Conditions Back ConditionsDrugs & Supplements Back Drugs & SupplementsWell-Being Back Well-BeingMore Back More Privacy & More Subscribe Log In Search Subscribe GuideOverviewTypes Tests & DiagnosisTreatmentLiving With View Full Guide Understanding Epilepsy -- SymptomsWritten by Medically Reviewed by Christopher Melinosky, MD on October 28, 20232 min readWhat Are the Symptoms of Epilepsy? 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 seizures, which can recur many times in a day.Tonic/clonic (grand mal) seizures, which usually last several minutes, typically begin with a loss of consciousness and a fall, followed by rigidity, then jerking motions, and 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 , and distorted perceptions such as deja-vu (a feeling of familiarity or having seen something before).Motor or Jacksonian seizures start with localized rhythmic of muscles in a hand, a foot, or the face, which may spread to the whole body. Such seizures are often followed by a period of or paralysis. Call Your Doctor About Epilepsy If:You experience a seizure for the first time or have never seen a doctor for your seizures.One seizure follows another without a return to consciousness; the could be deprived of oxygen. Call 911 or your emergency number immediately.You're experiencing side effects from anti-seizure (anticonvulsant) . Your doctor may want to check your levels of the medication and then make adjustments in the dose or try an alternative drug.Your anti-seizure drugs are not fully controlling seizures.You have seizures and are pregnant or trying to conceive. SourcesUpdate HistorySharePrintSOURCES: National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health.SharePrintMore on Epilepsy Recommended FEATURED Top doctors in , Find more top doctors on Search Related LinksPoliciesAboutFor Advertisers © 2005 - 2025 WebMD LLC, an company. All rights reserved. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. , Epilepsy — also known as a seizure disorder — is a brain condition that causes recurring seizures. There are many types of epilepsy. In some people, the cause can be identified. In others, the cause is not known. Epilepsy is common. It's estimated that 1.2% of people in the United States have active epilepsy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epilepsy affects , Epilepsy is a brain disease in which clusters of nerve cells signal abnormally, causing a seizure. Seizures cause changes in awareness, muscle control, sensations and behavior..