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What Are the Symptoms?

Seizures are the basic indicator of epilepsy. They vary widely:

• Staring straight ahead, repetitive swallowing, and lapsing into complete immobility for a few seconds characterize absence (petit mal) seizures, which can recur many times in a day.
• Tonic/clonic (grand mal) seizures, which may last up to 30 minutes, typically begin with a loss of consciousness, and a fall, followed by rigidity, then jerking motions and incontinence of urine. After the seizure ends, there is usually a period of confusion and deep sleep.
• Repetitive lip smacking, aimless fiddling movements, and a sense of detachment from surroundings may indicate temporal lobe seizures. They may be preceded by a vague feeling of abdominal discomfort, visual/sensory hallucination, and distorted perceptions such as déjà vu.
• Motor or Jacksonian seizures start with localized rhythmic twitching of muscles in a hand, a foot or the face, which can spread to the whole body. Such seizures are often followed by a period of weakness or paralysis.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You experience your first seizure or have never seen a doctor for your seizures.
• One seizure follows another without a return to consciousness; the brain could be deprived of oxygen. Call 911 or your emergency number immediately.
• You're experiencing side effects from your antiseizure medication. Your doctor may reduce the dosage or try an alternative medication.
• Your antiseizure medications are not fully controlling your seizures.
• You are pregnant or trying to conceive.