Epilepsy Symptoms: 10 Signs of a Seizure & When to Get Help

Epilepsy symptoms can include seizures, muscle stiffness, excessive salivation, tongue biting, teeth grinding, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms may occur during a convulsive seizure.

However, symptoms can vary depending on the phase of the seizure. Confusion or irritability may develop hours or days beforehand during the prodromal phase, while dizziness, a bitter taste in the mouth, nausea, or stomach pain may occur shortly before a seizure as part of an epileptic aura.

Epilepsy occurs when abnormal electrical activity in the brain disrupts normal nerve signaling. The symptoms can vary depending on the type of epilepsy and the area of the brain affected.

Seizure symptoms

The main symptoms of a generalized seizure include:

• Seizures involving violent, involuntary muscle contractions

• Muscle stiffness, especially in the arms, legs, and chest

• Excessive salivation

• Urinary and/or fecal incontinence

• Confusion

• Unintelligible speech

• Tongue biting and teeth grinding

• Difficulty breathing

• Aggressive behavior

• Loss of consciousness, which may cause the person to have no memory of the episode

These symptoms occur during the ictal phase and often develop without warning. They can happen during the day or while sleeping and may affect people of any age, from infants to older adults.

According to the CDC, seizure symptoms can vary depending on the type of seizure and the areas of the brain involved.

If a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, call 911 or take the person to the emergency room immediately.

What does a seizure feel like?

Before a seizure, a person may experience confusion, anxiety, irritability, anger, fear, headache, or tremors.

These symptoms are part of the prodromal phase and may begin several hours or even days before the seizure.

Some people may also experience symptoms of an epileptic aura immediately before a seizure.

Symptoms of an epileptic aura

The main symptoms of an epileptic aura include:

• A bitter or sour taste in the mouth

• Nausea or stomach pain

• Dizziness or hallucinations

• Déjà vu, which is the feeling that a person, place, or situation has been experienced before when it has not

• Pain in the head, arm, or leg

• Shaky or blurred vision, or loss of vision

• Numbness, tingling, or mild tremors in the arms or legs

Other symptoms may include an out-of-body sensation, ringing in the ears, unusual smells, or feelings of fear, anger, sadness, or happiness.

Epileptic aura symptoms do not occur in everyone. When they do occur, they can vary from person to person depending on the type of seizure and the area of the brain affected.

An epileptic aura may occur before other seizure symptoms develop and is considered part of the ictal phase.

Symptoms after a seizure

The main symptoms after a seizure include:

• Body aches or general discomfort

• Weakness in the arms or legs

• Drowsiness

• Headache, migraine, or confusion

• Nausea or vomiting

• Fear, embarrassment, or sadness

• Thirst

These symptoms occur during the recovery period after a seizure, also known as the postictal phase. They vary from person to person depending on the type of epilepsy and the severity of the seizure.

Some people recover within a few minutes after a seizure, while others may take hours or days to recover.

Symptoms in children

Epilepsy symptoms in children can include seizures, muscle stiffness, involuntary movements, and changes or loss of awareness, depending on the type of seizure.

Children may also experience absence seizures, which typically cause brief episodes of staring and reduced awareness. Some children may also have rapid blinking or other small, repetitive movements during a seizure.

Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure and the area of the brain affected.

What to do

During a seizure, stay with the person and keep them safe from injury. If they are not awake and aware, place them on their side, put something soft under their head, and loosen any tight clothing around their neck. Do not restrain their movements.

According to the CDC, nothing should be placed in a person's mouth during a seizure, and food or liquids should not be given until the person is fully alert. The CDC also recommends calling 911 if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, another seizure begins soon afterward, or the person has difficulty breathing or waking up.

A neurologist should be consulted to confirm the diagnosis and determine the most appropriate treatment. Epilepsy treatment may include antiseizure medications such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, or valproic acid.

During treatment, people with epilepsy should avoid known seizure triggers when possible, such as not getting enough sleep, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, or exposure to intense visual stimulation.