Seizure Types
Doctor reassuring a patient while reviewing her Cebrius treatment plan on a tablet

What Happens During a Seizure?

A seizure can affect the way you move, feel, behave, or think. During a seizure, you may become confused or unaware of what is happening around you. Every person's seizure experience is different, which is why understanding your seizure type is an important part of managing epilepsy.

What Is a Seizure?

A seizure occurs when there is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. This can temporarily affect movement, awareness, sensations, emotions, or behaviour.

What May Trigger a Seizure?

For some people, certain factors may increase the likelihood of a seizure. Learning your triggers can help you and your doctor better manage your epilepsy.

Timing & Circumstances

  • Certain times of the day or night
  • Fever or illness
  • Hormonal changes, including menstrual cycles

Lifestyle Factors

  • Stress
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Flashing lights or certain visual patterns
  • Excess caffeine
  • Recreational drug use

Health & Self-Care

  • Missing anti-seizure medication doses
  • Poor nutrition or low blood sugar
  • Lack of sleep

Possible Symptoms of Focal-Onset Seizures

  • Brief changes in awareness
  • Staring episodes
  • Jerking or stiffening movements
  • Unusual sensations
  • Changes in smell, taste, vision, or hearing
  • Tingling or strange feelings in the body
  • Difficulty speaking or responding
  • Temporary confusion, memory gaps after the event

Symptoms typically last a few seconds to a few minutes.

Understanding Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological conditions worldwide, characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures resulting from abnormal, excessive electrical activity in the brain. Drug-resistant epilepsy is defined by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) as failure of adequate trials of two tolerated, appropriately chosen antiseizure medication schedules — whether as monotherapies or in combination — to achieve sustained seizure freedom. Although DRE is a long-term condition, add-on therapy and comprehensive epilepsy care can help many patients regain meaningful seizure control.People living with DRE continue to experience seizures despite trying multiple antiseizure medications, often in combination. Seizure type, frequency, and severity vary from person to person, and uncontrolled seizures carry an ongoing risk of injury, cognitive impact, mood disturbance, and reduced independence.

Seizure-Related Impact

  • Recurrent focal seizures, with or without secondary generalization
  • Unpredictable seizure timing affecting daily activities, driving, and employment
  • Risk of injury during seizure events
  • Post-ictal confusion and fatigue

Treatment-Related Burden

  • Polypharmacy from multiple concomitant antiseizure medications
  • Cumulative dose-related side effects and drug interactions
  • Reduced adherence due to complex, multi-drug regimens

Cognitive & Psychosocial Impact

  • Difficulty with memory, attention, and processing speed
  • Social stigma, isolation, and withdrawal
  • Higher rates of anxiety and depression compared with the general population

Living Beyond the Diagnosis

A diagnosis of drug-resistant epilepsy does not define a person's future. With individualized adjunctive therapy, ongoing specialist care, and family support, many patients achieve meaningful reductions in seizure frequency, and some achieve sustained seizure freedom.

For more Information, please talk to your Doctor