Epilepsy

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a common condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures.

Epilepsy is not just one condition, but a group of many different 'epilepsies' with one thing in common: a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain. Epilepsy is usually only diagnosed after a person has had more than one seizure. Not all seizures are due to epilepsy. Other conditions that can look like epilepsy include fainting, or very low blood sugar in some people being treated for diabetes.

Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. They can cause a wide range of symptoms.

Epilepsy can start at any age, but usually starts either in childhood or in people over 60. It's often lifelong, but can sometimes get slowly better over time.

Symptoms of epilepsy

Seizures can affect people in different ways, depending on which part of the brain is involved.

Possible symptoms include:

uncontrollable jerking and shaking - called a "fit"
losing awareness and staring blankly into space
becoming stiff
strange sensations - such as a "rising" feeling in the tummy, unusual smells or tastes, and a tingling feeling in your arms or legs
collapsing

Sometimes you might pass out and not remember what happened.

View the epilepsy directory of local services and organisations

Facts about Seizures

Most seizures happen suddenly without warning, last a short time (a few seconds or minutes) and stop by themselves.

Seizures can be different for each person.
Just knowing that someone has epilepsy does not tell you what their epilepsy is like, or what seizures they have.
Calling seizures 'major' or 'minor' does not tell you what happens to the person during the seizure. The names of seizures used on this page describe what happens during the seizure.
Some people have more than one type of seizure, or their seizures may not fit clearly into the types described on this page. But even if someone's seizures are unique, they usually follow the same pattern each time they happen.
Not all seizures involve convulsions (jerking or shaking movements). Some people seem vacant, wander around or are confused during a seizure.
Some people have seizures when they are awake, called 'awake seizures'. Some people have seizures while they are asleep, called 'asleep seizures' (or 'nocturnal seizures'). The names 'awake' and 'asleep' do not explain the type of seizures, only when they happen.
Injuries can happen during seizures, but many people don't hurt themselves and don't need to go to hospital or see a doctor.

Read more about the symptoms of epilepsy.

When to get medical help

See your GP if you think you might have had a seizure for the first time.

This doesn't mean you have epilepsy, as a seizure can have several causes and sometimes they're just a one-off, but you should see a doctor to find out why it happened.

Read about the tests for epilepsy you might have.

Call 999 for an ambulance if someone:

is having a seizure for the first time
has a seizure that lasts more than five minutes
has lots of seizures in a row
has breathing problems or has seriously injured themselves

Read about what to do if someone has a seizure.

Advice and Support

You can find all sorts of help and support on the Epilepsy Society web pages.

Treatments for epilepsy

Treatment can help most people with epilepsy have fewer seizures or stop having seizures completely.

Treatments include:

medicines called anti-epileptic drugs - these are the main treatment
surgery to remove a small part of the brain that's causing the seizures
a procedure to put a small electrical device inside the body that can help control seizures
a special diet (ketogenic diet) that can help control seizures

Some people need treatment for life. But you might be able to stop treatment if your seizures disappear over time.

Read more about treatments for epilepsy.

Living with epilepsy

Epilepsy is usually a lifelong condition, but most people with it are able to have normal lives if their seizures are well controlled.

Most children with epilepsy are able to go to a mainstream school, take part in most activities and sports, and get a job when they're older.

But you may have to think about your epilepsy before you do things such as driving, certain jobs, swimming, using contraception and planning a pregnancy.

Advice is available from your GP or support groups to help you adjust to life with epilepsy.

Causes of epilepsy

In epilepsy, the electrical signals in the brain become scrambled and there are sometimes sudden bursts of electrical activity. This is what causes seizures.

In most cases, it's not clear why this happens. It's possible it could be partly caused by your genes affecting how your brain works, as around one in three people with epilepsy have a family member with it.

Occasionally, epilepsy can be caused by damage to the brain, such as damage from:

a stroke
a brain tumour
a severe head injury
drug abuse or alcohol misuse
a brain infection
a lack of oxygen during birth