Alcohol affects the brain in many ways over the short and long term. People who use alcohol often wonder if alcohol can cause seizures and what the risks are. Alcohol can cause seizures; however, seizures from alcohol use are most likely to occur during alcohol withdrawal. When it comes to the risks surrounding seizures and alcohol, one of the main ones to consider is a genetic risk or family history of epilepsy or other convulsive disorders.

1. Because withdrawal seizures do not recur if the patient remains abstinent, long-term administration of antiepileptic drugs is unnecessary in abstinent patients.
2. After the seizure, you should position them on their side and ensure that their airway is clear while waiting for emergency assistance.
3. If you or a loved one are struggling with alcoholism and need help safely detoxing, we are here for you.
4. This type of symptom can be seen in patients who drink heavily and on a regular basis.
5. Details were only recorded on those alcohol-related seizures that subjects were able to remember the best.

It’s also important to understand that quitting alcohol after a period of alcohol abuse or misuse may be harder for people diagnosed with epilepsy than it is for those without it. People with epilepsy may have a higher risk of withdrawal seizures than others. Alcohol-related seizures can happen when people are acutely intoxicated. It can also occur when an alcoholic suddenly stops drinking and experiences alcohol withdrawal. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.

What to do if someone has a seizure from alcohol withdrawal?

In that group, the mean amount of alcohol intake prior to the seizures was 10.9 standard drinks. All of these patients stated that they had stopped alcohol consumption because of the experience of alcohol-related seizures. Human and animal data have shown that acute alcohol intake has a biphasic effect on the central nervous system (CNS). Initially, the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic effect of alcohol exerts CNS depressant and anticonvulsant properties (4, 5). In the post-alcohol state, however, when alcohol blood levels decline, neuronal excitability is increased which may facilitate the occurrence of seizures in patients with epilepsy (6, 7).

Developing alcohol dependence means you drink enough to have withdrawal symptoms if you stop drinking. Seizures are a potential withdrawal symptom that can be prevented if you drink in moderation. Research has shown that after having alcoholic seizures due to alcohol withdrawal and binge drinking, the brain becomes more reactive. This increase in reactivity increases the potential for repeated, or epileptic, seizures even without the presence of alcohol use. But delirium tremens is a medical emergency and requires a hospital stay.

Turmeric and Epilepsy: Can It Help With Seizures?

MRI has a higher yield over CT for identifying lesions in patients with alcohol related partial seizures. Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 percent or higher. This means consuming roughly five or more drinks for a man, or four or more drinks for a woman, in about two hours. When seizures do happen as a result of alcohol, they occur within six to 72 hours after drinking. They do not generally happen while a person is drinking, or even within a few hours of stopping.

In the United States, the legal age for consumption of alcohol is 21 but, as with all things, people willfully break the law every day. Underage drinking was also surveyed and reported in the 2018 NSDUH. Ultimately, the best way to prevent alcohol-related neurologic disease is to not drink alcohol. Completely avoiding alcohol and eating a balanced diet can help minimize damage. Your chances for recovery depend on how early the disease is diagnosed and how much damage has already occurred. Researchers have not determined if this is caused by the effects of alcohol on the brain or is the result of thiamine deficiency.

Seizure medicine can also interact with alcohol, making its effect even greater. All these factors combine to increase your risk of seizures while using alcohol. While in withdrawal, if a person experiences multiple seizures, status epilepticus may occur. Seizures during status epilepticus will last more than five minutes, or be so close together that there is no recovery period between seizures, and can cause brain damage.

Compared to those who are monitored in the hospital, only one to four percent actually die from symptoms of delirium tremens. A seizure is electrical activity between neurons that becomes uncontrolled and unstable. It can be hard to decide if you think someone is drunk enough to need medical help. But it’s best to take action right away rather than be sorry later. You may worry about what will happen to you or a friend or family member, especially if underage. But the results of not getting help in time can be far more serious.

Once you stop alcohol intake, a doctor can address your specific symptoms. Doctors tailor specific treatments and alcohol abstinence programs to the individual. A doctor will take a thorough health history and have you complete questionnaires related to alcohol intake to help diagnose these conditions. These symptoms can occur in addition to the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Excessive alcohol use is a well-known precipitant of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE).

Mixing Alcohol and Epilepsy Drugs

The relationship between alcohol and seizures is complex and multifaceted. The seizure threshold is raised by alcohol drinking and declines on cessation of drinking. As a result, during withdrawal from alcohol, usually 6-48 hours after the cessation of drinking, seizures may occur. Alcohol acts on the brain through several mechanisms that influence seizure threshold. These include effects on calcium and chloride flux through the ion-gated glutamate NMDA and GABA receptors.

Abnormally low blood sugar levels can lead to seizures, and this drop normally occurs at the same time as a hangover, causing people to connect the hangover with the seizure. Those on blood sugar medications are how long does acid last most at risk for this complication. Dehydration during a hangover may also increase the risk of seizures. Hangovers do not generally increase the risk of seizures, but they can play a role in seizures occurring.

Up to 46 percent of people with alcohol-related myopathy showed noticeable reductions in strength compared with people without the condition. Cerebellar degeneration alcohol addiction articles caused by alcohol occurs when neurons in the cerebellum deteriorate and die. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls coordination and balance.

Alcohol Abuse And Treatment

It’s important to discuss drinking with your doctor, especially as it relates to any medication you may be taking. Symptoms of focal seizures may be confused with other conditions of the brain or nervous system. When alcohol withdrawal syndrome sets in, seizures may arise within approximately 6 to 48 hours. Ninety-five patients (30.7%) were alcohol-experienced but had been abstinent in the last year. Eleven subjects 11 (3.5%) had never tried alcohol in their lifetime. Amounts of different alcoholic beverages that correspond to 1 standard drink as defined by the World Health Organization.

This is a severe and short-term neurologic disease that can be life threatening. Clearly, people diagnosed with epilepsy have different answers to the question, “Does alcohol affect epilepsy? ” This can be confusing — especially if you or someone you love has been newly diagnosed with epilepsy and is deciding whether or not to drink.

An aura is different for everyone and can include a visual disturbance, a smell, a taste or even a strong emotional feeling. Auras occur right before a seizure and can help someone with a history of seizures know that a seizure is about to happen. Here are some of the interactions to do with alcohol and seizures. The helpline at AddictionResource.net is available 24/7 to discuss the treatment needs of yourself or a loved one. This helpline is answered by Ark Behavioral Health, an addiction treatment provider with treatment facilities in Massachusetts and Ohio.