HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Epilepsy: Myoclonic Seizures
Topic Overview
Myoclonic seizures affect a small number of children and adults with generalized Reference epilepsy Opens New Window of unknown cause (idiopathic). In children and teens with Reference juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, the seizures seem to occur most often after waking up or while falling asleep.
During a myoclonic seizure:
- The arms, legs, torso, or facial muscles jerk rapidly as though they are being shocked.
- The body may jerk once or many times, on one or both sides of the body, in a rhythmic or random pattern.
- The person usually does not lose consciousness.
Myoclonic seizures are almost always very brief.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference August 26, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
Reference Steven C. Schachter, MD - Neurology |
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