However, other people with epilepsy find they can drink moderately without triggering a seizure. In fact, research shows that a drink or two does not increase seizure activity. Electroencephalogram (EEG) tests show brain activity remains the same, as long as the amount of alcohol ingested is small. Many people diagnosed with epilepsy have been told that alcohol and epilepsy should never mix because alcohol can trigger seizures.
Alcohol works by altering GABA — a neurotransmitter that exists within the brain. When people drink, their brains don’t respond to GABA normally, and they feel sedated and calm. At Discover Recovery, we work with a wide variety of health insurance providers so those in need can get access to the treatment they need. That means you (or your loved one) won’t have to worry about covering the cost of treatment. Instead, all of your energy and focus can be spent where it’s really needed, which is on overcoming addiction.
Lifestyle Quizzes
But one of the most discussed triggers on MyEpilepsyTeam is alcohol. Let’s take a look at the relationship between alcohol and seizures to shed some light on why drinking is a potential trigger. Alcohol withdrawal seizures (delirium tremens) occur when the body undergoes severe and unexpected nervous system changes after an alcohol-dependent person stops drinking. Alcohol consumption or withdrawal may trigger seizures in those with epilepsy. Some experts link excessive alcohol consumption to the development of epilepsy. Caffeine and nicotine are commonly used stimulants that can lower your seizure threshold.
Can alcohol trigger seizures?
- Emotional or psychological stress, including anxiety, anger, depression, or other heightened emotional states, can trigger a seizure in some people.
- Over half of those with alcohol withdrawal seizures may have repeat seizures, and up to 5% of cases may lead to status epilepticus.
- NICE recommends that Epidyolex is only used to treat the conditions above if two other ASM have been tried and they have not controlled the seizures.
- Coping strategies can include anything from meditation to exercise to ensuring your sleeping habits are in good shape.
- Join the conversation today to share your experiences and connect with others on MyEpilepsyTeam.
- The researchers also found that the risk of epilepsy increased as alcohol consumption increased.
It is important to discuss your individual risk for drinking with your health care team. Experts believe that the kindling phenomenon occurs because of permanent changes in the brain in people with an alcohol dependence. There is no treatment that can slow or prevent the kindling effect. The only way to lower the risk of severe alcohol withdrawal seizures is to seek addiction treatment as soon as possible. In people with a long history of alcohol abuse, the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms increases progressively over time with each additional attempt to quit drinking.
Some people with epilepsy can tolerate small amounts of alcohol, but others may have seizures after only one drink. Binge drinking — drinking until you are intoxicated — is a very common trigger. Seizures triggered by alcohol can occur anywhere from one to two hours after drinking and up to 48 hours after stopping heavy drinking.
Increasing daily alcohol consumption increases the risk for seizures. 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. Seizure activity due to alcohol withdrawal typically occurs in someone (with or without epilepsy) who has been drinking excessively over a long period of time. The withdrawal seizures triggered by alcohol withdrawal are not due to epilepsy itself. This is why it’s important to go to medical detox for alcohol withdrawal.
Living with epilepsy: what you need to know after …
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. 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. Some common epileptic triggers are physical or emotional stress, eating certain foods, flashing lights, and even lack of sleep.
Because of the risk of seizures and other serious symptoms, detoxing from alcohol should only be attempted with medical support. Alcohol abuse is the biggest risk factor causing road collisions and injuries, according to the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). A chronic alcohol abuser should not drive any type of motor vehicle. The answer to whether alcohol can trigger seizures is more complex than you might think. Tell the person you’ll help them find the right treatment program for alcohol abuse.
However, those with a history of heavy or prolonged alcohol use can develop severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can develop and change suddenly and aggressively, including alcohol withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens, which can be fatal without the proper treatment. Light, infrequent drinking isn’t linked to seizures, but people who are regular or heavy alcohol users have an increased risk of alcoholic tremors or seizure activity. Though alcohol can trigger seizures, they are more often linked to withdrawal from alcohol if your body has developed a tolerance for it and dependency on it. People who drink large amounts of alcohol and suddenly stop are at a higher-than-usual risk of seizures.
Long-term alcohol misuse can increase the risk of developing epilepsy. Alcohol-related seizures in those with epilepsy mostly occur due to alcohol withdrawal rather than the act of drinking itself. It is also possible to experience seizures as a result of alcohol withdrawal. This can happen after someone who has misused alcohol for a long time stops consuming it. Heavy alcohol consumption is a common trigger for seizures in those who already have epilepsy. The researchers also found that the risk of epilepsy increased as alcohol consumption increased.
The emergency operator will often direct you on further steps to take. However, there have been reports that the risk of seizure increases in an alcohol-dependent person who misuses a sedative and takes nonsedative AEDs. When people stop consuming alcohol after chronic use, they lose the inhibitory effects of the GABA receptors, resulting in the central nervous system being overstimulated. can you drink alcohol if you have seizures According to the Epilepsy Foundation, some studies have linked chronic alcohol misuse to the development of epilepsy. Alcohol and some antiseizure medications can have similar side effects, and taking them together can cause potentially dangerous complications. In another 2020 study, researchers found that people with epilepsy were more 5 times more likely to die from alcohol-related causes than people without epilepsy.
