Take control of your epilepsy and seizures. Seizure management has never been easier.
TAKE CONTROL TODAYHere's a typical story: "Harold's spells begin with a warning; he says he's going to have a seizure and usually sits down. If I ask him how he feels, he just says 'I feel it.' Then he makes a funny face, a mixture of surprise and distress. During the seizure he may look at me when I call his name but he never answers. He just stares and makes odd mouth movements, as if he's tasting something. Sometimes he'll grab the arm of the chair and squeeze it. He may also pull at his shirt as though he's picking lint off of it. After a few minutes, when he's coming out of it, he asks a lot of questions. He never remembers his 'warning' or these questions. The seizures make him tired; if he has two in the same day, he often goes to sleep after the second one."
And another story: "Susan's seizures usually occur while she's asleep. She makes a grunting sound, as if she's clearing her throat. Then she'll sit up in bed, open her eyes, and stare. She may clasp her hands together. If I ask her what she's doing, she doesn't answer. After a minute or so, she lies down and goes back to sleep."
They usually last between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. Afterward, the person may be tired or confused for about 15 minutes and may not be fully normal for hours.
These seizures usually start in a small area of the temporal lobe or frontal lobe of the brain. They quickly involve other areas of the brain that affect alertness and awareness. So even though the person's eyes are open and they may make movements that seem to have a purpose, in reality "nobody's home." If the symptoms are subtle, other people may think the person is just daydreaming.
Some people can have seizures of this kind without realizing that anything has happened. Because the seizure can wipe out memories of events just before or after it, however, memory lapses can be a problem.
Some of these seizures (usually ones beginning in the temporal lobe) start with a simple partial seizure. Also called an aura, this warning seizure often includes an odd feeling in the stomach. Then the person loses awareness and stares blankly. Most people move their mouth, pick at the air or their clothing, or perform other purposeless actions. These movements are called "automatisms" (aw-TOM-ah-TIZ-ums). Less often, people may repeat words or phrases, laugh, scream, or cry. Some people do things during these seizures that can be dangerous or embarrassing, such as walking into traffic or taking their clothes off. These people need to take precautions in advance.
Complex partial seizures starting in the frontal lobe tend to be shorter than the ones from the temporal lobe. The seizures that start in the frontal lobe are also more likely to include automatisms like bicycling movements of the legs or pelvic thrusting.
Some complex partial seizures turn into secondarily generalized seizures.
Anybody can get them. They may be more likely in people who have had a head injury, brain infection, stroke, or brain tumor but most of the time the cause is unknown.
As for many other kinds of seizures, the outlook depends on whether the cause is known. They may be outgrown or controlled with medication. If medication is not effective, some can be eliminated by epilepsy surgery.
Complex partial seizures sometimes resemble daydreaming or absence seizures :
Questions to Ask |
Daydreaming |
Seizures |
| How frequent are the episodes? | Not frequent. |
Complex partial: Rarely more than several times per day or week. Absence: Could be many times per day. |
| In what situations do they occur? | Boring situation. | Any time, including during physical activity. |
| Do they begin abruptly? | No. | Usually yes. Some complex partial seizures begin slowly with a warning. |
| Can they be interrupted? | Yes. | No. |
| How long do they last? | Until something interesting happens. |
Complex partial: Up to several minutes. Absence: Rarely more than 15-20 seconds. |
| Does the person do anything during the episode? | Probably just stares. |
Complex partial: Automatisms are common. Absence: Just stares. |
| What is the person like immediately after the episode? | Alert. |
Complex partial: Confused. Absence: Alert. |
Careful observation should make the diagnosis pretty certain in most cases.
Topic Editor: Orrin Devinsky, M.D.
Last Reviewed:2/11/04
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.
Complex
Partial Seizures :These seizures usually start in a small area of the
temporal lobe or frontal lobe of the brain. They quickly involve other areas of
the brain that affect alertness and awareness...
