
Sleep apnoea is approximately twice as common in people with poorly controlled epilepsy than in the general population.Some antiepileptic drugs can contribute to sleeping difficulties or daytime drowsiness.Nocturnal seizures are a risk factor for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) 1.Nocturnal seizures may be misdiagnosed as a sleep disorder and certain sleep disorders may be misdiagnosed as epilepsy.Drowsiness can increase the risk of daytime seizures for people affected by seizures during sleep.Nocturnal seizures disrupt sleep and increase daytime drowsiness.One of the most common seizure triggers for many people with epilepsy, is lack of sleep.Avoiding certain triggers, such as lack of sleep.Special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet (ketogenic diet).It sends electrical energy through the vagus nerve into the neck and up to the brain.Ĭertain lifestyle changes may also be used:
Nocturnal epilepsy cure skin#
The vagus nerve stimulator is a tool placed under the skin of the chest. A vagus nerve stimulator is sometimes implanted and used with anti-epileptic medication to lower seizures. Surgery may be an option if medication can’t control the seizures. The doctor will watch for side effects to find the best treatment. It may take a few tries to get the right medicine and dose. In some cases, patients may not have any more seizures for the rest of their life.Īnti-seizure (or anti-epileptic) medications can be very helpful. This can then become a cycle of sleep deprivation, which is a known trigger for seizures, and consequently more seizures.įor many patients, correct treatment can lower or prevent seizures. It is important to aim for the best seizure control possible because nocturnal seizures can disrupt sleep, sometimes quite a lot. It is estimated around 12 percent of people with epilepsy have nocturnal seizures. The International League Against Epilepsy defines nocturnal seizures as ‘seizures occurring exclusively or predominantly (more than 90%) from sleep.’

People who have only night-time seizures in their sleep are defined as having pure nocturnal epilepsy. Some people have seizures occurring only during sleep whilst others have both daytime and night-time seizures. The scans can show scar tissue, tumors or structural problems in the brain.Įpilepsy has a complex connection with sleep. Nocturnal seizures or seizures during sleep can occur with any type of epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans may be used to look at where the seizures are happening in the brain. The sleep study will require the patient to stay overnight at the hospital where their brain activity can be monitored during their sleep. When a patient is experiencing nocturnal seizures, a sleep study is often needed to diagnose the condition. Different types of seizures can be identified with these patterns. The EEG can record unusual spikes or waves in electrical activity patterns. This records electrical activity in the brain. The most useful way to diagnose the type of seizure is an electroencephalogram (EEG). This can impact concentration, attention and learning as well as behavior and emotions resulting in reduced quality of life. If left undiagnosed, the person may suffer from a lot of daytime sleepiness. Nocturnal seizures can be any type of seizures. Frontal Onset Seizures (such as Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy).Electrical Status Epilepticus of Sleep (ESES or CSWS).Benign Rolandic (also called Benign Focal Epilepsy of Childhood).Nocturnal seizures can happen to anyone with epilepsy, but they are often associated with certain types of epilepsy, including: They are most common:Īny seizure can occur during sleep. Nocturnal seizures happen when a person is sleeping. The term nocturnal seizures does not say what sort of seizures happen, only when they happen. While most people have nocturnal seizures while they are sleeping at night which is why they are called nocturnal or ‘nighttime’, if they fall asleep during the day they could have nocturnal seizures or asleep seizures. Nocturnal seizures also called ‘asleep seizures’, are seizures that happen when someone is asleep.
