Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Dr P. E. Pancoast, MD
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Alcohol-related seizures can happen when people are acutely intoxicated. It can also occur when an alcoholic suddenly stops drinking and experiences alcohol withdrawal.
Drinking large amounts of alcohol slows down brain activity. Abrupt cessation will dangerously speed it up, causing a seizure.
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Alcohol-induced seizures could happen for many reasons. However, you face a higher risk of developing them if you have one of the following risk factors:
Other causes for alcohol-induced seizures include:
Alcohol withdrawal seizures (delirium tremens) occur when the body undergoes severe and unexpected nervous system changes after an alcohol-dependent person stops drinking.
When alcohol withdrawal syndrome sets in, seizures may arise within approximately 6 to 48 hours.
The main characteristics of seizures associated with delirium tremens include:
However, withdrawal symptoms accompanying delirium tremens do not need to be present when a person experiences a seizure.
Alcohol poisoning can lead to seizures, but these may not result from the alcohol intake itself. Lower blood sugar or head trauma caused by a sudden fall could be the underlying cause.
Current evidence shows that drinking to intoxication and binge drinking are highly associated with seizures. In such cases, episodes may be worse if they do occur.4
Currently, there have not been enough clinical trials to show the efficacy and safety of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in alcohol-dependent people.8
However, there have been reports that the risk of seizure increases in an alcohol-dependent person who misuses a sedative and takes nonsedative AEDs.
Overall, an alcohol-dependent person should seek care first for alcohol dependence before any drug treatment for non-withdrawal-related seizures. This approach minimizes the likelihood of:
People with generalized genetic epilepsy may be more susceptible to alcohol-related seizures, especially after three or more drinks. However, occasional alcohol consumption may not increase the risk of attacks in many people with epilepsy.7
It’s best to seek medical advice before having any alcoholic beverage since each person is unique. A heathcare provider can assess whether light or moderate alcohol drinking is safe.
Other factors that accompany excessive drinking and could increase the risk of seizures include:
If you experience an alcohol-related seizure, you may experience falling to the floor and shaking violently for a few minutes. The clinical term for this type of seizure is called a tonic-clonic seizure.
You may harm yourself unintentionally when you have an alcohol-related seizure. Because you cannot control your body, you may:
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Alcohol seizures can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Experiencing this kind of seizure can make you hurt yourself by biting your tongue or hitting your head. You can even stop breathing.
You could develop status epilepticus, which is multiple seizures, or prolonged seizures, and can lead to permanent brain damage or death.
Status epilepticus happens when:
Doctors may consider three different approaches to treat alcohol seizures, including:
If you or a loved one suffer from alcohol addiction, you have different treatment options available:
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as seizures. An alcohol-related seizure may result in your inability to control your actions, which could be dangerous.
If you experience an alcohol-related seizure, seek immediate medical attention. Professional help is also available for those struggling with alcohol addiction.
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