In people with epilepsy, drinking three or more drinks may increase the risk of seizures. Over 50% of alcohol withdrawal seizures may relate to additional risk factors, such as preexisting epilepsy, structural brain lesions, or drug use. Many people struggle to achieve lasting recovery from alcohol dependence, highlighting the need to individualize patient treatment all opiates detox based on their life history, genes, coexisting illnesses, and other issues. “Evaluation of the patient for co-existing medical and psychiatric diseases is an important part of the assessment of patients with AUDs, but too often ignored or complicated by detoxification,” said Rummans. For example, AUD patients with major depression have significantly more relapses.
Mental Health And Alcoholic Seizures
Many medications can help prevent seizures; however, these are only used in those with epilepsy or who are likely to have seizures. Seizure medicine requires a prescription, and doctors do not typically prescribe them to people who think they may have seizures from drinking. 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. 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.
Epilepsy Society’s confidential helpline is available for anyone affected by epilepsy.
Possible confounding variables that were included in the logistic regression model regarding the occurrence of alcohol-related seizures in patients with epilepsy within the last 12 months. Over half of those with alcohol withdrawal seizures may have repeat seizures, and up to 5% of cases may lead to status epilepticus. Acamprosate (Campral), usually taken three times a day, is another medication for AUD. Extensive evidence proves Naltrexone and acamprosate reduce heavy drinking and promote abstinence.
Can alcohol trigger seizures?
In particular, benzodiazepine is found in certain epilepsy medications, including clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam, and diazepam (Valium). When this drug interacts with alcohol, it can affect your heart rate and breathing, and could be very dangerous. Status epilepticus is a life threatening condition in which a person has a seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes without regaining normal consciousness or has more than one seizure within 5 minutes.
- Some common epileptic triggers are physical or emotional stress, eating certain foods, flashing lights, and even lack of sleep.
- In the study population, generalized genetic epilepsy was an independent predictor for the occurrence of alcohol-related seizures.
- Two commonly used tools to assess withdrawal symptoms are the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol Scale, Revised, and the Short Alcohol Withdrawal Scale.
- Below, you’ll learn more about seizures, how they can be linked to alcohol use, abuse and alcoholism, and how to know whether you or someone you love might be addicted to alcohol.
Although these are general guidelines, your tolerance or consumption recommendation can vary based on your overall health, size, and medical condition. Additionally, if a seizure cannot be stopped or multiple seizures occur in rapid succession, it could result in permanent injury or prove fatal. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, seizures by themselves typically are not fatal. However, they may cause people to fall and sustain potentially serious injuries, such as head injuries.
Heavy drinking, particularly withdrawal from heavy drinking, may trigger seizures in those with epilepsy. Alcohol may also affect anti-seizure medications, which could trigger seizures. Medical professionals often antidepressants and alcohol interactions recommend that people with epilepsy avoid or consume a moderate amount of alcohol. If you do drink, avoid binge drinking or chronically high consumption, which may help reduce your seizure severity or frequency.
In severe cases, seizures can last more than five minutes or reoccur repeatedly; this is a dangerous condition called status epilepticus. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency and can lead to lasting, irreversible alcohol detox and rehab programs brain damage. Delirium tremens is a serious, life-threatening complication of alcohol withdrawal. Someone with delirium tremens may have hallucinations, psychosis, heartbeat changes and high body temperature.
Disulfiram (Antabuse) is another medication FDA-approved to treat alcohol use disorder, but it is used very infrequently. According to a study published in 2019, alcoholic seizures caused significant negative effects in those who experience them, both emotionally and physically. This is not surprising, since these seizures affect brain function, and intensifying withdrawal symptoms. A person that has experienced an alcoholic seizure is at a higher risk for developing epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
In someone with epilepsy, drinking too much alcohol may lead to seizures as long as 3 days after drinking has stopped. However, one retrospective study using a questionnaire identified that almost all alcohol-related seizures (95%) occurred within the first 12 hours after stopping heavy alcohol intake. Binge drinking can cause alcohol withdrawal seizures in people, even for individuals who do not have epilepsy. In one small study from 2018, people with epilepsy who reported seizures after drinking had consumed seven or more standard-sized drinks before their seizures occurred.
This means a person will become intoxicated faster than they used to before they were on the medication. This rapid intoxication can surprise a person and cause them embarrassment, stress, and anxiety — which can, in turn, trigger seizures. Those with epilepsy who have alcohol dependence and stop drinking suddenly have an additional risk of withdrawal-induced seizures.
The alcohol will continue to circulate in the bloodstream and eventually affect other organs. Fetal alcohol syndrome can occur when a person is exposed to alcohol before birth. Alcoholic neuropathy occurs when too much alcohol damages the peripheral nerves. This can be permanent, as alcohol can cause changes to the nerves themselves.
