Absence Seizures - Maximed Turkey

What Are Absence Seizures?

Absence seizures are types of seizures that originate in the temporal lobes of the brain. They are characterized by brief episodes of unconsciousness lasting between one and three minutes, which occurs when a person is asleep or transitioning between states.

These seizures manifest as an interruption in awareness which results in physical symptoms, such as loss of muscle control, rapid eye blinking, twitching or shaking, vocalizations (especially speech), and occasionally delusions or hallucinations. The symptoms associated with absence seizures typically subside without any intervention after several seconds to several minutes.

What Causes Absence Seizures?

The cause for absence seizure is unknown at this time, but genetics appear to be the most likely factor involved. Epilepsy is the most common cause of absence seizures. Absence seizures can be divided into two broad categories: epileptic and non-epileptic simple partial epilepsy.

Despite this fact, approximately 10% of people with epilepsy experience absence seizures, and these individuals will go on to experience another type of seizure (e.g., tonic-clonic, drop attack) in the future. People with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) also have a greatly increased likelihood of developing absences than other people.

What Are The Symptoms Of Absence Seizures?

The symptoms of absence seizures can vary widely based on the brain region that is affected. The most frequent symptoms associated with absence seizures include: - Loss of awareness (loss of consciousness) - Random jerking (like someone turned a switch on and off) - Rapid eye blinking - Vocalization (speaking) - Muscle twitching or shaking, usually in limbs - Sudden jerking movements - Difficulty breathing or slurred speech

What Medications Are Used To Treat Absence Seizures?

There are currently no medications that have been approved by the FDA for use as a treatment for absences. However, many doctors prescribe a medication known as Lamotrigine for this type of seizure.

Lamotrigine does not treat absences directly; however, it is thought to lower overall seizure severity and frequency. Several other medications (such as valproic acid and ethosuximide) have also been used in the past to treat absences; however, their effectiveness is unclear at this point.

What Non-Drug Therapies Can Be Used To Treat Absence Seizures?

Many doctors recommend that people who experience the symptoms of absence seizures adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent future seizure activity. These lifestyle changes include:

·         Avoiding certain medications (e.g., alcohol, caffeine, amphetamines)

·         Keeping food intake to regular times during the day - Getting adequate sleep (i.e., 7-8 hours/night)

·         Engaging in aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes daily

·         Maintaining a healthy weight

In addition to these recommendations, doctors may also prescribe a device known as a vagus nerve stimulator for people with severe absences that do not respond well to medications alone. However, this treatment is controversial and its effectiveness has been questioned by studies that have been conducted on it.

Same general mechanism (absence seizure), different brain circuits promote the different types of seizures. This is the reason why infants can't intentionally induce absences too because they don't have that path.

Shorter-duration absences are thought to be spontaneous remission pain-free (painless) generalized generalized absence seizures (GGA) (29%) which appear to arise from the temporal lobes. This type of absence seizure resembles petit mal seizures in an infant without other features suggestive of other types of absence attacks.

Absence seizures usually start at night or in sleep, especially in children who are over two years old.

Frequently Asked Questions Absence Seizures

What Is The Diagnosis?

Diagnosis of epilepsy is based mainly on seizure types. A doctor may also do a physical exam, chemical tests, and sometimes an MRI or CT scan to see if there are any brain abnormalities. Generally, the doctor looks at the symptoms (seizure type) and what parts of the brain they happen in (seizure focus).

What Are The Types Of Seizures?

There are three main types of seizures: simple partial, complex partial, and generalized.