Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure Overview
Learn About Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure
Bilateral tonic-clonic seizure is a type of seizure that involves the entire body. It is also called grand mal seizure. The terms generalized seizure, convulsion, or epilepsy are most often associated with bilateral tonic-clonic seizures.
Seizure - tonic-clonic; Seizure - grand mal; Grand mal seizure; Seizure - generalized; Epilepsy - generalized seizure
Seizures result from electrical overactivity in the brain. Bilateral tonic-clonic seizures may occur in people of any age. They can occur once (single episode). Or, they can occur as part of a repeated, chronic illness (epilepsy). Some seizures are due to psychological problems (psychogenic or non-epileptic).
Many people with generalized bilateral tonic-clonic seizures have an aura with one or more symptoms before the seizure such as:
- Vision, taste, smell, or sensory changes.
- Seeing, smelling, or sometimes hearing things that are not there (hallucinations).
- Dizziness or other symptoms.
Some people have a focal onset seizure (only affecting one part of the body) that becomes a bilateral tonic-clonic seizure.
The seizures often result in rigid muscles (tonic phase). This is followed by violent muscle contractions (clonic phase). Other symptoms that occur during the seizure may include:
- Biting the cheek or tongue
- Clenched teeth or jaw
- Loss of urine or stool control (incontinence)
- Stopped breathing or difficulty breathing
- Blue skin color (cyanosis)
After the seizure, the person may have:
- Confusion
- Drowsiness or sleepiness that lasts for 1 hour or longer (called the post-ictal state)
- Loss of memory (amnesia) about the seizure episode
- Headache
- Weakness of one side of the body for a few minutes to a few hours following seizure (called Todd paralysis)
Treatment for tonic-clonic seizures includes medicines, changes in lifestyle for adults and children, such as activity and diet, and sometimes surgery. Your provider can tell you more about these options.
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Paul Rachal is a Family Medicine provider in New Roads, Louisiana. Dr. Rachal and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure. His top areas of expertise are Bronchitis, Tenosynovitis, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Sciatica. Dr. Rachal is currently accepting new patients.
Nnamdi Nwabueze is an Internal Medicine specialist and a General Practice provider in Jackson, Louisiana. Dr. Nwabueze and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure. His top areas of expertise are Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Familial Hypertension, Hypertension, and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Dr. Nwabueze is currently accepting new patients.
Mark Mouton is an Internal Medicine provider in Baker, Louisiana. Dr. Mouton and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure. His top areas of expertise are Cellulitis, Schizoaffective Disorder, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Dr. Mouton is currently accepting new patients.
Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether BHV-7000 is effective in the treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures and includes an additional open-label extension (OLE) phase.
Summary: This is a Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of XEN1101 administered as adjunctive treatment in primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (PGTCS).
Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Kanner AM, Ashman E, Gloss D, et al. Practice guideline update summary: Efficacy and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drugs I: Treatment of new-onset epilepsy: Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. Neurology. 2018;91(2):74-81. PMID: 29898971 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29898971/.
Mikati MA, Tchapyjnikov D, Rathke KM. Seizures in childhood. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 633.
Wiebe S. The epilepsies. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 372.