When we speak about the effects of alcohol, seizures rarely come up first – but they need to. While moderate drinking (up to 2 drinks per day for males and 1 for females) typically does not lead to any serious complications, this can change easily and dramatically with heavy or prolonged alcohol use. Furthermore, for those with epilepsy, even lower quantities of alcohol can trigger seizures. This is why medical specialists advise people with epilepsy to avoid alcohol entirely.
But alcohol-related seizures are limited to these pre-existing conditions – they can strike at different phases of alcohol use, withdrawal, and dependence, making this a very critical concern you need to understand when you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol misuse.
Does Alcohol Cause Seizures?
Drinking is linked with seizures. Generally speaking, heavy drinking is associated with withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are intensely unpleasant symptoms that a person experiences when they reduce or stop alcohol intake suddenly after a period of heavy, frequent drinking. As alcohol enhances gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) effects in the brain, it can increase the risk of a seizure – the brain gets used to a certain level of alcohol in the brain and cannot adapt to its absence just as quickly, and goes into overdrive. Moreover, if a person already suffers from epilepsy, alcohol can and does increase the chances of a seizure.
Therefore, if you or a loved one has a history of seizures or alcohol withdrawal, the risk of a seizure when you drink alcohol is ever-present.
What Does An Alcoholic Seizure Look Like?
While seizures can be different for everyone, tonic-clonic seizures are the most common, wherein the body becomes rigid and tense. The person will struggle with uncontrollable convulsions that can last up to two minutes. Typically, they will not have any recollection of the seizure and will feel foggy once these convulsions are over. Alcohol can induce seizures in the following ways:
Seizures After Binge Drinking – When a person engages in binge drinking episodes (5 or more drinks within 2 hours for males and 4 or more drinks within 2 hours for females), alcohol changes the brain chemistry, thereby increasing the likelihood of a seizure. In fact, this is all too common in someone already suffering from epilepsy. Alcohol can change brain chemistry and even interact with epilepsy medication, increasing the risk of a seizure.
Alcohol Poisoning-Related Seizures – Alcohol poisoning is when there is too much alcohol in the body. This can lower blood pressure and lead to hypoglycemia, which, in turn, can increase the risk of a seizure.
Alcohol Withdrawal-Related Seizures – GABA receptors reduce the likelihood of seizures when they are enhanced by alcohol. However, when alcohol is suddenly reduced or stopped, these receptors become under-stimulated, increasing the likelihood of a seizure during the alcohol withdrawal phase.
Delirium Tremens – Delirium tremens is a life-threatening symptom associated with alcohol withdrawal. It is typically characterized by confusion, psychosis, and changes in body temperature. Seizures tend to occur during this stage, but they can happen otherwise also.
Kindling Seizures – Kindling is when repeated episodes of alcohol withdrawal increase the frequency and severity of seizures.
Status Epilepticus – While not common, alcohol-induced seizures can develop into something known as status epilepticus, where seizures can last for more than five minutes, or a person can experience repeated seizures. This is a life-threatening condition and can even lead to death.
Alcohol and seizures are intricately connected. While seizures can be the outcome of heavy drinking, alcohol in itself can increase the risk of epilepsy. This is known as alcohol-related epilepsy. Consuming more than three units of drinks per day can lead to severe health complications, including epilepsy. Those with epilepsy, especially, must always err on the side of abstinence.
Warning Signs: What To Watch Out For?
When the answer to can drinking alcohol cause seizures is a resounding yes, then you need to be aware of the warning signs you need to look out for:
Aura – While not always, some can experience an aura. An aura is a sensation that a kind of warning sign preceding a seizure. This can be characterized by a sense of unease, atypical smells or tastes, and a feeling of déjà vu.
Loss of Consciousness – A person may lose consciousness during an alcohol-induced seizure or experience an altered level of consciousness.
Muscle Rigidity – Alcohol-induced seizures are tonic-clonic seizures where there can be muscle rigidity, making the body become stiff and tense. If a person is standing up, they can fall down.
Convulsions – Alcohol-induced seizures are marked by involuntary convulsions like twitching and jerking of the limbs. Some can even experience involuntary movements in other body parts.
Uncontrolled Bladder or Bowel Movements – While not always, a person experiencing an alcohol-induced seizure can lose control over their bladder and bowel movements.
Confusion – After a seizure, a person typically does not have any memory of it and wakes up feeling groggy or confused.
Who Is At Risk Of An Alcohol-Induced Seizure?
People with epilepsy are at a high risk of alcohol-induced seizures. While it is possible for them to consume 1 or 2 drinks without triggering a seizure, it is strongly recommended not to consume alcohol at all.
Binge-drinking episodes can often lead to seizures. Therefore, controlled or moderate drinking involving not more than 2 drinks per day is suggested. Just for your information, a standard drink refers to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.
Alcohol withdrawal is the outcome of frequent and heavy drinking. Repeated alcohol withdrawals can increase the frequency and severity of alcohol-induced seizures as well.
Can Alcohol-Induced Seizures Be Fatal?
Alcohol-induced seizures are not fatal in themselves. But when you factor in the damages that they can lead to – like an injury where a person can hit their head or bite and choke on their own tongue, these can lead to life-threatening conditions.
Moreover, repeated and severe seizures can lead to brain damage like hypoxia (disruptions in the oxygen supply to the brain), excitotoxicity (increased levels of electrical activity in the brain), and status epilepticus, which can be potentially life-threatening conditions.
Preventing Alcohol-Induced Seizures
The only way to prevent alcohol-induced seizures is by reducing or stopping alcohol. However, this can be very challenging, especially in the cases of alcohol use disorder and dependence. On the encouraging side, alcohol use disorder can be effectively treated with a comprehensive approach involving:
Medically Supervised Detoxification (Detox) – As quitting alcohol cold turkey can lead to seizures, medically supervised detox is suggested, wherein alcohol levels are gradually tapered off from the body to reduce and manage seizures and other alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Psychotherapy – Therapeutic interventions involving motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and 12-step recovery programs are provided to change the underlying patterns leading to alcohol use and provide the person with the tools and skills needed to manage triggers, temptations, and other life stressors without resorting to alcohol use.
Medication Management – In cases where needed, medications like disulfiram and naltrexone are prescribed to reduce alcohol cravings and other related symptoms to prevent relapse. Specific medication for alcohol-induced seizures can also be prescribed. Typically, these involve carbamazepine, levetiracetam, and valproic acid.
Ongoing Care – Ongoing care involving therapy, counseling, medication management, relapse prevention, sober living, and peer empowerment programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are suggested for an enduring recovery.
When To Seek Care?
While not all alcohol-induced seizures lead to life-threatening or fatal conditions, they can be a very scary experience. If you or a loved one is experiencing these seizures, it is a sign that your alcohol use needs attention. Quitting alcohol on your own is not always easy or beneficial; therefore, never hesitate to seek care that is just a phone call away.
At Skyline Recovery, we see you, we hear you, and we want to listen to you. We offer a wide range of outpatient rehabilitation services specifically tailored to your needs and goals. While being intensive, they are also flexible so that you do not have to put your life on hold to treat your alcohol use and other related symptoms.
Please reach out to us today, and we will take this journey toward a healthier tomorrow together.
References –
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/index.html
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14594442/
https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/seizure-triggers/alcohol
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436003/