Alcohol withdrawal seizures can occur 6-48 hours after the last drink, sometimes even 2-7 days after you stop alcohol consumption. Seizures (convulsions) occur during alcohol withdrawal due to changes in brain chemistry. But the relationship between alcohol intake and seizures is not straightforward. Alcohol acts on the human brain through many different mechanisms.
Please continue reading to learn more about why alcohol seizures occur. We will also talk about why it’s important to recognize them and get prompt treatment.
Overview of Alcohol-Related Seizures: Can Drinking Alcohol Cause Seizures?
Occasional and moderate alcohol intake does not cause seizures. However, alcohol can cause seizures in certain situations. In fact, studies have found that in 40-50% of adults who present to emergency departments or are admitted to hospital with new-onset seizures, the seizures are related to alcohol abuse.
Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures
Seizures can occur during withdrawal from alcohol in people with a history of heavy drinking or long-term alcohol abuse. In fact, as mentioned, alcohol withdrawal seizures are the most common cause of adult-onset seizures.
Binge Drinking Seizures
Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol intake that causes the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to be 0.08% (0.08 g/dL) or higher. This typically occurs if women have 4 or more drinks and men have 5 or more drinks within about a 2-hour period.
Binge drinking can trigger alcohol withdrawal seizures 6-72 hours after drinking stops. In a small number of people, binge drinking and alcohol withdrawal can cause status epilepticus, a potentially life-threatening condition where a person has prolonged seizure without regaining consciousness.
Epilepsy and Alcohol Consumption
Most people with a seizure disorder (epilepsy) can drink small amounts of alcohol occasionally without experiencing an increase in seizure activity. Small amounts of alcohol do not change the blood levels of anti-seizure drugs. They also do not cause changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) readings (brain activity tracings).
However, people who are on antiepileptic drugs may have a lower tolerance for alcohol. In other words, they may experience more rapid intoxication compared to people who aren’t taking these medications. Additionally, alcohol and antiepileptic drugs cause many of the same side effects, and the combination can make these side effects worse.
Why Do Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures Happen?
Abruptly stopping alcohol use after prolonged heavy drinking can trigger alcohol withdrawal seizures due to changes in brain chemistry.
Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. That’s why alcohol intoxication causes drowsiness, poor balance, slurred speech, and stupor. Prolonged alcohol consumption leads to alcohol dependence. This is characterized by:
- Tolerance (needing more and more alcohol over time to experience the same level of intoxication).
- Physical dependence (experiencing withdrawal symptoms when alcohol is withheld).
Tolerance and physical dependence occur due to compensatory functional changes in the brain.
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). The sudden change in brain chemistry results in overactivity in the brain, which is what causes the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal that are a result of this brain activity include tremors, muscle rigidity, seizures, and delirium tremens.
The Kindling Effect
In people with a long history of alcohol abuse, the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms increases progressively over time with each additional attempt to quit drinking. In other words, repeated detoxifications increase the likelihood, severity, and duration of alcohol withdrawal seizures. This is called the kindling effect.
Experts believe that the kindling phenomenon occurs because of permanent changes in the brain in people with an alcohol dependence. There is no treatment that can slow or prevent the kindling effect. The only way to lower the risk of severe alcohol withdrawal seizures is to seek addiction treatment as soon as possible.
Delirium Tremens (DTs)
Delirium tremens (DTs), also called alcohol withdrawal delirium (AWD), is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal. It occurs in 5-10% of alcohol-dependent people and is a medical emergency. There is a high mortality rate of 5-15% if DT is not treated. Signs and symptoms of DTs include disorientation, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, high blood pressure, and fast heart rate. These symptoms can quickly progress to cardiovascular collapse and death without timely treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
- Minor alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Tremors, nervousness, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia.
- Major alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Visual and auditory hallucinations, whole body tremors, vomiting, sweating, and high blood pressure.
- Alcohol withdrawal seizures.
- Delirium tremens: Agitation, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, fever, high blood pressure, sweating, and fast heart rate.
What Are the Risk Factors for Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures?
Anyone going through withdrawal from alcohol can develop alcohol withdrawal seizures. However, certain risk factors increase the possibility of experiencing seizures when you quit drinking:
- Prolonged and Heavy Alcohol Intake: The longer and more heavily you drink alcohol, the higher your risk of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, including alcohol withdrawal seizures.
- Previous Alcohol Withdrawal Episodes: People who have undergone multiple previous alcohol detoxifications are at a higher risk of experiencing more severe withdrawal symptoms and seizures during subsequent attempts to quit drinking. This is called the kindling effect.
- Use of Other Drugs: Multi-substance abuse can worsen alcohol withdrawal symptoms and increase seizure risk.
- Age: Older adults are more vulnerable to alcohol withdrawal seizures due to age-related physiological changes in their brain and body.
- Coexisting Medical Conditions: Other health issues, especially liver disease and neurological conditions, can complicate alcohol withdrawal.
Without treatment, alcohol withdrawal seizures can progress to status epilepticus or delirium tremens, both of which are life-threatening complications. That’s why it’s important to do an alcohol detox under medical supervision at an addiction treatment center.
