About Epilepsy & Seizures

Epilepsy is classified by syndrome or grouped according to a set of common characteristics, such as the following:

Patient age
Type of seizure or seizures
Whether a cause is known or not (idiopathic)


A few syndromes and inherited epilepsies are listed as follows. They by no means represent all epilepsies.

TRILEPTAL is not indicated for treatment of epilepsy syndromes.


West syndrome, also called infantile spasms, is a disorder that involves spasms and developmental delay in children within the first year, usually in infants between four and eight months.


Benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) are a rare, inherited form of generalized seizures that occur in infancy.


Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, which is also called impulsive petit mal epilepsy, is characterized by generalized seizures, usually tonic-clonic signaled by myoclonia (jerking movements) or absences.


Some research now suggests that adult myoclonic epilepsy may be a previously undescribed and distinct syndrome. It involves the development of generalized epilepsy of unknown causes in middle-aged adults.


Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe form of epilepsy in young children that causes multiple seizures and some developmental retardation. It usually involves absence, tonic, and partial seizures.


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.


Progressive myoclonic epilepsy is an inherited disorder occurring in children between the ages of 6 and 15. It usually involves tonic-clonic seizures and marked sensitivity to light flashes. Although the disease was previously considered to be progressive throughout life, current therapies have significantly improved its outlook.


Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy is a rare, inherited syndrome that usually occurs during childhood, on average at 11 years (although onset varies widely within families). Seizures can be dystonic (twisting contractions) or tonic (muscle contractions), or involve thrashing around. They are brief, frequent, and occur in clusters during the night, but often subside with age.


Landau-Kleffner syndrome is an epileptic condition that results in the inability to communicate either with speech or by writing (aphasia).