You can prevent alcohol seizures by avoiding binge drinking and moderating your drinking so alcohol dependence does not develop. 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. Heavy alcohol use of three or more drinks in a day can also increase the frequency of seizures in those who already have epilepsy. Additionally, epilepsy medications can increase the effects of alcohol, causing each drink to make you more intoxicated than it usually would. Someone with epilepsy should use alcohol very carefully, as it can increase the risk of severe health problems and complications.
Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
- At Silicon Valley Recovery, our mission is to assist people in regaining their health and moving toward a better future.
- Medications, such as antiepileptic drugs, are commonly prescribed to control seizures.
- Research suggests that people with chronic alcohol abuse disorder may be at an increased risk of developing epilepsy.
Excessive alcohol consumption may cause seizures, particularly alcohol withdrawal after heavy drinking. According to a 2017 article, alcohol withdrawal seizures in those without epilepsy may occur 6–48 hours after a person consumes their last alcoholic drink. The rarest yet most dangerous withdrawal symptom involving seizures is delirium tremens (DTs), which usually appear after 48 hours of alcohol withdrawal and can last up to five days. DT symptoms may include shaking, fever, hallucinations, disorientation, and alcohol withdrawal seizures. Most states have alcohol and seizures driving restrictions after any seizure, typically requiring a seizure-free period of 3-12 months before driving privileges are restored.
Why Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures Are Dangerous
It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) encompasses a spectrum of drinking behaviors, from risky or harmful use to alcohol dependence. Effective treatment aims to address both the physical dependence on alcohol and the psychological factors that contribute to alcohol misuse.
Inpatient Alcohol and Drug Rehab in Washington State
While seizures can manifest in many ways, tonic-clonic seizures are the most common and can last up to two minutes. They will fall if standing upright, and every muscle in their body will be completely tense. Often, the person will have no bodily control during the seizure and will not remember it, being very groggy as they slowly wake up afterward. Seizures are different for everyone; however, seizures can often be predicted right before they occur by a phenomenon called an aura. An aura is different for everyone and can include a visual disturbance, a smell, a taste or even a strong emotional feeling.
Studies have found that people who experience seizures triggered by binge drinking can, in the future, start experiencing unprovoked seizures even in the absence of alcohol intake. 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.
This drastic change in habit also increases the risk of developing epilepsy three-fold. There is a 15- to 20-fold increase in risk of seizures for persons who drink 200 grams of alcohol or more on a daily basis. Taking cannabis, ecstasy, speed, cocaine, and other recreational drugs can https://www.vahidpooyan.com/11-tips-for-staying-motivated-in-recovery/ trigger, or increase the frequency of, seizures for some people.
Professional help is also available for those struggling with alcohol addiction. 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. You could develop status epilepticus, which is multiple seizures, or prolonged seizures, and can lead to permanent brain damage or death. Alcohol poisoning can lead to seizures, but these may not result from the alcohol intake itself.
They do not generally happen while a person is drinking, or even within a few hours of stopping. For this reason, if you do choose to drink, it’s important that you pay attention to your seizure activity for up to three days afterward. People with epilepsy experience seizures (convulsions) due to excessive electrical activity in their brain.
Situations Where Alcohol Might Trigger Seizures
Another one of the big reasons people with epilepsy are warned not to consume alcohol is that many of the anti-seizure and anti-epileptic drugs that treat epilepsy do not mix well with alcohol. Most of these medications lower your alcohol tolerance, causing you to become intoxicated or feel the effects of alcohol more quickly or severely. People who drink a lot of alcohol for an extended period can develop permanent changes in their brains, and removing alcohol can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Seizures, and a severe condition called delirium tremens, are possible complications of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol can also trigger seizures if you have epilepsy and often interacts poorly with anti-seizure medications. This is a serious complication of the Halfway house alcohol withdrawal syndrome and needs to be treated in a hospital emergency room.
Alcohol Detox Medications
- It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
- A person with epilepsy should speak with their doctor to determine how much alcohol, if any, is safe to consume with their condition.
- In severe cases, seizures can last more than five minutes or reoccur repeatedly; this is a dangerous condition called status epilepticus.
- While the reason for this is not fully understood, alcohol does create changes in receptors in your brain that affect your likelihood of having a seizure.
People with epilepsy who drink alcohol may also be less likely to adhere to their medication schedule. If you are especially sensitive to either your AED or alcohol, it may be best to avoid drinking while taking that particular medication. Most of these antiepileptic medications also have side effects that mimic those of alcohol. They may slow down central nervous system responses, make a person sleepy, or cause parts of the brain to work differently.
Causes of Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures
Some may experience minimal long-term harm, while others, especially those who undergo frequent withdrawal episodes or are otherwise in poor health, face a higher likelihood of lasting damage. Seizures can also occur during delirium tremens and are considered a medical emergency. DTs carry a higher risk of complications, including death, if not properly managed. Medical professionals often treat delirium tremens with benzodiazepines and other supportive measures to stabilize vital signs and minimize the likelihood of seizures. While a single seizure can happen, it is not uncommon for someone to experience multiple seizures in a short amount of time (a series of seizures). This period is one of the most critical parts of withdrawal, and medical supervision is highly recommended to help manage symptoms safely.
