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Prolonged drinking can lead to compensatory changes in your brain, such as the down-regulation of GABA receptors and increased expression of NMDA receptors. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on MyEpilepsyTeam. MyEpilepsyTeam is the online social network for people with epilepsy. On MyEpilepsyTeam, more than 122,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with epilepsy. Eating a ketogenic diet is another approach that may help control seizures, especially when antiepilepsy medication does not work.
Types of Seizures and Their Symptoms
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. However, withdrawal symptoms accompanying delirium tremens do not need to be present when a person experiences a seizure. Of course, it is lower risk – and better for your general health – to avoid alcohol altogether.
Some people seem to be more prone to having seizures during alcohol withdrawal. It doesn’t necessarily mean they will go on to develop epilepsy, which is where you have two or more unprovoked seizures. It’s important to be aware that uncontrolled alcohol withdrawal can be fatal, and there is a risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. If you have epilepsy you may have heard about risks related to alcohol and seizures. It is true that drinking beer, wine and spirits may make you more likely to have a seizure. So, it’s important to be aware of the facts around epilepsy and alcohol.
Tips on Taking Epilepsy Medications for Kids and Adults
Medications such as clonazepam and lorazepam are benzodiazepines that can cause a life threatening interaction when mixed with alcohol. By Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RNZimlich is a critical care nurse who has been writing about health care and clinical developments for over 10 years. Controlling stress can be difficult, but managing stress is important for your health.
Children are more likely to experience febrile seizures than adults. Note that the occurrence of a febrile seizure in a child does not necessarily mean that the child has or will develop epilepsy. During a normal menstrual cycle, the body goes through changes in levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Some people have seizures at a specific time of day or night, including while they are sleeping. Another 4.5 per cent of this population will be diagnosed with epilepsy by the age of 80.
Contact Discover Recovery for Help with Alcohol Addiction Treatment
We offer holistic addiction treatment programs that are tailored to the needs of each client. When alcohol consumption is stopped after prolonged alcohol abuse, these suppressive effects of alcohol are withdrawn. This unmasks excitatory activities in the central nervous system (CNS).
Flashing lights and certain patterns (such as optical illusions that appear to move) can trigger seizures in some people with photosensitive epilepsy. The frequency of flashing light that triggers seizures varies from person to person. Sometimes, high-contrast geometric patterns can also trigger these types of seizures.
- Since alcohol-induced seizures often repeat, consider this a medical emergency.
- SUDEP is the sudden and unexpected death of a person with epilepsy who is otherwise healthy without a known cause.
- Seizures (convulsions) occur during alcohol withdrawal due to changes in brain chemistry.
- If people have an alcohol use disorder, they can talk with a healthcare professional about treatment options.
- Some medications, including over-the-counter options, can change how the body processes your AEDs, leading to seizures.
Taking recreational drugs increases the risk of seizures and of mental and physical health problems, which in turn may make seizures more likely. Also, you can never be certain what exactly is in recreational drugs. Learning more about your own epilepsy and treatment means you can make informed choices about your lifestyle.
Status epilepticus is a medical emergency that may lead to lasting brain damage or death. This may be due to alcohol’s effect on the brain, sleep, and anti-seizure medications. According can you drink alcohol if you have seizures to the Epilepsy Society, consuming alcohol may make your epileptic medications less effective and may make the side effects of your medications worse. In a 2020 study, research found that the risk of SUDEP was twice as high in people with a history of alcohol dependence or substance misuse disorder. A report from 2021 also found that alcohol-related deaths were five times more likely in people with epilepsy than those without the condition.
If you have epilepsy and would like to drink alcohol, it’s best to speak with your physician about this first. Alcohol can be a big part of many people’s social life, so you may be wondering if it’s ever safe. Remember that even a small amount of alcohol is bad for your health, and it is lower risk to avoid alcohol altogether, according to the CDC.