18 Sep Alcohol and Epilepsy: A Potential Seizure Trigger

Taking cannabis, ecstasy, speed, cocaine, and other recreational drugs can trigger, or increase the frequency of, seizures for some people. Taking recreational drugs increases the risk of seizures and of mental and physical health problems, which in turn may make seizures more likely. Learning more about your own epilepsy and treatment means you can make informed choices about your lifestyle. Hangovers do not generally increase the risk of seizures, but they can play a role in seizures occurring.

TablRisks Associated with Alcohol Use in Individuals with Epilepsy

Finally, the present study population was exclusively recruited at a tertiary care epilepsy center where usually patients with more severe variants of the disease are treated. This indicates a potential selection bias and our results may not be generalized to all epilepsy patients without restrictions. Ninety-five patients (30.7%) were alcohol-experienced but had been abstinent in the last year.

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Prompt treatment of alcohol withdrawal seizures is recommended to prevent status epilepticus. During the detoxification process, primary and secondary preventative measures can be taken. A meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled trials for the secondary prevention of seizures after alcohol withdrawal showed lorazepam to be effective, whereas phenytoin was ineffective. Because withdrawal seizures do not recur if the patient remains abstinent, long-term administration of antiepileptic drugs is unnecessary in abstinent patients.

With proper management, his hallucinations and paranoia may have resolved, allowing treatment of any underlying mood disorder (perhaps with anticonvulsants and antipsychotics). He would be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit (if beds were available) to hopefully prevent the tragic decline that led to his suicide. If you have epilepsy, drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short space of time can trigger a breakthrough seizure putting you at risk. Even people without epilepsy can sometimes have a seizure after a night of binge drinking.

Seizure triggers: Alcohol

Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 percent or higher. This means consuming roughly five or more drinks for a man, or four or more drinks for a woman, in about two hours. When seizures do happen as a result of alcohol, they occur within six to 72 hours after drinking.

Causes & Risk Factors

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. Many doctors and pharmacists recommend total abstinence from drinking, if possible.

• A seizure trigger can be a specific sight or sound, a substance, or a physiologic state (such as having low blood sugar).
• Developing alcohol dependence means you drink enough to have withdrawal symptoms if you stop drinking.
• However, most individuals who drink alcohol—even in larger amounts—do not necessarily go on to develop epilepsy.
• Only a minority of patients documented details on alcohol-related seizures in seizure diaries.
• The prevalence of alcohol use in individuals with epilepsy is noteworthy.
• Alcohol can cause seizures; however, seizures from alcohol use are most likely to occur during alcohol withdrawal.

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. Nearly all of the seizures occurred within 12 hours after they stopped drinking. Furthermore, seizures seemed particularly likely if the participants did not regularly drink that much alcohol.

Our Helpline & Information Officer, Uschi Stickroth looks at 12 can alcohol trigger epileptic seizures common seizure triggers and how you can help control them. Try and eat something before you go out, and the next day, even if you do not feel like it. Low blood sugar or dehydration can sometimes trigger a seizure in some people.

Seizures often occur during delirium tremens but are not always a symptom of this condition. Withdrawal seizures also happen independently of delirium tremens, and having seizures during withdrawal doesn’t necessarily mean that delirium tremens is present. These changes can promote seizure activity in people with and without epilepsy during periods of alcohol withdrawal.

• Those with an underlying health risk for seizures, a history of diabetes or who have experienced alcohol withdrawal seizures are most at risk.
• Auras can be visual disturbances, odd physical sensations, or emotions that you have before your seizure.
• Seizures are different for everyone; however, seizures can often be predicted right before they occur by a phenomenon called an aura.
• Taking recreational drugs increases the risk of seizures and of mental and physical health problems, which in turn may make seizures more likely.
• Other recreational and illicit drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines, and MDMA (ecstasy or molly) can induce seizures in people with epilepsy.
• Some people find that keeping themselves busy or using some distraction techniques when they feel a seizure coming on, can sometimes avert a seizure.
• Consuming alcohol is a common seizure trigger for people with epilepsy.

Many people with epilepsy have heard that alcohol consumption can change the blood levels of their AEDs. More recent research shows that having one to two drinks a day does not seem to affect these levels in most medications. However, some medications are more likely than others to metabolize differently when alcohol is used. It is important to discuss your individual risk for drinking with your health care team.

Many recreational drugs including legal highs can affect brain chemistry potentially triggering a seizure. For many people, being able to have a drink with friends and family is an important part of their life. However, for some people drinking too much alcohol can be a seizure trigger. A report from 2021 also found that alcohol-related deaths were five times more likely in people with epilepsy than those without the condition. Symptoms are generally mild during the first 12–24 hours of withdrawal but increase in intensity around the third day without alcohol.