The seizure usually lasts no longer than 30 seconds. When the seizure is over, you may not recall what just occurred. You may go on with your activities as though nothing happened. These seizures may occur several times a day. This is also called a drop attack. With an atonic seizure, you have a sudden loss of muscle tone and may fall from a standing position or suddenly drop your head. During the seizure, you will be limp and unresponsive.
This is also called grand mal seizure. The classic form of this kind of seizure has 5 distinct phases. Your body, arms, and legs will flex contract , extend straighten out , and tremor shake.
This is followed by contraction and relaxation of the muscles clonic period and the postictal period. During the postictal period, you may be sleepy. You may have problems with vision or speech, and may have a bad headache, fatigue, or body aches. Not all of these phases occur in everyone with this type of seizure. This type of seizure causes quick movements or sudden jerking of a group of muscles.
These seizures tend to occur in clusters. This means that they may occur several times a day, or for several days in a row. Epilepsy may be caused by a combination of these.
Your symptoms depend on the type of seizure. General symptoms or warning signs of a seizure can include:. During the seizure, your lips may become tinted blue and your breathing may not be normal. After the seizure, you may be sleepy or confused. The symptoms of a seizure may be like those of other health conditions.
Make sure to talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and your health history. Lumbar puncture spinal tap , to measure the pressure in the brain and spinal canal and test the cerebral spinal fluid for infection or other problems. The goal of treatment is to control, stop, or reduce how often seizures occur.
Treatment is most often done with medicine. There are many types of medicines used to treat epilepsy. Your healthcare provider will need to identify the type of seizure you are having. Medicines are selected based on the type of seizure, age of the person, side effects, cost, and ease of use. Medicines used at home are usually taken by mouth as capsules, tablets, sprinkles, or syrup.
Some medicines can be given into the rectum. If you are in the hospital with seizures, medicine may be given by injection or intravenously by vein IV. It is important to take your medicine on time and as prescribed by your doctor.
All medicines can have side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about possible side effects. While you are taking medicine, you may need tests to see how well the medicine is working.
You may have:. Blood tests. You may need blood tests often to check the level of medicine in your body. Based on this level, your healthcare provider may change the dose of your medicine. You may also have blood tests to check the effects of the medicine on your other organs. Urine tests. Seizures care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Overview A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. Latest on newly diagnosed epilepsy care Advice for the management of epilepsy Error Select a topic. Thanks for Subscribing You will receive the first epilepsy email message in your inbox shortly. You may opt out of these emails any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the email.
Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Schachter SC. Evaluation and management of the first seizure in adults. Accessed Sept. Daroff RB, et al. In: Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. Elsevier; Accessed May 5, The epilepsies and seizures: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Types of seizures. Epilepsy Foundation. Accessed Sep. First seizure adult. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; Seizure first aid. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Haider HA, et al. Neuroimaging in the evaluation of seizures and epilepsy. This activity causes different symptoms depending on the type of seizure and what part of the brain is involved. Seizures can take on many different forms and affect different people in different ways.
Anything that your brain does normally can also happen during a seizure. For example, your brain helps you move, see, feel and do many other things. During a seizure, you may move, see, feel or do other things, whether you want to or not! Seizures have a beginning, middle, and end, but sometimes not all the parts of a seizure are visible or easy to tell apart. Seizures are episodic they come and go and they can be unpredictable. Some people are aware that a seizure may occur hours or even days before it happens.
These feelings are usually not part of the seizure, but they are a warning that a seizure may come. Not everyone has these signs, but if you do, you can take steps to stay safe, like get in a safe place, make sure to take your medicine on time, or use a rescue treatment if you are having clusters of seizures if one has been prescribed for you.
This is actually the first symptom of a seizure. During this part of the seizure, you are still conscious and aware of what is going on. Some people have no aura or warning. When they have a seizure, they lose consciousness or awareness right away. An aura is often a change in feeling, sensation, thought, or behavior.
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