Binge drinking (consuming 4-5 drinks or more in a short period of time) is linked to a higher risk of alcohol-related seizures due to withdrawal effects after you stop drinking. In fact, studies have found that in 40-50% of adults who present to emergency departments or are admitted to hospital with new-onset seizures, the seizures are related to alcohol abuse. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. If someone has a seizure from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you should move things out of the way that they could accidentally hurt themselves with during the seizure. You should also call 911 and get emergency medical help as soon as possible, even if the seizure has stopped. After the seizure, you should position them on their side and ensure that their airway is clear while waiting for emergency assistance.
About this article
- Epilepsy can cause seizures to occur with more mild levels of alcohol withdrawal than would occur in most people.
- Alcohol and other central nervous system depressants keep that channel open, causing more intense sedating effects.
- It typically begins within a few hours of suddenly stopping or reducing your intake of alcohol.
We will also talk about why it’s important to recognize them and get prompt treatment. If your doctor thinks you might be going through alcohol withdrawal, they’ll ask you questions about your drinking history and how recently you stopped. However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. While cirrhosis scars from excessive drinking are irreversible, quitting alcohol and leading a healthier lifestyle can help your liver heal from alcohol-related liver disease. Alcohol has the potential to enhance some side effects of anti-seizure medications, including drowsiness and dizziness.
Can I Drink Alcohol If I Have Seizures or Epilepsy?
Instead, we present a narrative summary of the results of all included studies. Interventional studies with or without a comparator group, including randomized controlled trials (RCT) and non-randomized trials, as well as observational cohort studies that evaluated an intervention. We excluded review articles and case reports, studies published prior to 1980, non-English publications, and non-human studies. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, seizures by themselves typically are not fatal.
Alcohol and epilepsy
- As the seizure ends, the person may lose bowel or bladder control due to relaxation of the body.
- Alcohol is a depressant that calms the nervous system by affecting glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
- The syndrome is due to overactivity of the central and autonomic nervous systems, leading to tremors, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations, anxiety, and agitation.
- Patients who experience harms from alcohol and other substance use often seek care in the emergency department (ED).
- Learn more about alcohol withdrawal seizures and how they can be treated.
People with certain types of epilepsy could be more likely to have seizures as a result of drinking alcohol than others. People who have focal seizures may be more able to safely drink small amounts of alcohol than those with generalised seizures. It can also be difficult to know if the alcohol alone is what has caused a seizure. The main ways to prevent alcohol withdrawal are to avoid alcohol altogether or to get professional help as soon as possible if you think you’re developing alcohol use disorder.
They involve muscle stiffening (tonic phase) and twitching or jerking (clonic phase). Alcohol is a depressant that calms the nervous system by affecting glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Both of these neurotransmitters play a role in managing brain activity and relaxation. To find another treatment program, browse the top-rated addiction treatment facilities in each state by visiting our homepage, or by viewing the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator. 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 Legacy Healing Center, an addiction treatment provider with treatment facilities in California, Florida, Ohio, and New Jersey.
If you’ve been drinking heavily for a time and then quit cold turkey, you may experience some of the most dangerous withdrawal symptoms of any substance. Alcohol withdrawal can include dangerous symptoms like seizures, which can come on suddenly and lead to serious consequences. If left untreated, severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be potentially life-threatening.
Drugs like benzodiazepines are often used to treat alcohol withdrawal, and they can also be used to taper you off alcohol. If you seek treatment for an alcohol use disorder, you will likely begin with a medical assessment. If you’re dependent on alcohol, you may need to go through a tapering period with the help of a doctor. People are alcohol withdrawal seizures dangerous with moderate-to-severe alcohol use disorder often begin with a medical detox program. The dangerous withdrawal symptoms that are more likely through kindling include seizures, heart problems, and death. If you’ve gone through alcohol or depressant withdrawal in the past, you should seek medical attention before quitting alcohol.
Binge Drinking Seizures
It becomes overexcited because there’s no more alcohol to slow it down. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal tend to peak 24 to 72 hours after your last drink. Alcohol withdrawal can range from very mild symptoms to a severe form, known as delirium tremens.
Is Alcohol Dependence the Same as Alcoholism?
We excluded studies that examined psychosocial interventions alone, or supportive interventions alone. Medical detox is highly intensive inpatient treatment with medically managed services. Alcohol dependence may be treated with various options, including medications. As your body adjusts to life without the medication, you may be given medication and therapy options to help you get through the withdrawal phase as safely as possible. Over 50% of alcohol withdrawal seizures may relate to additional risk factors, such as preexisting epilepsy, structural brain lesions, or drug use. Withdrawal occurs when a person drinks large quantities of alcohol for a period of time and then suddenly stops or reduces their intake.