Place Your Advertisement Here
All ad revenues support the mission of the Epilepsy Therapy Project
 
UPDATED: Sun, 10/21/2007 - 9:37pm

  • Epilepsy First Aid
  • Seizure Medication
  • Videos
  • Seizure Diary
  • Find a Doctor
  • Epilepsy Centers
  • Clinical Trials
  • Event Calendar

Place Your Advertisement Here
All ad revenues support the mission
of the Epilepsy Therapy Project

Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

What is it like?

Here's a typical story: I have always had these little jerks of my arms, ever since I was 12 or 13 years old, but I assumed everybody had them. They never really bothered me until one day I had a big one and fell down. I had a couple of grand mal seizures and was put on medication for a few years. Because I didn't have any more seizures, the drugs were stopped. But during college, whenever I stayed up all night or drank too much, the next day I would get lots of those jerks, and sometimes a big seizure right after the jerks. I never thought much about those jerks; in fact, my wife, who doesn't have epilepsy, gets them sometimes as she is falling asleep.

People with JME have myoclonic seizures (quick little jerks of the arms, shoulder, or occasionally the legs), usually in the early morning, soon after awakening. The myoclonic jerks sometimes are followed by a tonic-clonic seizure. Absence seizures also may occur.

Who gets it?

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is one of the most common epilepsy syndromes. It accounts for 7% of all cases of epilepsy. The seizures of JME may begin between late childhood and early adulthood, usually around the time of puberty. Fifteen percent of children with childhood absence epilepsy later develop JME. It also is more likely in people who have family members with generalized epilepsy. The intellectual ability of people with JME is the same as that of people in general.

Tell me more

Some people with JME experience seizures that are triggered by flickering light, such as strobe lights at dances, TV, video games, or light shining through trees or reflecting off ocean waves or snow. These are called photosensitive seizures. Occasionally, myoclonic seizures are also provoked by factors such as decision-making or calculations.

The EEG usually shows a pattern of spikes and waves, which often appears in response to flashing lights. An EEG performed during sleep and continuing for a short time after awakening is the best way to confirm the diagnosis. CT and MRI scans of the brain are normal and are seldom necessary.

JME often has a genetic basis. In some families, genes associated with an increased risk of JME have been identified on chromosomes 6, 8, or 15. Nevertheless, the large majority of children in these families do not develop epilepsy.

How is it treated?

The seizures of more than 80% of people with JME are well controlled with medication. Depakote (valproate) is usually used. It works for each of the three types of seizures that can be seen with JME

This content is user-generated. Content is not monitored nor consistently reviewed by the epilepsy.com Editorial Board. Epilepsy.com therefore cannot guarantee the accuracy of any content edited with the Wiki sections. While epilepsy.com, the Epilepsy Therapy Project, and its partners encourage visitor interaction and publishing within these sections, users should use caution when exploring content, especially as it pertains to health concerns. No content on epilepsy.com is intended to replace the care of a doctor. We encourage you to contact your own health care provider for individual medical advice. We cannot provide second opinions or make specific recommendations regarding therapy, nor does this Wiki content constitute a recommendation for any diagnosis or treatment options.


Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy :People with JME have myoclonic seizures (quick little jerks of the arms, shoulder, or occasionally the legs), usually in the early morning, soon after awakening. The myoclonic jerks sometimes are followed by a tonic-clonic seizure. Absence seizures also may occur..


Turn the page on your treatment by starting your Epilepsy Diary today.

Keeping a daily record of your seizures can help you and your doctor better understand and treat your epilepsy.

Open my epiCom Diary

Title Posted
Newly diagnosed JME  
Jess_sMom
11 year old unstable  
magpie60
Does anyone have JME? I have a question.  
Awtum
Research about Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy  
amber9763
Epilepsy  
kieran
Shivers and Epilepsy  
Andrew T
JME or something else?  
nativeli
Why are some muscle twinges unimportant?  
MichaelK
Children's Hospital Boston's epilepsy-related information  
Childrens Hospital Boston
Video blog of teens coping with epilepsy on Thrive  
Childrens Hospital Boston
View all Forums

Title Posted
Vitamin B6  
eanj
Simple Partials Seizures-What Are Yours Like & Duration?  
Maria7
I Have Epilepsy and I Hate My Life...  
1nevermore
Will my car insurance rates go up in a single car accident?  
bakerdvd
Switching to Topamax from Depakote ER.. Advice?  
jessicarenee
A Scary Doctor  
snoodle
VNS  
maryem
Vimpat for Primary Generalized Epilepsy  
filly150
Food-Triggered Siezures  
uberzwitter
Hallucinations and delusions  
rayraykay
View all Forums

Title Page Views
my.epilepsy.com Updates  
epi_help
topamax and weight loss  
alexia mom
kepra  
brian mattingly
Possible cure for absence seizures  
pdl1
Epilepsy and marijuana  
cjad234
Sexual Side Effects  
George R
How exactly do aura's feel  
WendyBendy
MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s  
picnupthepcs
Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised  
spiz
electrical shock in head?  
Maggie
View all Forums

Title Posted
Week 2 on Keppra (exclusively)  
jmemama
View all Blogs

Title Posted
The Last Voice  
cindy thacher
Ugg boots  
shirts
UGG lays its charm  
shirts
UGG lays its charm  
shirts
29 years old, had seizures since I was 8.  
dkalra
Stroll for Epilepsy Awareness  
bookworm03
Epilepsy Advocacy  
krjohnson
Hello Again, catching up!  
chandagunn
PowerPoint to Youtube  
dwightgenius
The Adventure of WOW Team  
zhangben
View all Blogs

Title Page Views
Inspirational Quote - My Own Personal Inner Thoughts  
Butterflygrl
my partial complex seizures  
Zanna1211
Topomax... The Dreaded.........  
Dr Jason
Brain Zaps, tics & twitches  
JudiS
side effects of phenobarb.  
pksmom
Feeling Sick  
JBJ1984
How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens?  
epl_controller
Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds  
Butterflygrl
TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES  
cmscribbles
Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures"  
teft
View all Blogs

Title Posted
Project Uplift  
tamliniscute
SEIZURE FREE  
gracie9933
EPILEPSY SUPPORT GROUP NORTH CAROLINA  
Roxanne D
Community Feedback on Proposed New epilepsy.com Feature  
kdredske
Parent with Child with Epilepsy,Dystonia, and Autism  
TashaCole
RX outreach Program  
mw
Fun and Games  
phylisfjohnson
Epilepsy and Memory Loss??  
lindseygthatsme
Epileptic Postictal Psychosis  
Bravedefender
Northern California Volunteers  
cannemo73
View all Groups

Title Posted
May 31st  
kosko3
View all Stories

Title Posted
My Meningioma Story  
Maria7
My First time  
SteveDaw
My Epilepsy  
amberbrady5384
The crazy spiritual journey that is a seizure.  
zeus1223
29 years old; epilepsy since I was 8.  
dkalra
my experience with epilepsy  
Sabia
Family with Epilepsy  
thunley
My Story Of How I Was Diagnosed With Epilepsy.  
bass_babyx
Lorrelei71  
Lorrelei71
i guess this is my life now.  
RhiannonElizabeth
View all Stories

Place Your Advertisement Here
All ad revenues support the mission
of the Epilepsy Therapy Project