Subjective unspecific complaints presage in some patients with epilepsy a following overt epileptic seizure. It has to be considered whether these epileptic prodromal states are simple partial seizures (epileptic aura) or a status epilepticus non convulsivus. Three patients with epilepsy of different classification and etiology were studied. Their interictally occurring unspezific complaints, the clinical examination and EEG with simultaneous videorecording were documented. In these three cases the results led to the conclusion that the epileptic prodromal states were the expression of a status epilepticus non convulsivus. The management and possible therapeutic intervention are discussed.