Duration of Post-Seizure Headaches

Post-seizure headaches typically last between several hours to 72 hours after a seizure, with the majority lasting more than 4 hours. 1

Characteristics of Seizure-Associated Headaches

Seizure-associated headaches occur in approximately 34-43% of people with epilepsy 2, 3
Postictal headaches (occurring after seizures) are the most common type, affecting 70% of patients with seizure-associated headaches 2
The pain intensity is typically moderate to severe, averaging 6.1 on a 10-point visual analog scale 2
The average duration is approximately 12.8 hours, but can vary significantly 2
In 62.5% of patients, postictal headaches last longer than 4 hours 3
By definition, postictal headaches develop within 3 hours following a seizure and resolve within 72 hours 1

Approximately 56% of seizure-associated headaches can be classified as migraine-like headaches 2
About 34-36.5% are classified as tension-type headaches 2, 3
Patients with a history of migraine are significantly more likely to experience migraine-like postictal headaches 2
In 77% of patients with both migraine history and seizure-associated headaches, the characteristics of their postictal headaches are identical to their typical migraine attacks 2

Young adults with a history of headaches between seizures (interictal headaches) 1
Young age at epilepsy onset 1
Long duration of epilepsy 1
Drug-resistant seizures 1
Generalized tonic-clonic seizures 1
Possibly an occipital epileptic focus 1

Most seizures are followed by a postictal period in which the person appears tired and confused for several minutes 4
Seizures themselves typically last from seconds to hours, with most generalized tonic-clonic seizures resolving within 1-2 minutes 4
Complex partial seizures rarely last more than 600 seconds (10 minutes) 5
Patients may not return to baseline mental status for 5-10 minutes after seizure activity has stopped 4

Despite their prevalence and severity, postictal headaches are frequently undertreated 1, 3
Simple analgesics may be beneficial for treating postictal headaches 1
Emergency medical services should be activated if the individual does not return to baseline within 5-10 minutes once seizure activity has stopped 4
Seizures lasting more than 5 minutes or multiple seizures occurring one after another represent status epilepticus, a medical emergency 4

Headache is often ignored as a symptom of epileptic seizures, leading to undertreatment 2, 3
In rare cases, headache can be the sole or predominant clinical manifestation of epileptic seizures, potentially leading to misdiagnosis 6
Patients often self-medicate for postictal headaches rather than following medical prescriptions 3
The significant impact of postictal headaches on quality of life is frequently overlooked 1