When Do Alcohol Seizures Occur? Recognizing and Managing the Risks

If people have an alcohol use disorder, they can talk with a healthcare professional about treatment options. If people withdraw from alcohol after heavy use, it is important to do so with medical supervision. People with alcohol withdrawal seizures may also experience tremors, hallucinations, muscle spasms, and a rapid heart rate.

Treatment for Alcohol Use & Addiction

They can advise you on what is safe for you and if there could be interactions. A 2017 review found that a history of alcohol misuse increased the risk of post-traumatic epilepsy in people with traumatic brain injury. Unprovoked seizures that occur more than 48 hours after a person’s last drink may be due to another cause, such as head injury or withdrawal from other drugs. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it promotes water loss by increasing urine output. SUDEP is the sudden and unexpected death of a person with epilepsy who is otherwise healthy without a known cause. The risk in people with epilepsy is roughly 1 in 1,000 people per year.

Epilepsy Treatment Options: Surgery and More

The clinical term for this type of seizure is called a tonic-clonic seizure. Additionally, if a seizure cannot be stopped or multiple seizures occur in rapid succession, it could result in permanent injury or prove fatal. Alcohol seizures may share symptoms with seizures that are not linked to alcohol. This section answers some frequently asked questions about alcohol and seizures.

This article looks at the connection between alcohol, seizures, and epilepsy, as well as treatment options and support. Although these are general guidelines, your tolerance or consumption recommendation can vary based on your overall health, size, and medical condition. Auras can be visual disturbances, odd physical sensations, or emotions that you have before your seizure. The relationship between alcohol use/abuse and degeneration can you drink alcohol if you have seizures of the brain is a contentious issue. If you have epilepsy, consult your physician for more information on the approach to alcohol that is right for you.

1. However, people who are addicted to alcohol or drink significant amounts of alcohol regularly may be at increased risk of seizures when they stop drinking.
2. A report from 2021 also found that alcohol-related deaths were five times more likely in people with epilepsy than those without the condition.
3. The sooner you seek professional treatment and get sober, the better your chances of avoiding these serious health complications.
4. Without treatment, alcohol withdrawal seizures can progress to status epilepticus or delirium tremens, both of which are life-threatening complications.

Ultimately, everyone’s brain is different and responds to alcohol in different ways. It’s important to discuss drinking with your doctor, especially as it relates to any medication you may be taking. Epilepsy is defined as a spectrum of disorders that involve the central nervous system (brain and spine). The seizures that occur in epilepsy are caused by abnormal brain activity. These seizures may cause people to have unusual sensations or emotions, behave in unexpected ways, or experience convulsions or loss of consciousness. Whether to drink alcohol or take recreational drugs is a personal choice, but it is worth knowing the possible effects they could have on your epilepsy.

Outline how counseling combined with medications can ease chemical imbalances caused by addiction. Sometimes, those changes are so strong that they disrupt normal electrical communication between cells. Without treatment, status epilepticus can lead to permanent brain damage and even death. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as seizures. An alcohol-related seizure may result in your inability to control your actions, which could be dangerous. There is evidence that people who have uncontrolled seizures are more likely to have seizures after drinking (but people with controlled seizures could also be at risk).

Inadequate Sleep

Having 3 or more alcoholic beverages or binge drinking may increase the risk of provoked seizures or status epilepticus. Alcohol withdrawal seizures can occur 6-48 hours after the last drink, sometimes even 2-7 days after you stop alcohol consumption. Seizures (convulsions) occur during alcohol withdrawal due to changes in brain chemistry. But the relationship between alcohol intake and seizures is not straightforward.

Epilepsy and alcohol — an introduction

Symptoms are generally mild during the first 12–24 hours of withdrawal but increase in intensity around the third day without alcohol. In this article, learn what alcohol does to the brain, how it can lead to seizures, and what you need to know about alcohol use if you already have a seizure disorder. You can prevent low blood sugar by eating regularly and avoiding foods that cause your body to produce more insulin. If it’s not possible to avoid light triggers, you can sometimes lessen the risk of having a seizure by simply covering one eye. Since alcohol-induced seizures often repeat, consider this a medical emergency. Call 911 and tell the operator you think the person is experiencing an alcohol seizure.