Postictal

Postictal state is the altered state of consciousness after an epileptic seizure. It usually lasts between 5 and 30 minutes, but sometimes longer in the case of larger or more severe seizures, and is characterized by drowsiness, confusion, nausea, hypertension, headache or migraine, and other disorienting symptoms. Additionally, emergence from this period is often accompanied by amnesia or other memory defects.

Symptoms

The postictal state can have a wide range of symptoms. These can include:

• Amnesia: This is a common symptom, especially after a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The person may not remember having had a seizure at all, or may only remember the moments leading up to it.
• Confusion: The person may be disoriented and not know where they are or what time it is.
• Drowsiness: The person may feel tired and want to sleep.
• Headache: This can range from a mild, dull ache to a severe migraine.
• Nausea: The person may feel sick to their stomach.
• Hypertension: The person's blood pressure may be elevated.
• Mood changes: The person may feel depressed, anxious, or irritable.

Causes

The postictal state is caused by the after-effects of the electrical activity in the brain during a seizure. The brain needs time to recover and return to its normal state.

Treatment

Treatment for the postictal state is primarily supportive. This can include:

• Rest: The person may need to sleep or rest until they feel better.
• Pain relief: If the person has a headache, over-the-counter pain relievers may help.
• Reorientation: If the person is confused, they may need help understanding where they are and what has happened.
• Monitoring: If the person has hypertension, their blood pressure should be monitored and treated if necessary.

See also

• Epilepsy
• Seizure types
• Status epilepticus
• Epileptic seizure

References

Postictal Resources
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