Can you have more than one type of seizure
William Cox
Updated on May 17, 2026
A person with epilepsy can have more than one type of seizure. The signs of a seizure depend on the type of seizure. Sometimes it is hard to tell when a person is having a seizure. A person having a seizure may seem confused or look like they are staring at something that isn’t there.
Can you have multiple seizures?
There’s no single definition of seizure clusters, also called cluster seizures. In general, it’s a group of seizures that happen more often than you’re used to within a certain span of time. Some experts define a cluster as having two or three seizures within 24 hours, recovering between each one.
What is the most recognized type of seizure?
Tonic-clonic seizures (older terms: grand mal seizures or convulsions) are the most recognized type of seizure. There are two parts to a tonic-clonic seizure: the tonic phase, which is the stiffening of the body and limbs; and the clonic phase, which is the jerking or convulsing of the body.
Can you have two seizures in a row?
You may experience seizures, but seizure clusters are different from your usual seizure pattern. This can mean having several seizures in a row or they can be hours apart.Can you have multiple seizures in a day?
Acute repetitive seizures or clusters Seizures of any type may occur in groups or clusters over a number of hours or days. A person usually recovers between seizures and the clusters will end on their own. People can be at risk for repeated clusters or status epilepticus if: Seizure clusters last longer than normal.
How do you stop multiple seizures?
If you have a cluster of seizures, it’s important to try to stop them so you don’t end up in the hospital. Doctors prescribe a class of drugs called benzodiazepines to stop seizure clusters after they start. Benzodiazepines work by changing the level of a chemical messenger in your brain called GABA.
What do multiple seizures mean?
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness. Having two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart that aren’t brought on by an identifiable cause is generally considered to be epilepsy.
How likely is it to have a second seizure?
The chance of another seizure can range from 16% to 61%, depending on the circumstances surrounding the seizure and results of a neurological exam or other tests.What happens if you have 2 seizures in one day?
Conclusion: If two or more unprovoked seizures (with normal consciousness between) occur on the same day, the child appears to have epilepsy and will have a clinical course identical to that of the child with a longer time interval between the first two seizures.
What can trigger seizure?- Not taking epilepsy medicine as prescribed.
- Feeling tired and not sleeping well.
- Stress.
- Alcohol and recreational drugs.
- Flashing or flickering lights.
- Monthly periods.
- Missing meals.
- Having an illness which causes a high temperature.
What are 4 types of seizures?
- Tonic: Muscles in the body become stiff.
- Atonic: Muscles in the body relax.
- Myoclonic: Short jerking in parts of the body.
- Clonic: Periods of shaking or jerking parts on the body.
Can you remember a seizure?
The seizures usually only last up to 15 seconds and you will not be able to remember them. They can happen several times a day.
What does a seizure feel like in your head?
For example, if you have a mild seizure, you may stay conscious. You might also feel strange and experience tingling, anxiety, or déjà vu. If you lose consciousness during a seizure, you won’t feel anything as it happens. But you might wake up feeling confused, tired, sore, or scared.
What causes multiple seizures in adults?
Potential causes include central nervous system infections, brain tumors, stroke, and brain injuries. The use or stopping of certain substances, including alcohol, may also trigger a seizure. The type of seizure depends on the cause. If you have a seizure for the first time, get medical attention as soon as possible.
Can you have seizures for no reason?
Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. This includes a high fever, high or low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or a brain concussion. But when a person has 2 or more seizures with no known cause, this is diagnosed as epilepsy.
What happens right before a seizure?
Some patients may have a feeling of having lived a certain experience in the past, known as “déjà vu.” Other warning signs preceding seizures include daydreaming, jerking movements of an arm, leg, or body, feeling fuzzy or confused, having periods of forgetfulness, feeling tingling or numbness in a part of the body, …
How long can a seizure last before brain damage?
A seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 seizure within a 5 minutes period, without returning to a normal level of consciousness between episodes is called status epilepticus. This is a medical emergency that may lead to permanent brain damage or death.
Should I go to hospital after a seizure?
If you see someone who is having an epileptic seizure, you should call an ambulance or 911 if: The seizure lasts more than five minutes. Another seizure starts right after the first. The person can’t be awakened after the movements have stopped.
How long is the average lifespan of a person with epilepsy?
Reduction in life expectancy can be up to 2 years for people with a diagnosis of idiopathic/cryptogenic epilepsy, and the reduction can be up to 10 years in people with symptomatic epilepsy. Reductions in life expectancy are highest at the time of diagnosis and diminish with time.
Should you sleep after a seizure?
After the seizure: they may feel tired and want to sleep. It might be helpful to remind them where they are. stay with them until they recover and can safely return to what they had been doing before.
Can someone have only one seizure?
It’s possible to have only one seizure and not require treatment, but if your seizures continue, there are several ways your doctor may suggest treating them, including: Medication.
Can you have a 2 second seizure?
Usually they don’t last more than a second or two. There can be just one, but sometimes many will occur within a short time. Even people without epilepsy can experience myoclonus in hiccups or in a sudden jerk that may wake you up as you’re just falling asleep.
Does an EEG show past seizures?
The EEG generally records brain waves between seizures, called interictal brain waves. These waves may or may not show evidence of seizure activity.
Can stress and anxiety cause seizures?
Emotional stress also can lead to seizures. Emotional stress is usually related to a situation or event that has personal meaning to you. It may be a situation in which you feel a loss of control. In particular, the kind of emotional stress that leads to most seizures is worry or fear.
Can you survive a seizure alone?
By taking care of your overall well-being and making lifestyle changes to lower the risk of seizure, you can live safely and independently with epilepsy.
How do you know if I had a seizure in my sleep?
- cry out or make unusual noises, especially right before the muscles tense.
- suddenly appear very rigid.
- wet the bed.
- twitch or jerk.
- bite their tongue.
- fall out of the bed.
- be difficult to wake after the seizure.
- be confused or display other unusual behaviors after a seizure.
What type of seizure is difficult to detect?
Generalized seizures begin on both sides of your brain at the same time. Because these seizures spread quickly, it can be difficult to tell where they originated.
What are three major seizures?
- Generalized onset seizures:
- Focal onset seizures:
- Unknown onset seizures:
Can you hear during seizure?
Common symptoms during a seizure. Distracted, daydreaming. Loss of consciousness, unconscious, or “pass out” Unable to hear. Sounds may be strange or different.
What does a mini seizure feel like?
Simple focal seizures: They change how your senses read the world around you: They can make you smell or taste something strange, and may make your fingers, arms, or legs twitch. You also might see flashes of light or feel dizzy. You’re not likely to lose consciousness, but you might feel sweaty or nauseated.
Does it hurt to have seizures?
In general, the actual experience of having a seizure does not hurt. Pain during seizures is rare . Some types of seizures make you lose consciousness. In this case, you won’t feel pain during the seizure.