What causes seizures to occur after waking up?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Seizures after waking up are most often caused by disrupted sleep patterns, particularly sleep deprivation, and are strongly linked to a form of epilepsy called juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). These morning seizures typically occur within the first hour of waking and may involve muscle jerks, stiffening, or loss of awareness. Other triggers include alcohol use, stress, flashing lights, and missed medication doses.

Because morning seizures can signal an underlying neurological condition, identifying the cause early is critical for effective treatment and safety. A fast, private evaluation of your symptoms can help you decide whether to see a neurologist, adjust your sleep habits, or seek urgent care. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what's happening and confidently plan your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover causes of your morning seizures Learn if waking seizures need care Find out what triggers seizures on waking See OTC options for seizure-related symptoms Find a neurologist for seizure evaluation Discover home remedies for seizure recovery Understand if morning seizures need urgent care

Not seeing your question? No worries.

Submit your own Question

Explanation

Seizures that occur after waking up, known as hypnopompic seizures, can be influenced by changes in sleep patterns. Epilepsy with grand mal on awakening is a condition where seizures are more likely to occur when a person wakes up. This can happen because the brain transitions from sleep to wakefulness, which may trigger seizures in some individuals.

Sleep Deprivation: Not getting enough sleep or experiencing disrupted sleep can increase the likelihood of seizures. When someone is sleep-deprived, their brain may become more excitable, making seizures more likely to occur during the transition from sleep to waking up.

For those experiencing such seizures, maintaining a regular sleep schedule and ensuring adequate rest can be helpful. If you're concerned about seizure symptoms or want to better understand what might be causing them, you can use Ubie's free AI-powered symptom checker to help identify potential causes and determine if you should consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and management.

(References)

Janz D. (2000). Epilepsy with grand mal on awakening and sleep-waking .... Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology, 10996562.
Awad AM, & Lüders HO. (2010). Hypnopompic seizures. Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape, 21030341.
Güleç B, Yasgüçlükal MA, Elmalı AD, Yalçınkaya C, & Demirbilek AV. (2023). The effect of sleep deprivation and short sleep on epilepsy .... Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology, 36822149.

Thinking about asking ChatGPT?Ask me instead

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Was this page helpful?

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.