Seizures during sleep

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HealthWiki > Epilepsy and Seizures > Chapter 3: Types of seizures and how to identify them > Seizures during sleep

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

• Chapter 3: Types of seizures and how to identify them
• There are many types of seizures
• Identifying types of seizures
• Absence seizures
• When seizures are an emergency
• Seizures during sleep
• Seizures during childhood
• Health conditions that can cause seizures
• Seizures from alcohol and drug use
• Chemicals can cause seizures
• Seizures with psychological causes

Seizures during sleep can be hard to notice because the person feels them differently than they would if they were awake and may not notice them at all. If a person having sleep seizures lives with others, their seizures might go unnoticed because they happen while everyone else is also sleeping. Clues to having sleep seizures include waking up with a headache, feeling very tired after sleeping, falling out of bed while asleep, and mood changes.

Talk to a health worker if you worry that something unusual is happening while you sleep. Since all these signs can have causes other than seizures, a health worker will need information from you and anyone who has seen you sleep to figure out what is causing your sleep problems.

Seizures during sleep
Description: Usually begin during adolescence, may continue into adulthood Typically happen within 1 to 2 hours of falling asleep or upon waking up Can involve convulsions or other body movements Can be generalized or focal
Some possible causes: Epilepsy Brain injury or infection Stroke Disrupted sleep patterns	Antiseizure medicines that may help (see Chapter 4): Carbamazepine Levetiracetam
After the seizure: May wake up confused, disoriented, tired, or with unexplained injuries

For more information about sleep seizures, see Chapter 6.

This page was updated:19 May 2026