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is a brain disorder that causes seizures. It is also called a seizure disorder. A seizure means an abnormal area in your brain sometimes sends bursts of electrical activity. A seizure may start in one part of your brain, or both sides may be affected. Depending on the type of seizure, you may have movements you cannot control, lose consciousness, or stare straight ahead. You may be confused or tired after the seizure. A seizure may last a few seconds or longer than 5 minutes. Epilepsy is usually diagnosed if you have at least 2 seizures within 24 hours. A birth defect, tumor, stroke, dementia, injury, or infection may cause epilepsy. The cause of your epilepsy may not be known. If your seizures are not controlled, epilepsy may become life-threatening.

Call your local emergency number (911 in the US), or have someone else call, for any of the following:

  • Your seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.
  • You have trouble breathing after a seizure.
  • You have diabetes or are pregnant and have a seizure.
  • You have a seizure in water, such as a swimming pool or bathtub.

Call your doctor if:

  • You are injured during a seizure.
  • You feel you are not able to cope with your condition.
  • Your seizures start to happen more often.
  • You are confused longer than usual after a seizure.
  • You are planning to get pregnant or are currently pregnant.
  • You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Treatment for epilepsy:

The goal of treatment is to try to stop your seizures completely. You may need any of the following:

  • Antiseizure medicine may be given to shorten or prevent seizures. Do not stop taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
  • Surgery may help reduce how often you have seizures if medicine does not help. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about surgery for epilepsy.

What you can do to prevent a seizure:

You may not be able to prevent every seizure. The following can help you manage triggers that may make a seizure start:

  • Take your medicine every day at the same time. This will also help prevent medicine side effects. Set an alarm to help remind you to take your medicine every day.
  • Manage stress. Stress can be a trigger for epilepsy. Exercise can help you reduce stress. Talk to your healthcare provider about exercise that is safe for you. Illness can be a form of stress. Eat a variety of healthy foods and drink plenty of liquids during an illness. Talk to your healthcare provider about other ways to manage stress.

Prevent a complication of epilepsy:

  • Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a rare complication of epilepsy. In 1 year, 1 adult in 1,000 adults with epilepsy will have this complication. The risk of SUDEP increases if you have 3 or more generalized tonic-clonic seizures in 1 year. Your risk also increases if you have nocturnal seizures (seizures during sleep). After a nocturnal seizure, your breathing can become shallow.
  • Your healthcare provider may recommend a change in medicine to decrease the number of seizures. For nocturnal seizures, he or she may recommend that someone sleep near you. The person must be older than 10 years. The person must also be close enough to know that you are having a seizure.

What you can do to manage epilepsy:

  • Keep a seizure diary. This can help you find your triggers and avoid them. Write down the dates of your seizures, where you were, and what you were doing. Include how you felt before and after. Possible triggers include illness, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, alcohol, drugs, lights, or stress.
  • Record any auras you have before a seizure. An aura is a sign that you are about to have a seizure. Auras happen before certain types of seizures that are in only 1 part of the brain. The aura may happen seconds before a seizure, or up to an hour before. You may feel, see, hear, or smell something. Examples include part of your body becoming hot. You may see a flash of light or hear something. You may have anxiety or déjà vu. If you have an aura, include it in your seizure diary.
  • Create a care plan. Tell family, friends, and coworkers about your epilepsy. Give them instructions that tell them how they can keep you safe if you have a seizure.
  • Find support. You may be referred to a psychologist or social worker. Ask your healthcare provider about support groups for people with epilepsy.
  • Carry medical alert identification. Wear medical alert jewelry or carry a card that says you have epilepsy. Ask your healthcare provider where to get these items.

How others can keep you safe during a seizure:

Give the following instructions to family, friends, and coworkers:

  • Do not panic.
  • Gently guide me to the floor or a soft surface.
    First Aid: Seizures (ADULT)
  • Loosen the clothing around my head and neck.

Follow up with your neurologist as directed:




Further information


Learn more about Epilepsy (Ambulatory Care)

Associated drugs

IBM Watson Micromedex

Symptoms and treatments

Mayo Clinic Reference