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Can Sleep Apnea Cause Seizures at Night?
Last updated: October 2, 2026. Medically reviewed by Dr. Avinesh Bhar, Board-Certified Sleep Physician, SLIIIP.com.
Sleep apnea is not known to cause epilepsy, so the short answer to “can sleep apnea cause seizures” is no, not directly. Research does link obstructive sleep apnea with epilepsy, and untreated apnea is associated with harder-to-control seizures in some people. Low oxygen and broken sleep may lower the seizure threshold in a person who already has epilepsy.
Dr. Avinesh Bhar, Board-Certified Sleep Physician at SLIIIP.com, often asks patients with epilepsy whether their seizures cluster on nights of loud snoring or poor sleep. That pattern can point to a sleep problem worth testing for. Sleep apnea does not create epilepsy, but it may make nighttime seizures harder to manage. Some nighttime events that look like seizures are actually sleep-related breathing or arousal problems.
SLIIIP’s board-certified sleep physicians can do sleep evaluations for sleep apnea. Virtual consultations in all 50 states. Home sleep tests shipped to your door.
Can Sleep Apnea Cause Seizures?
Sleep apnea is not considered a direct cause of seizures or epilepsy. Instead, research shows that the two conditions often overlap, and that untreated apnea is associated with more frequent seizures in some people with epilepsy.
Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the airway narrows or closes during sleep. Breathing stops or gets shallow for short periods. Each pause can drop oxygen levels and jolt the brain into a brief wake-up. This can happen many times an hour without the person knowing.
For someone who already has epilepsy, those repeated drops and wake-ups add stress to the brain at night. That stress is linked to a lower seizure threshold, which means a seizure may start more easily. For someone without epilepsy, sleep apnea alone is not a known cause of seizures.
How Sleep Apnea and Epilepsy Are Linked
Doctors have studied the overlap between these two conditions for years. Research suggests people with epilepsy have obstructive sleep apnea more often than expected.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke points to evidence from case studies. It suggests that treating coexisting sleep apnea may lower seizure frequency in people with epilepsy. NINDS supported a clinical trial to test this idea more formally. The research is still growing, so these findings show an association, not a guarantee.
Low Oxygen During Sleep
Each breathing pause can lower blood oxygen. The brain is sensitive to these dips. Our article on nocturnal hypoxemia explains how repeated low oxygen at night affects the body.
Broken and Short Sleep
Sleep apnea fragments sleep into short pieces. Sleep loss is a well-known seizure trigger for many people with epilepsy. Our guide on what happens to your brain and body without proper sleep covers how poor sleep affects the brain.
What Nighttime Events Can Look Like a Seizure?
Several sleep problems can look like seizures to a bed partner. Gasping arousals, confusional arousals, and REM sleep behavior disorder are three common look-alikes.
Telling these apart matters, because the next step is different for each one. A neurologist evaluates seizures. A sleep physician evaluates sleep disorders. Sometimes both are needed.
Gasping or Choking Arousals
People with sleep apnea may wake suddenly with gasping, choking, or flailing. A partner may see jerking or thrashing and think it is a seizure. Our article on why you wake up gasping for air explains this pattern.
Confusional Arousals
A confusional arousal is when a person partly wakes but stays confused. They may talk strangely, stare, or act oddly, then not remember it. This can look like the confused period after a seizure.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
In REM sleep behavior disorder, a person acts out dreams with punching, kicking, or shouting. These movements can be strong and sudden. Our guide on REM sleep behavior disorder describes the signs.
A video recording from a bed partner can be one of the most useful tools for telling these events apart. Bring it to your doctor if it is safe to record.
Does Treating Sleep Apnea Help With Seizure Control?
Treating sleep apnea may be associated with better seizure control in some people with epilepsy, but it is not a seizure treatment. Results vary, and research is still ongoing.
The NINDS trial compared real CPAP with placebo CPAP in people with epilepsy and sleep apnea. It tracked seizure frequency, daytime sleepiness, and quality of life. Any change to seizure care belongs to your neurologist, not your sleep doctor.
SLIIIP does not treat epilepsy. SLIIIP’s sleep physicians evaluate the sleep side, such as testing for obstructive sleep apnea in adults. They can share findings with your neurologist so your care fits together. Never stop, reduce, or change a seizure medication on your own.
How Is Sleep Apnea Checked in Someone With Epilepsy?
Sleep apnea is checked with a sleep study, the same way it is for anyone else. The sleep physician first reviews your symptoms, health history, and medications.
For many adults, a home sleep test is a practical first step. It records breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate while you sleep in your own bed. Some people need an in-lab sleep study instead. That may be the case when a doctor also wants to watch brain waves or record nighttime movements on video. The type of test depends on your symptoms, so the choice belongs to your doctors.
It helps to keep your neurologist in the loop from the start. Share your sleep test results with them. If sleep apnea is found, your neurologist and sleep physician can talk about how it fits with your seizure plan. You should not change anything about your seizure care without your neurologist.
