What does a myoclonic seizure look like?

What does a myoclonic seizure look like?

Myoclonic (MY-o-KLON-ik) seizures are brief, shock-like jerks of a muscle or a group of muscles. “Myo” means muscle and “clonus” (KLOH-nus) means rapidly alternating contraction and relaxation—jerking or twitching—of a muscle. Usually they don’t last more than a second or two.

How do you know if you have myoclonic seizures?

Myoclonic seizures generally affect: Neck. Shoulders. Upper arms….Symptoms of these seizures include:

  1. Quick, uncontrolled muscle jerks.
  2. Jerky or rhythmic movements.
  3. Unusual clumsiness.

When do myoclonic seizures start?

Myoclonic seizures — the jerking movements in one or both arms and legs — typically start from 1 to 9 years later, around age 14 or 15. Some kids will only have irregular movements in their fingers. This may make them drop things and look clumsy. Tonic-clonic seizures usually start a few months later.

What syndromes are associated with myoclonic seizures?

Subdivisions of Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsy

  • Baltic Myoclonus Epilepsy.
  • Lafora Body Disease.
  • Lafora Disease, Included.
  • Lundborg-Unverricht Disease, Included.
  • Myoclonic Epilepsy, Hartung Type.
  • Unverricht Disease.
  • Unverricht-Lundborg Disease.

How do you prevent myoclonic seizures?

Medications that doctors commonly prescribe for myoclonus include:

  1. Tranquilizers. Clonazepam (Klonopin), a tranquilizer, is the most common drug used to combat myoclonus symptoms.
  2. Anticonvulsants. Drugs used to control epileptic seizures have proved helpful in reducing myoclonus symptoms.

How do you stop myoclonus?

Treatment

  1. Tranquilizers. Clonazepam (Klonopin), a tranquilizer, is the most common drug used to combat myoclonus symptoms. Clonazepam may cause side effects such as loss of coordination and drowsiness.
  2. Anticonvulsants. Drugs used to control epileptic seizures have proved helpful in reducing myoclonus symptoms.