How Long After You Quit Drinking Can You Experience a Seizure?
Alcohol withdrawal seizures typically develop 6-48 hours after you stop drinking, but they can occur 2-7 days after your last drink. The seizures can develop abruptly without warning, and multiple seizures can occur within a 6- to 8-hour period.
Do you have a loved one struggling with addiction?
We know how hard that can be. Give us a call to find out what options you have.
+18442884672 What Does an Alcohol Withdrawal Seizure Look Like?
Alcohol withdrawal seizures are usually generalized tonic–clonic seizures that involve both sides of the brain, although partial seizures involving only one part of the brain can also occur.
A tonic-clonic seizure has a tonic (stiffening) and clonic (rhythmic jerking) phase. It can start on one side of the body and spread to the whole body. The seizure starts with muscle stiffening. This may be accompanied by a groan or cry as air is forced through the vocal cords. The person may then lose consciousness and fall down. Biting or the tongue or the inside of the cheek can cause blood-tinged saliva.
The tonic phase is followed by the clonic phase in which the arms and legs jerk rhythmically and rapidly. This typically involves bending and straightening of the major joints (elbows, hips, and knees). This can continue for a few minutes. The person’s face may turn bluish if they have trouble breathing during a prolonged seizure.
As the seizure ends, the person may lose bowel or bladder control due to relaxation of the body. Awareness or consciousness return slowly after the alcohol withdrawal seizure ends. The person may appear confused, sleepy, irritable, embarrassed, or frightened afterwards.
Dangers of an Alcohol Withdrawal Seizure
An alcohol withdrawal seizure typically lasts 1 to 3 minutes and is usually self-limited. However, it can be associated with a serious condition called status epilepticus, where the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes. This is a medical emergency. You should call 911 if this occurs.
Also, if there are 3 or more seizures in a row and the person does not regain consciousness in between seizures, they should be evaluated in a hospital emergency room.
Without treatment, status epilepticus can lead to permanent brain damage and even death.
What to Do if Someone Is Having Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures?
Call 911 if someone is having alcohol withdrawal seizures. This is a serious complication of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome and needs to be treated in a hospital emergency room.
Chronic Alcohol Abuse and Epilepsy Risk
Research suggests that people with chronic alcohol abuse disorder may be at an increased risk of developing epilepsy. Studies have found that people who experience seizures triggered by binge drinking can, in the future, start experiencing unprovoked seizures even in the absence of alcohol intake.
Can I Drink Alcohol If I Have Seizures or Epilepsy?
If you have been diagnosed with epilepsy and take antiepileptic drugs, it’s important to have a frank discussion with your healthcare providers about the risks of drinking. Most people with epilepsy can have the occasional drink. Here are some tips to help lower your risk of increased seizure activity or worsening seizure control:
Drink in Moderation and Avoid Binge Drinking
Limit yourself to no more than 3 drinks at any given time and drink slowly. Binge drinking (consuming 4-5 drinks or more in a short period of time) is linked to a higher risk of alcohol-related seizures due to withdrawal effects after you stop drinking.
Get Help for Abuse Alcohol
Seek help at a professional addiction treatment facility if you have problems controlling your drinking. Signs and symptoms of an alcohol use disorder include a preoccupation with alcohol consumption and continuing to drink despite the negative effects of alcohol.
Why it Is Important to go to Medical Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal?
The severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms depends on the severity of the alcohol use disorder. Some people only experience a minor withdrawal syndrome. However, those with a history of heavy or prolonged alcohol use can develop severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can develop and change suddenly and aggressively, including alcohol withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens, which can be fatal without the proper treatment.
This is why it’s important to go to medical detox for alcohol withdrawal. Healthcare providers can use medications such as benzodiazepines (lorazepam, diazepam) to lower the risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures and treat them if they occur.
Key Takeaways
- Seizures can occur during alcohol withdrawal, typically in the first 6-48 hours after the last drink. While most alcohol withdrawal seizures are self-limited, they can sometimes be associated with a life-threatening prolonged seizure called status epilepticus. Status epilepticus can cause permanent brain damage and even death without proper treatment in the hospital.
- Binge drinking (having 4-5 or more alcoholic beverages in a small amount of time) is linked to an increased risk of seizures due to alcohol withdrawal effects.
- Chronic alcohol abuse can increase the risk of developing epilepsy (seizure disorder), where seizures can occur even when you’re not drinking.
Contact Discover Recovery for Help with Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Repeated detox attempts can increase the risk of a severe withdrawal syndrome, including alcohol withdrawal seizures, due to the kindling effect, and a severe withdrawal syndrome called delirium tremens (DTs). Chronic alcohol abuse is linked to an increased risk of epilepsy (seizure disorder). The sooner you seek professional treatment and get sober, the better your chances of avoiding these serious health complications.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an alcohol use disorder (unhealthy patterns of alcohol consumption), get in touch with Discover Recovery Treatment Center today. We offer holistic addiction treatment programs that are tailored to the needs of each client. Supervision by our highly experienced healthcare team during alcohol detox can lower the risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures and keep you safe and comfortable as you start your journey to lasting sobriety.
