Some experts link excessive alcohol consumption to the development of epilepsy. Consuming alcohol is a common seizure trigger for people with epilepsy. People who chronically consume large amounts of alcohol seem to be more likely to have epilepsy than people who don’t.
Recreational drugs and epilepsy
It’s possible that they may contain THC, and may not be safe to use. Experiencing this kind of seizure can make you hurt yourself by biting your tongue or hitting your head. Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. 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.
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- Some cannabis-based products are available to buy over the internet, without a prescription.
- This indicates a potential selection bias and our results may not be generalized to all epilepsy patients without restrictions.
- SUDEP is the sudden and unexpected death of a person with epilepsy who is otherwise healthy without a known cause.
- Many people with epilepsy have heard that alcohol consumption can change the blood levels of their AEDs.
- 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.
Where seizures occur in the brain determines which parts of the body will be affected. Seizures can be focal—or occur on one side of the brain—or generalized in which they appear in both sides of the brain. Several treatment options and interventions can help a person recover from alcohol dependence. Once a person stops using alcohol, they can often experience recovery from symptoms, though in some cases, some damage may be permanent. Once you stop alcohol intake, a doctor can address your specific symptoms.
Factors in Choosing Epilepsy Treatments for Your Child
Alcohol can also trigger seizures if you have epilepsy and often interacts poorly with anti-seizure medications. About half of all people with alcohol withdrawal will have two to four seizures within the six hours that follow the first.5 Without prompt treatment, these episodes can be life-threatening. With alcohol use disorder (AUD), GABA responses just never return to normal. The brain is always slightly sedated, and the body is always trying to return to normal.
However, only about 30% of patients used alcohol, thus excluding 70% from any analysis of potential alcohol-related effects on the disease. Apart from this, there is little research on the occurrence of alcohol-related seizures in patients with epilepsy. A double-blinded, randomized, interventional study on 52 subjects with epilepsy demonstrated that a social alcohol intake over a 4-month-period did not increase seizure frequencies (2). In another interventional study on 14 patients with epilepsy and 10 healthy controls, acute moderate alcohol consumption initially suppressed epileptiform EEG-activity. Later however, when alcohol blood levels had declined, epileptiform EEG-activity was increased.
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Eleven subjects 11 (3.5%) had never tried alcohol in their lifetime. However, there have been reports that the risk of seizure increases in an alcohol-dependent person who misuses a sedative and takes nonsedative AEDs. However, withdrawal symptoms accompanying delirium tremens do not need to be present when a person experiences a seizure. Tell the person you’ll help them find the right treatment program for alcohol abuse. Together, you can address this issue properly and help the person build a happier and healthier life in recovery. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency that may lead to lasting brain damage or death.
The amount of alcohol intake before alcohol-related seizures was at least 7 standard drinks, or the equivalent of 1.4 liters of Recovery National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA beer or 700 milliliters of wine. In almost all cases, seizures occurred within 12 hours of stopping alcohol consumption. Not everyone who stops consuming alcohol suddenly will have episodes, but seizures can occur between six and 48 hours after a person stops drinking. When people with AUD attempt to quit drinking, they can experience withdrawal symptoms, including seizures or convulsions. Alcohol withdrawal seizures can be managed in a healthcare setting but can be dangerous if you’re at home without access to medical care.
Over half of those with alcohol withdrawal seizures may have repeat seizures, and up to 5% of cases may lead to status epilepticus. 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.