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Seizures Emergencies

Seizures Emergencies Overview

Everyone has the potential to have seizures. Some people have them frequently. Seizure disorders vary tremendously. Some people have only an occasional seizure, and other people have daily or more frequent seizures.

  • There are many different types of seizures. Seizure activity may range from simple blank staring to loss of consciousness with spasticity or muscle jerking.

  • Generally, a seizure should be considered an emergency in these situations:

    • Seizures that do not stop within a few minutes.

    • Prolonged confusion remains after the seizure (more than 10-15 minutes).

    • The person is not responsive after a seizure.

    • The person has trouble breathing.

    • The person is injured during the seizure.

    • The seizure is a first-time seizure.

    • There is a significant change in the type or character of the seizure from that person's usual seizure pattern.



Next: Seizures Emergencies Causes »

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Are You Seeking Better Seizure Control?

 Vimpat
Are You Seeking Better Seizure Control?

Important Safety Information

Vimpat (lacosamide) is a medicine that is used with other medicines to treat partial onset seizures in patients 17 years of age and older with epilepsy. Vimpat is generally well-tolerated, but may not be for everyone. Ask your doctor if Vimpat is right for you. Antiepileptic drugs, including Vimpat, may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have new or worsening symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self harm that you have never had before or may be worse than before. Please see additional patient information in the Medication Guide at the end of the full prescribing information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your condition or your treatment. Please see additional Patient Safety Information

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Seizures Emergencies

Seizure »

Seizure Overview

Abnormal electrical activity in the brain triggers seizure activity. A person may have a seizure disorder (epilepsy) and require medications. Other factors such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which is a diabetic reaction, may cause seizures. Meningitis or a head injury may also cause a seizure.

Fainting can also cause a series of jerking movements as the person loses consciousness. These movements do not necessarily indicate a seizure.

Seizure Symptoms

  • Symptoms range from jerking movements in a single extremity to abnormal movements throughout the entire body.
  • Some seizures may cause lip smacking, behaviorisms, staring spells, or other symptoms depending on in which area of the brain the seizure cause originates.
  • Seizures may affect bladder and bowel control, and a person experiencing a seizure often bites his or her own tongue.

Seizure Tr...

Read the Seizure article »



Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Seizures in the Emergency Department »

Seizures are a common cause of visits to the emergency department (ED). One estimate states that approximately 1% of patients coming to the ED do so because of seizures (Krumholz et al, 1989)

Read More on eMedicine »

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