Myoclonic Seizures

What is a myoclonic seizure?

A myoclonic (my-oh-KLON-ik) seizure is a brief burst of electricity in the brain. It usually lasts less than a second. It causes a general jerking movement, as if your child were suddenly startled. Sometimes these seizures are so subtle that they are hard to recognize. They may also happen in groups, or clusters, where several jerks happen close together. After the seizure, the child goes back to his or her regular activity as if nothing happened.

What should I do if my child has another seizure?

These seizures are very brief and are often over by the time they are noticed. Sometimes they may come in clusters, either one after the other, or several seconds apart. No first aid is required with these seizures, but if your child falls with them, you may want to avoid stairs, sharp furniture edges or other potentially dangerous situations.

When do the seizures occur?

These seizures can occur at any time, but are most common just before falling asleep or just after waking up from sleep.

How to treat seizures

There are special medicines that can help prevent seizures from happening. These medicines must be taken EACH DAY. Your doctor will try to choose the best medicine for your child. Missed doses of medicine lessen the medicine’s ability to prevent seizures. Call your doctor if you have questions about the medicine.

DO NOT STOP GIVING THE MEDICINE without first talking to your doctor. Stopping the medicine can cause a very long seizure. Your child might have to be admitted to the hospital.

Other things you should know

• These seizures may be hard to control. Some children continue to have seizures even with medicine. Medicine will help and often lessens the seizures, but sometimes we cannot make them totally go away.
• Good seizure control takes time. The medicines do not work right away, and sometimes several medicines are tried before good seizure control happens. Please be patient. Remember that these seizures are short and do not harm your child.
• Many children with myoclonic seizures may also have other types of seizures. If you see other seizure-like behavior, let your doctor know.
• Children who have these seizures are more likely to have learning problems. The reason for this is not known. If you think that your child is slow to learn or behind in development, ask your doctor about having developmental testing done.