Daily habits also matter for sleep. A steady bedtime, limited alcohol, and enough hours of sleep support better rest. Ask your neurologist which sleep habits matter most for your type of epilepsy.
Signs That Sleep Apnea May Be Part of the Picture
Some signs suggest that sleep apnea could be adding to nighttime problems. Watch for these patterns:
- Loud, regular snoring most nights.
- Pauses in breathing that a partner notices.
- Waking up gasping, choking, or with a racing heart.
- Morning headaches or a dry mouth.
- Heavy daytime sleepiness, even after a full night.
- Seizures that seem to happen more after nights of poor sleep.
If several of these sound familiar, a sleep evaluation can check for obstructive sleep apnea. A home sleep test is one option for many adults.
When to See a Doctor
A first seizure is an emergency. According to the CDC, call 911 if a person has never had a seizure before. Also call 911 if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.
The CDC also advises calling 911 for these situations:
- Another seizure happens soon after the first one.
- The person has trouble breathing or waking up after the seizure.
- The person is injured during the seizure.
- The seizure happens in water.
If you already have epilepsy, talk to your neurologist about any change in your seizure pattern. Also see a doctor if you have nighttime events and are not sure what they are.
Dr. Avinesh Bhar, Board-Certified Sleep Physician at SLIIIP.com, recommends that people with epilepsy and snoring ask their neurologist about a sleep evaluation. In his practice, he looks at the sleep study results alongside the patient’s seizure diary. That shared view helps the neurologist and the sleep physician see whether sleep apnea may be part of the pattern.
Insurance Accepted at SLIIIP
SLIIIP works with most major insurance plans, including Medicare, TRICARE (Humana Military), Aetna, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, Ambetter, MultiPlan, Beech Street, Allied, Alliant, NovaNet, Secure Health, Coventry Health Care, and Clover Health.
SLIIIP’s board-certified sleep physicians can do sleep evaluations for sleep apnea. Virtual consultations in all 50 states. Home sleep tests shipped to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sleep apnea cause seizures?
Sleep apnea is not a known direct cause of seizures or epilepsy. It is associated with worse seizure control in some people who already have epilepsy.
Can sleep apnea cause epilepsy?
No, sleep apnea is not known to cause epilepsy. Research shows the two conditions often occur together.
Why might sleep apnea make seizures worse?
Low oxygen and broken sleep may lower the seizure threshold. That can make a seizure start more easily in someone with epilepsy.
Is sleep apnea more common in people with epilepsy?
Research suggests people with epilepsy have obstructive sleep apnea more often than expected. A sleep evaluation can check for it.
Can lack of sleep trigger a seizure?
Sleep loss is a well-known seizure trigger for many people with epilepsy. Sleep apnea is one cause of poor sleep.
Does CPAP reduce seizures?
Some research links treating sleep apnea with fewer seizures in people with epilepsy. It is not a seizure treatment, and results vary.
What can look like a seizure during sleep?
Gasping arousals, confusional arousals, and REM sleep behavior disorder can look like seizures. A doctor can help tell them apart.
Can gasping at night be mistaken for a seizure?
Yes. Sudden gasping and thrashing from sleep apnea can look like a seizure to a bed partner.
What is a confusional arousal?
It is a partial wake-up where a person stays confused and acts oddly. They often do not remember it later.
Can REM sleep behavior disorder look like a seizure?
Yes. Acting out dreams with kicking or punching can look like seizure movements.
Should I record my nighttime episodes?
If it is safe, a partner’s video can be very helpful. Share it with your doctor.
When should I call 911 for a seizure?
Call 911 for a first seizure or one lasting longer than 5 minutes. Also call for trouble breathing, injury, or a seizure in water.
Does SLIIIP treat epilepsy?
No. SLIIIP evaluates adults for sleep disorders and works alongside the patient’s neurologist.
Should I stop my seizure medication if I start CPAP?
No. Never stop or change a seizure medication on your own, and talk to your neurologist first.
Can a home sleep test check for sleep apnea if I have epilepsy?
A home sleep test can check for obstructive sleep apnea in many adults. A sleep physician decides which test fits your case.
Who should evaluate my nighttime seizures?
A neurologist evaluates seizures. A sleep physician evaluates sleep disorders, and both may be needed.
Can snoring be linked to nighttime seizures?
Loud snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is associated with worse seizure control in some people with epilepsy.
Can low oxygen at night affect the brain?
Repeated drops in oxygen during sleep are linked to stress on the brain. This is one reason sleep apnea deserves attention.
Are nighttime seizures always epilepsy?
Not always. Some events are sleep disorders that look like seizures, so a proper evaluation matters.
What should I bring to a sleep evaluation if I have epilepsy?
Bring your seizure diary, medication list, and any videos of nighttime events. Your neurologist’s notes can also help.
SLIIIP’s board-certified sleep physicians can do sleep evaluations for sleep apnea. Virtual consultations in all 50 states. Home sleep tests shipped to your door.
