Anti-: Prefix generally meaning against, opposite or opposing, and contrary.. In medicine, anti-often connotes counteracting or effective against as in antibacterial, anti-infective, and antiviral. Sometimes medical terms containing anti-take on new meanings as has occurred with antibiotic and antibody.
1 Epilepsy is also associated with a variety of developmental and metabolic disorders. 2  Other causes include head injury, prenatal injury, and poisoning.  Triggers for seizures include lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, stress, or hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle.
A seizure occurs when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures are also known as convulsions â but not all seizures produce convulsive behavior â that is uncontrollable muscle contractions. Absence seizures, for example, involve brief periods of staring. With atonic seizures, there is a loss of muscular tone or strength.