What Are the Different Types of Seizures?

Seizures are uncontrolled muscle states, behaviors, sensations, or awareness caused by uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. When seizures occur repeatedly without a known seizure-inducing trigger, the patient has a seizure disorder. When diagnosing seizure disorders, physicians must distinguish their types before deciding on the best medications. The two basic types of seizure disorders are focal and generalized seizures. Focal-onset seizures begin with uncontrolled electrical activity in a small area of the brain and may spread throughout the brain. Generalized-onset seizures start with such electrical activity throughout the brain. The two main types are further divided as follows:

Focal-Onset Seizures

Focal Aware Seizures (Simple Partial Seizures)

• Involve uncontrolled movements such as one wrist motion that the patient senses but does not control.

Focal Unaware Seizures (Complex Partial Seizures)

• Involve confusion or altered states of consciousness along with uncontrolled muscle stiffness or movements.

Psychomotor Seizures

• Affects the temporal part of the brain only, resulting in altered consciousness and uncontrolled behavior.

Generalized-Onset Seizures

Absence (Petit Mal) Seizures

• Present as episodes of staring while unaware, sometimes with vague humming.

Myoclonic Seizures

• Consists of jerking motions of the neck and upper limbs on both sides in clusters, frequently in the morning.

Tonic Seizures

• Involve sudden muscle stiffness, frequently resulting in falls.

Atonic Seizures

• Consists of a sudden loss of muscle tone, often causing collapse.

Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal) Seizures

• Develop from any of the other types, spreading from one side of the brain to the other or becoming continuous.

Treatment Options for Different Types of Seizures

Some of the most widely prescribed medications for seizures are:

Tegretol (Carbamazepine)

• Used for focal, generalized tonic-clonic, and mixed seizures.

Dilantin (Phenytoin)

• Used for tonic-clonic and psychomotor seizures.

Depakene (Valproic Acid)

• Used for absence seizures.

Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine)

• Used for focal and tonic-clonic seizures.

Lamictal (Lamotrigine)

• Used for partial-onset and tonic-clonic seizures.

Neurontin (Gabapentin)

• Used for partial seizures.

Topamax (Topiramate)

• Broad-spectrum for focal and generalized seizures.

Phenobarbital

• Used for focal aware, focal unaware, and tonic-myoclonic seizures.

Zonisamide

• Used for partial seizures.

Where to Get Help for Different Types of Seizures

Did you know? QuickMD can refill your seizure medications remotely by telemedicine and prescribe anti-seizure medications online. For more information or to get started, visit QuickMD.