Symptoms

Seizures are uncontrolled spasms or convulsions. They can be isolated events or a sign of epilepsy or many other conditions.

When should you go to the ER for a seizure?

• This is your first seizure.
• The seizure lasts longer than five minutes.
• You have multiple seizures in a short amount of time.
• The person is unconscious, injured or has other symptoms such as trouble breathing.

Causes

Conditions that stimulate unusual electrical activity in the brain or damage the brain can cause a seizure. These may include:

• Epilepsy
• Stroke
• Brain or head injury
• Brain tumor
• Abnormal blood glucose or electrolytes
• Drug or alcohol overdose or withdrawal
• Genetic disorders and brain abnormalities
• Infection in the brain or the surrounding tissues
• Medication side effects
• Poisoning
• Psychological stress

Treatments

When you come to our emergency room with a seizure, our emergency physicians will give you anti-seizure medicine if your seizure lasts longer than five minutes or if you have multiple attacks. Frontline ER communicates directly with your Neurologist to ensure we are providing the best care for your seizure episodes.