Seizures, Epilepsy, and Multiple Sclerosis

More research needs to be done to understand this connection.

Research shows that seizures, if they occur, most often begin sometime after the onset of MS. ## Seizure Types

There are two types under which seizures are classified: generalized and focal.

Generalized Seizures

A generalized seizure involves your whole brain.

Referred to in the past as grand mal seizures, they generally last for one to three minutes.

While they’re distressing to witness, most people who experience a tonic-clonic seizure don’t actually feel them.

Afterward, the person will typically feel exhausted, washed-out, and disoriented.

Head and bodily injury can sometimes occur if the person collapses when the seizure begins.

You may also have some other lab and/or imaging tests to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of epilepsy.

Seizures in people with MS tend to be mild and cause no permanent damage.

In most cases, anticonvulsant medications are needed to control or entirely eliminate the seizures.

There are a variety of medications available to treat epilepsy, each with varying potential benefits and risks.

In fact, some of these anticonvulsants are also used to treat MS symptoms like pain and tremors.

Your healthcare provider will work with you to find the best medication for your needs and symptoms.

Thankfully, paroxysmal symptoms usually disappear within a few months.

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Kavcic A, Hofmann WE.Unprovoked Seizures in Multiple Sclerosis: Why Are They Rare?.Brain and Behavior.

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Published 2017 May 24. doi:10.1002/brb3.726.

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Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.