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy and Food | Aug 24, 2009 | |
| Adrilu | ||
| My Husband Can't see/feel his Aura's... | Oct 29, 2009 | |
| hubbys_auras | ||
| lamictal | Oct 25, 2009 | |
| mother of one | ||
| HELP!!!! Having automatisms and abscence when I daydream!! What is it? | Sep 24, 2009 | |
| skippymcc | ||
| Is this Aura??? | Oct 28, 2009 | |
| Shadrak | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Life After Left Temporal Lobe Surgery - Desperate for Input | May 16, 2012 | |
| vitasg | ||
| Epilepsy and School | May 16, 2012 | |
| New2Epilepsy | ||
| lamictal/lamotrigene, marijuana, and pregnancy/breastfeeding | May 16, 2012 | |
| reikihealer | ||
| Lamictal and pregnancy | May 16, 2012 | |
| bugsbunny | ||
| How Do You Cope? | May 16, 2012 | |
| rosanna1980 | ||
| Do meds exacerbate moodiness during menstrual cycle? | May 16, 2012 | |
| scubagirl | ||
| Complex Partial Seizures-Suddenly there is no aura, no warning of any kind | May 15, 2012 | |
| cmesmile32 | ||
| Faked seizures | May 15, 2012 | |
| dfarrell | ||
| Is this a very bad neurogist please?? | May 15, 2012 | |
| patrish | ||
| KEPPRA TOXICITY | May 15, 2012 | |
| informedmom | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| my.epilepsy.com Updates | 20,618 | |
| epi_help | ||
| topamax and weight loss | 19,330 | |
| alexia mom | ||
| kepra | 19,240 | |
| brian mattingly | ||
| Possible cure for absence seizures | 16,387 | |
| pdl1 | ||
| How exactly do aura's feel | 14,073 | |
| WendyBendy | ||
| Sexual Side Effects | 13,521 | |
| George R | ||
| MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s | 12,452 | |
| picnupthepcs | ||
| Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised | 10,442 | |
| spiz | ||
| electrical shock in head? | 10,083 | |
| Maggie | ||
| Weight Gain and Depakote | 9,011 | |
| galinda | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| UNBELIEVABLE HAPPINESS!!!! | Aug 10, 2009 | |
| 3Hours2Live | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Police officer with adult onset epilepsy | May 15, 2012 | |
| matt b | ||
| Complex like none other | May 15, 2012 | |
| Cristopher.Rodriguez | ||
| Teenager & Stay Positive | May 15, 2012 | |
| SophieWinifred | ||
| HI GINA MARIE!!! I MISS YOU! SEIZURES.........AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SEIZURES......THE POSTICTAL COMSUMER | May 15, 2012 | |
| ROCKNROLL | ||
| Hi Again | May 15, 2012 | |
| ajmtightwrite@bis.midco.net | ||
| Some people are just complete A-holes.... | May 15, 2012 | |
| arsen77 | ||
| Does epilepsy define ME | May 15, 2012 | |
| fivelove | ||
| Lets keep it real. | May 15, 2012 | |
| Adz | ||
| Coming out? | May 14, 2012 | |
| fashionlove45 | ||
| My story | May 11, 2012 | |
| fashionlove45 | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| my partial complex seizures | 4,540 | |
| Zanna1211 | ||
| Topomax... The Dreaded......... | 3,786 | |
| Dr Jason | ||
| Brain Zaps, tics & twitches | 3,586 | |
| JudiS | ||
| How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens? | 3,545 | |
| epl_controller | ||
| Feeling Sick | 3,308 | |
| JBJ1984 | ||
| side effects of phenobarb. | 3,215 | |
| pksmom | ||
| Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds | 2,904 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES | 2,834 | |
| cmscribbles | ||
| Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures" | 2,711 | |
| teft | ||
| newborn seizure | 2,256 | |
| Sunny_80 | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Angela-48 | May 11, 2012 | |
| ANGELA-48 | ||
| Babies with seizures | May 5, 2012 | |
| gabrielsmommy121911 | ||
| Parent and Family Support Group Newton Kansas | Mar 13, 2012 | |
| Brown67114 | ||
| No more driving | Mar 9, 2012 | |
| Amy829 | ||
| Audubon, Pennsylvania (King of Prussia area) Parents of Kids with Epilepsy Looking to connect with others in thier area | Mar 7, 2012 | |
| ajssoscia | ||
| People who have epilepsy and are parents of young children, step children or pregnant. | Feb 27, 2012 | |
| kjsdestiny | ||
| Had the worse seizure of my life last night! Complex Partial | Feb 8, 2012 | |
| jlamont | ||
| Self-Management of Medication | Feb 7, 2012 | |
| columbia.epilepsy.study | ||
| Dravet Spectrum Disorder | Feb 4, 2012 | |
| mytboy | ||
| Diving with eplilepsy | Feb 1, 2012 | |
| p59 | ||
| View all Groups | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing like the past haunting me again | Aug 18, 2009 | |
| tx_shane | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper my 3 year old amazing son | May 15, 2012 | |
| supercooper | ||
| I want to get better | May 15, 2012 | |
| EsmeraldaAguilar | ||
| Seizures under control | May 14, 2012 | |
| panteradee | ||
| Dizziness with topiramate/Diamox | May 14, 2012 | |
| girl4him | ||
| pregnancy and lamictal and mysoline | May 14, 2012 | |
| ckonstas | ||
| Cole | May 12, 2012 | |
| MommaofMia3 | ||
| seizure while sleeping | May 11, 2012 | |
| Fireball101 | ||
| Neuro says it's not epilepsy but...... | May 10, 2012 | |
| lotusbri | ||
| Nocturnal Seizures | May 10, 2012 | |
| kristy_1985 | ||
| Marijuana helps seizures? | May 10, 2012 | |
| lanaleal77 | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Roiz | 2,431 | |
| kroiz | ||
| my story | 562 | |
| snoby | ||
| Temporal Lobe Epilepsy | 556 | |
| Always Have On Clean Underwear | 508 | |
| crashllama | ||
| my brain has died a thousand deaths........... | 476 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| Kelly's Life With Epilepsy | 472 | |
| kjcanada1979 | ||
| What My Seizures Are Like...... | 421 | |
| javaman | ||
| Nocturnal grand mal seizures (primary generalized epilepsy) | 395 | |
| karalyeva | ||
| Life......... | 376 | |
| dizzygal | ||
| My Daily Philosophy..... | 366 | |
| KatieFerguson88 | ||
| View all Stories | ||
