• recurrent seizures (seizure disorder)
• prolonged or closely occurring seizures without returning to normal behavior(status epilepticus)
• injury from falls, bumps, and biting oneself
• injury to oneself or others if seizure occurs during driving or operating machinery
• inhaling fluid into the lungs, pneumonia
• permanent brain damage (stroke or other damage)
• side effects of medications (with or without observable symptoms)
• women planning to get pregnant need to alert their physician in advance in order to adjust their medications (many anti-epileptic medications cause birth defects)
• learning disorders (either from seizures or medications)

Call your local emergency number (911) if this the first time a person has had a seizure or a seizure is occuring in someone without a medical ID bracelet (instructions explaining what to do). In the case of someone who has had seizures before, call the ambulance for any of these emergency situations:

• This is a longer seizure than the person normally has, or an unusual number of seizures for the person
• Repeated seizures over a few minutes
• Repeated seizures where consciousness or normal behavior is not regained between them (status epilepticus)