Absence
Clonic
Tonic
Tonic-clonic
Myoclonic

TRILEPTAL is not indicated for treatment of generalized seizures.

Absence (petit mal)- three to 30 seconds

Momentary loss of consciousness
Often mistaken for day-dreaming
Rare in adults
Lasts three to 30 seconds

Absence seizures (petit mal) are brief and may consist of only a short cessation of physical movement and loss of attention. They may even pass unnoticed by others. Small children may simply appear to be staring or walking distractedly.

Petit mal may be confused with simple or complex partial seizures. In petit mal, however, a person loses consciousness and may experience attacks as often as 50 to 100 times a day. About 25% of patients with petit mal develop grand mal seizures.

Clonic

Convulsions with characteristic rhythmic twitches or jerks
Breathing irregular, may stop
After seizure, bowel and bladder control may be lost
Lasts 2-3 minutes

Clonic seizures, which are very rare, occur primarily in young children who experience spasms of the muscles but not their tonic rigidity.

Tonic (atonic)

Sudden complete loss of muscle tone
Patient stiffens, becomes unconscious, and falls down
High risk of injury
Rare condition
Lasts 1 minute

In tonic seizures, the muscles contract and consciousness is altered for about 10 seconds, but the seizures do not progress to the clonic or jerking phase.

Tonic-clonic (grand mal)

Tonic seizure followed by a clonic seizure
Lasts 2-3 minutes

The first stage of grand mal seizures is called the tonic phase in which the muscles suddenly contract, causing the patient to fall and lie rigidly for about 10 to 30 seconds. Some people experience a premonition or “aura” before a grand mal seizure; most, however, lose consciousness without warning. If the throat or larynx is affected, there may be a high-pitched musical sound called stridor when the patient inhales.

Spasms occur for about 30 seconds to a minute as the seizure enters the clonic phase, when the muscles begin to alternate between relaxation and rigidity. After this phase, the patient may lose bowel or urinary control.

Myoclonic-astatic epilepsy

Myoclonic-astatic epilepsy (MAE) is a combination of myoclonic seizures and astasia (a decrease or loss of muscular coordination), often resulting in the inability to sit or stand without aid.