• Brief blackout followed by period of confusion
• Drooling or frothing at the mouth
• Eye movements
• Grunting and snorting
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Sudden falling
• Teeth clenching
• Temporary halt in breathing
• Uncontrollable muscle spasms with twitching and jerking limbs
• Unusual behavior like sudden anger, sudden laughter, or picking at one's clothing

The person may have warning symptoms before the attack, which may consist of:

• Fear or anxiety
• Nausea
• Vertigo
• Visual symptoms (such as flashing bright lights, spots, or wavy lines before the eyes)

Images

Grand mal seizure

Review Date: 07/22/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)