Reduction of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep by Diurnal and Nocturnal Seizures in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

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Abstract
EPILEPTIC SEIZURES typically last less than 2 minutes; however, patients may report decreased performance for days afterward. In fact, 2 of the most prevalent complaints of patients with epilepsy are disturbed sleep and excessive daytime drowsiness,1 which in themselves may be sufficient to interfere with patients' ability to work or go to school. These symptoms may have a number of causes. Epileptic seizures may disrupt sleep and be responsible for daytime drowsiness.2 Anticonvulsants may disrupt sleep,3-5 although their effects are variable and often difficult to distinguish from the effects of seizures. Finally, the underlying disease process causing seizures may be responsible for changes in sleep.