizures and epilepsy. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
  7. Feen ES, et al. Status epilepticus. Southern Medical Journal. 2008;101:400.
  8. Tomson T, et al. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: A review of incidence and risk factors. Epilepsia. 2005;46:54.
  9. Bell GS, et al. Drowning in people with epilepsy: How great is the risk? Neurology. 2008;71:578.
  10. First aid. Epilepsy Foundation. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/firstaid/. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
  11. Law enforcement/EMS response to seizures. Epilepsy Foundation. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/professionals/emergency/index.cfm. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
  12. Schachter SC, et al. Vagus nerve stimulation therapy. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
  13. Hirsch LJ, et al. Neuroimaging in the evaluation of seizures and epilepsy. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 6, 2009.
  14. French JA, et al. Initial management of epilepsy. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;359:166.
  15. About epilepsy: Epilepsy fact sheet. Epilepsy Foundation. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/factsfigures.cfm. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
  16. Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
  17. Living with epilepsy: Tips for living. Epilepsy Foundation. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/quickstart/newlydiagnosed/qsliving/idvtips.cfm. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
  18. Transportation. Epilepsy Foundation. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/living/wellness/transportation/. Accessed March 2, 2009.
  19. Myoclonus fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myoclonus/detail_myoclonus.htm#105233160. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  20. Stroke: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/detail_stroke.htm. Accessed March 3, 2009.
  21. Browne TR, et al. Handbook of Epilepsy. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:133.
  22. Cancer imaging. National Cancer Institute. http://imaging.cancer.gov/imaginginformation/cancerimaging/. Accessed March 5, 2009.
  23. Devinsky O. Epilepsy: Patient and family guide. 3rd ed. New York, N.Y.: Demos Medical Publishing; 2008:81.
  24. Treatment options: Ketogenic diet. Epilepsy Foundation. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/ketogenicdiet/ketoalone.cfm. Accessed March 24, 2009.
  25. Treatment options: Ketogenic diet. Epilepsy Foundation. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/ketogenicdiet/. Accessed March 24, 2009.
  26. Pre-surgical evaluation. Epilepsy Foundation. http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/treatment/surgery/evaluation.cfm. Accessed March 24, 2009.
  27. Spencer SS, et al. Multiple subpial transection for intractable partial epilepsy: An international meta-analysis. Epilepsia. 2002;43:141.
  28. So EL. What is known about the mechanisms underlying SUDEP? Epilepsia. 2008;49:93.
  29. Neurontin (prescribing information.). New York, N.Y.: Pfizer Inc.; 2007. http://www.pfizer.com/products/rx/rx_product_neurontin.jsp. Accessed March 24, 2009.
  30. So E (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 24, 2009.

DS00342

April 28, 2009

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger