What Is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures. Your doctor may diagnose you with epilepsy if you have two unprovoked seizures or one ... SkiptomaincontentGetHelpTools&ResourcesFindYourLocalChapterDonateUsemycurrentlocationUnderstandingEpilepsyMainMenuWhatisEpilepsy?UnderstandingSeizuresWhoCanGetEpilepsy?WhatHappensDuringaSeizure?HowSeriousAreSeizures?WhatAretheRiskFactorsofSeizures?WillYouAlwaysHaveSeizures?SeizureTriggersAlcoholasaSeizureTriggerDrugAbuseasaSeizureTriggerLackofSleepandEpilepsyMenstruationasaSeizureTriggerMissedMedicinesasaSeizureTriggerNutritionalDeficienciesasaSeizureTriggerOtherIllnessesasaSeizureTriggerOverCounterMedicationsandEpilepsyPhotosensitivityandSeizuresStressandEpilepsyTypesofSeizuresAbsenceSeizuresAtonicSeizuresAtypicalAbsenceSeizuresClonicSeizuresEpilepticorInfantileSpasmsFebrileSeizuresFocalBilateralTonicClonicSeizures(SecondarilyGeneralizedSeizures)FocalOnsetAwareSeizures(SimplePartialSeizures)FocalOnsetImpairedAwarenessSeizures(complexpartialseizures)GelasticandDacrysticSeizuresMyoclonicSeizuresRefractorySeizuresNewTermsSeizureClassificationTonic-clonicSeizuresTonicSeizuresEpilepsySyndromesChildhoodAbsenceEpilepsyChildhoodEpilepsyCentrotemporalSpikes(BenignRolandicEpilepsy)DravetSyndromeEarlyMyoclonicEncephalopathy(EME)EpilepsyEyelidMyocloniaJeavonsSyndromeEpilepsyInfancyMigratingFocalSeizuresEpilepsyMyoclonicAbsencesEpilepticEncephalopathyContinuousSpikeandWaveDuringSleepCSWSFiresFebrileInfection-RelatedEpilepsySyndromeInfantileSpasms(WestSyndrome)JuvenileMyoclonicEpilepsyLandau-KleffnerSyndromeLennox-GastautSyndrome(LGS)MyoclonicEpilepsyofInfancyOhtaharaSyndromePanayiotopoulosSyndromeProgressiveMyoclonicEpilepsiesReflexEpilepsiesSelfLimitedFamilialandNon-FamilialNeonatalInfantileSeizuresSelfLimitedLateOnsetOccipitalEpilepsyGastautSyndromeFacts&StatisticsAboutEpilepsyEspañolFactoresQuePuedenProvocarCrisisEpilépticasMasInformaciónYRecursosPrimerosAuxiliosParaCrisisEpilépticasSeguridadGeneralTrabajandoConSuEquipoMédicoTratamientosCausesofEpilepsyStructuralCausesofEpilepsyFocalCorticalDysplasiaHypothalamicHamartomaIncontinentiaPigmentiMesialTemporalSclerosis(MTS)NeurofibromatosisType1SeizuresAndMultipleSclerosisSturgeWeberSyndromeEncephalotrigeminalAngiomatosisTraumaticBrainInjuryandEpilepsyPeriventricularNodularHeterotopias(PVNH)Polymicrogyria(PMG)TuberousSclerosisComplex(TSC)GeneticCausesofEpilepsyGeneticTestingforEpilepsyAngelmanSyndromePCDH19EpilepsyRingChromosome20SyndromeCACNA1A-relatedEpilepsyCDKL5DeficiencyDisorderKCNQ2SCN1A-RelatedEpilepsiesSCN8A-RelatedEpilepsyTBCK-relatedIDSyndromeGRIN2A-relatedEpilepsyMetabolicCausesofEpilepsyMitochondrialDisordersGLUT1DeficiencySyndrome(SLC2A1)AutoimmuneEpilepsyRamussen'sSyndromeInfectionsThatCauseSeizuresDiagnosisEvaluationofYourMedicalHistoryNeurologicalExamElectroencephalography(EEG)EEGProcedureAmbulatoryEEGDryElectrodeHeadsetEEGHowtoReadanEEGVideoEEGTestWhatifmyEEGwasnormal?WhereisEEGperformed?WhichEEGtypeisbest?BrainImagingforEpilepsyComputerTomographyMEGMRIPETScanSPECTImitatorsofEpilepsyPsychogenicNonepilepticSeizures(PNES)AssemblingYourHealthcareTeamTreatmentYourRoleinEpilepsyTreatmentSeizureMedicinesWhentoTreatSeizuresWithMedicineChoosingaFirstEpilepsyMedicineSeizureMedicationsWithChildrenFindingtheBestDosageofMedicationHowSeizureMedicineWorksHowLongUntilSeizureMedicineWorks?BloodTestingforSeizureMedicineCommonConcernswithEpilepsyMedicationImportanceofMedicationScheduleSideEffectsofSeizureMedicineDrugInteractionsStoppingSeizureMedicationsHowtoReadaPackageInsertSeizureMedicationsandPregnancyNorthAmericanAEDPregnancyRegistryDrugResistantEpilepsyTreatingRefractoryEpilepsyWhatifEpilepsyMedicineDoesn'tWork?SeizureDevicesDeepBrainStimulationResponsiveNeurostimulation(RNS)VagusNerveStimulation(VNS)TherapyExternalTrigeminalNerveStimulationDietaryTherapiesKetogenicDietLowGlycemicIndexTreatmentMediumChainTriglyceride(MCT)DietModifiedAtkinsDietEpilepsyCentersEpilepsySurgeryEpilepsySurgeryTestsBrainMappingWadaTestWhoCanEpilepsySurgeryHelp?GoalsandExpectationsRisksandBenefitsofEpilepsySurgeryTypesofEpilepsySurgeryLITTThermalAblationPreparingforEpilepsySurgeryRecoveringAfterEpilepsySurgeryEpilepsySurgeryforChildrenWhentoWeanChildrenOffMedicationsAfterSurgerySeizureRescueTherapiesNasalRescueMedicinesOralRescueMedicinesRectalRescueMedicinesAlternativeTherapiesHerbalTherapiesMedicalMarijuanaClinicalTrialsComplications&RisksMoodandBehaviorSeizureMedicationsandMoodCognitiveTherapiesDepressionDiagnosingDepressionManagingDepressionSuicideRiskEpilepsyandADHDEpilepsyandOCDStressCausesandSignsofStressManagingStressMindfullnessandEpilepsyPsychosisInterictalProblemsAgressionAnxietyEarlyDeath&SUDEPHowtoPreventSUDEPSupportforBereavedRoleofSeizureAlertsSUDEPActionDayTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutSUDEPSUDEPFAQSUDEPResourcesSeizureEmergenciesSeizureClustersStatusEpilepticusNew-OnsetRefractoryStatusEpilepticus(NORSE)SleepandEpilepsySleepandSeizureMedicationEpilepsySleepHygeineSleepandDrowsinessandMemorySleepDisordersSocialConcernsThinkingandMemoryDiagnosingAndTreatingMemoryProblemsTechniquestoHelpwithMemoryTypesofMemoryProblemsBoneHealthCOVID-19andEpilepsyCOVID-19andSeizuresOurResponsetotheCOVID-19CrisisManagingEpilepsyDuringCOVID-19CrisisStayingSafeDuringtheCOVID-19CrisisCOVID-19Testing&TreatmentCOVID-19Vaccination&EpilepsyLivingWithEpilepsyMainMenuTracking&ManagingSeizuresManagingTriggersHowtoIndentifySeizureTriggersTheABCApproachtoSeizureTriggersLifestyleModificationsDiet&ExercisetoReduceSeizuresTrackingSeizuresSeizureObservationUsingSeizureDiariesRespondingtoSeizureEmergenciesWorkingWithYourHealthcareTeamTheImportanceofQualityCareSettingGoalsforSeizureManagementSelf-ManagementofSeizuresManagingContinuedSeizuresManagingEpilepsyWellNetworkF.O.C.U.SonEpilepsyPEARLSUPLIFTSeizurePreparednessSchoolsandSeizurePreparednessSeizureActionPlansSeizureDrillsStayingSafeSafetyatWorkFallingSafelySevereWeatherRecognizingRisksStayingSafeWithExerciseandSportsSafetyatHomeSafetyintheKitchenSafetyWhileSleepingTypesofInjuriesFromSeizuresFirstAidVideoLibraryStayingSafeonSocialMediaFirstAid&SafetyGeneralFirstAidforSeizuresAdaptingFirstAidPlansFirstAidforAtonicandTonicSeizuresFirstAidforFocalAware(simplepartial)SeizuresFirstAidforFocalImpairedAwareness(complexpartial)SeizuresFirstAidforTonic-ClonicSeizuresFirstAidAbsenceSeizuresFirstAidforSeizuresinWaterGettingEmergencyHelpSeizureRescueMedicationsHelpAfteraSeizureSeizureFirstAidTrainingandCertificationBabysitter'sGuidetoFirstAidHowtoManageProlongedSeizuresChildcareProfessionalsandBabysitters'GuidetoSeizureDisordersSeizureDogsRightstoHavingaServiceAnimalSeizureDogs:ChildrenandParentPartnersLifestyleDiet&ExerciseFitnessandExerciseWithEpilepsyHowtoStartExercisingWithEpilepsyWhatIfIHaveaSeizureWhileIExercise?BasicEpilepsyExerciseProgramHealthyEatingWithEpilepsyNutritionandSeizureControlFamilyPlanningPreparingforPregnancyRisksDuringPregnancyDuetoEpilepsySpecificProblemsAffectingInfantsBreastfeedingandSeizureMedicationAftertheBabyisBornEmploymentHelpWithEpilepsyHealthcareCoverageChangingJobswithEpilepsyDisclosingEpilepsytoanEmployerEmployerAccomodationsForEpilepsyMedicalExamSafetySensitiveJobsforEpilepsyAirTrafficControllerandEpilepsyCommercialTruckDriverandEpilepsyFBIAgentandEpilepsyMedicalPersonnelandEpilepsyMilitaryServiceandEpilepsyPilotsandEpilepsyBorderPatrolAgentFirefighterMailCarrierandEpilepsyLegalHelpAbouttheJeanneCarpenterFundEpilepsyandLegalRightsResourcesforAttorneysEpilepsyAttorneyNetworkChildCare/Camps/Rec.ProgramsBriefs|EpilepsyFoundationCriminalJusticeBriefsDiscriminationinFederallyFundedProgramsBriefsDrivingBriefsforAttorneysEducationBriefsEmploymentBriefsFirstRespondersandSeizureManagementBriefsInstitutionalizationBriefsInsuranceBriefsPhysicianLiabilityBriefsSocialSecurityBenefitsBriefsFinancialPlanningFinancialPlanningforaChildTravelPlanningManagingMedicationswhileTravelingTravelTipsforVNSandOtherTreatmentsTravelingTipsPreparingforSeizuresSummerCampChoosingaSummerCampStayingSafeatCampWithEpilepsyWaterSafetyCampParticipationResourcesandSeizureActionPlansforSummerCampDriving&TransportationDrivingLawsParents&CaregiversKidsDiagnosingSeizuresinChildrenSigns/SymptomsManagingYourChild’sEpilepsyCausesofEpilepsyinChildhoodSchoolandChildCareTreatmentOptionsTalkingtoKidsaboutEpilepsyNewborns&InfantsDiagnosisofSeizuresinNewbornsTeensDrivingDrugsandAlcoholEmploymentParent&PeerRelationshipsWork&CollegeChoosingaCollegeScholarshipsAttendingaCollegeExplainingEpilepsytoFriendsandFamilyAboutUsMainMenuAbouttheFoundationMission&ValuesLeadershipBoardofDirectorsPresidentBusinessAdvisoryBoardStaffLeadershipMedicalEditorsAdrianaBermeo-OvalleMDAmyZ.CrepeauMDAndresM.KannerMDAngelHernandezMDAnnapurnaPoduriMD,MPHAnupPatelMDBarryGidalPharmDBethRosenSheidleyMS,CGCCharutaJoshiMBBSChristianneN.HeckMD,MMMDavidTaplingerMDElaineKiriakopoulosElaineWirrellMDHamadaHamidAltalibDO,MPHJacquelineFrenchMDJaySalpekarJeffreyW.BrittonMDJohnHixsonMDJosephISirvenKatherineC.NickelsMDFinancialInformation&ReportsMediaOurShopFoundationQuaterlyProgramsSUDEPProgramSUDEPProgramAdvocacyEffortsSUDEPChallengeInitiativeSUDEPSurveillanceEffortsOtherSUDEPResearchEffortsEpilepsyFoundationIndividualandFamilyServicesCampsEpilepsyFoundationTraining&EducationSeizureTrainingforSchoolNursesSeizureTrainingforSchoolPersonnelResearch&FundingAboutResearchandFundingatEpilepsyFoundationEpilepsyVenturesFundTheEpilepsyLearningHealthcareSystem(ELHS)ResearchRoundtableForEpilepsyAccesstheRareEpilepsyNetworkRegistryGetInvolvedMainMenuFindYourLocalEpilepsyFoundation2020EpilepsySymposiumSupportGroupsDonateHelpfulLinksandResourcesVolunteer&CommunityFundraisingLemonadeforLivyPurplePumpkinProjectKidsCrewSpreadingAwarenessEpilepsyAwarenessAroundtheWorld#AimForZero:StrivingTowardaFutureFreefromSuddenUnexpectedDeathinEpilepsyInternationalEpilepsyDayNationalEpilepsyAwarenessMonthShareMySeizureTalkAboutIt!StartaConversationTwenty-20sEpilepsyAwarenessGroupBecomeanEpilepsyAwarenessAmbassadorSUDEPEducation&AwarenessAdvocacyAdvocacyPrioritiesAdvocacy:CDCEpilepsyFundingAdvocacy:SeizureSafeSchoolAdvocacy:AccessPrescriptionMedicationsAdvocacy:AffordableComprehensiveHealthCoverageAdvocacy:MedicalCannabisCBDBecomeanEpilepsyAdvocateBecomeanEpilepsyAdvocacyChampionTeensSpeakUp!&PublicPolicyInstituteEpilepsyPolicyAdvisoryCommitteeWaystoGiveWhyYourGiftMattersDonorBillofRightsDonateDonateClothingandHouseholdGoodsCorporatePartnershipsEmployeeMatchingGiftEventsNews&StoriesMainMenuYourLatestNewsandStoriesPressReleasesResearch&InnovationDiagnosis&TreatmentAdvocacySeizureSafetyPeople&CommunityHealthyLivingeJourneyCommunityForums(archived)GetHelpTools&ResourcesFindYourLocalEpilepsyFoundationDonateEnteryourkeywordsOptionalUsemylocationforlocalresourcesMainNavigationSidebarNavigateWhatisEpilepsy?UnderstandingSeizuresSeizureTriggersTypesofSeizuresEpilepsySyndromesFacts&StatisticsAboutEpilepsyEspañolCausesofEpilepsyDiagnosisTreatmentComplications&RisksImageWhatIsEpilepsy?MainNavigationSidebarNavigateWhatisEpilepsy?UnderstandingSeizuresSeizureTriggersTypesofSeizuresEpilepsySyndromesFacts&StatisticsAboutEpilepsyEspañolCausesofEpilepsyDiagnosisTreatmentComplications&RisksEpilepsyisthefourthmostcommonneurologicaldisorderintheworld.Ifyouhaveepilepsy,surgesofelectricalactivityinyourbraincancauserecurringseizures.Wecanhelpyouunderstandeverythingyouneedtoknowaboutepilepsyandwhatyoucandoaboutit.UnderstandingEpilepsyBasicsEpilepsyisabraindisorderthatcausesrecurring,unprovokedseizures.Yourdoctormaydiagnoseyouwithepilepsyifyouhavetwounprovokedseizuresoroneunprovokedseizurewithahighriskofmore.Notallseizuresaretheresultofepilepsy.Seizuresmayrelatetoabraininjuryorafamilytrait,butoftenthecauseiscompletelyunknown. Theword"epilepsy"simplymeansthesamethingas"seizuredisorders."Itdoesnotstateanythingaboutthecauseoftheperson'sseizuresortheirseverity.WhatisaSeizure?Seizuresaresuddensurgesofabnormalandexcessiveelectricalactivityinyourbrainandcanaffecthowyouappearoract.Whereandhowtheseizurepresentsitselfcanhaveprofoundeffects.LearnwhathappensduringaseizureanditsimpactSeizureTriggersHavingseizuresandepilepsycanaffectyoursafety,relationships,work,driving,andsomuchmore.Youneedtorecognizethepatternsandsituationswhenseizuresaremorelikelytooccur.LearntoidentifyseizuretriggersTypesofSeizuresNotallseizuresarethesame.Manypeoplewithepilepsyhavemorethanonetypeofseizureandmayhaveothersymptomsofneurologicalproblemsaswell.LearnaboutthedifferenttypesofseizuresEpilepsySyndromesSometimesyourelectroencephalogram(EEG)testing,clinicalhistory,familyhistory,andoutlookaresimilartoanothergroupofpeoplewithepilepsy.Inthesesituations,yourconditioncanbedefinedasaspecificepilepsysyndrome.LearnaboutepilepsysyndromesEpilepsyFacts&StatisticsPublicmisunderstandingandtreatmentofpeoplewithepilepsyareoftenbiggerproblemsthanactualseizures.Getthefactsonthefourthmostcommonneurologicaldisorderintheworld.ExplorefactsandstatsaboutepilepsyRelatedResourcesSeizureMedicationListIn-depthinformationonepilepsymedicationstohelpyouchoosetherightone.>EpilepsyDeviceWikiExploreoursearchablecatalogofdevicesandappsdevelopedforepilepsy.>NewtoSeizuresandEpilepsyToolkitAstartingpointforlearningaboutwhatepilepsyisandwhatresourcesareavailable.>SeizureDiaryAppNile'sseizurediaryhelpsyourecord,track,andmanageyourseizuresandepilepsy.>Bri’sStoryIwasdiagnosedwithepilepsyatfiveyearsold.Ihadaroundtwenty-oneseizuresaweek,experiencedmultipleEEGs,trialedmultiplemedications,andwasprescribedtwentypillsaday.ReadMoreFindanEpilepsySpecialistReadyforhelp?FindanEpilepsyspecialistwhocanhelpguideyouthroughyourepilepsyjourney.FindaDoctorNearYou