When people talk about alcohol seizures, they usually mean alcohol withdrawal seizures. These are seizures (convulsions) that can occur 6 to 72 hours after a person with alcohol use disorder stops drinking or significantly reduces their alcohol intake. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe and even be life-threatening in severe cases. People with a long history of heavy alcohol use are more likely to suffer severe withdrawal effects, including alcohol seizures. There are other links between alcohol and seizures. Alcohol does not typically cause seizures when consumed in moderation. However, heavy alcohol use or binge drinking can sometimes trigger seizures, especially in people with an underlying seizure disorder (epilepsy). Additionally, there are studies linking excessive alcohol consumption with an increased risk of developing epilepsy. Please continue reading to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and prevention of alcohol seizures.
Can Alcohol Cause You to Have Seizures?
Moderate alcohol intake does not usually cause seizures in otherwise healthy individuals. However, research has found that the effects of long-term alcohol use on the human brain may increase the risk of developing seizure disorders. In other words, there may be a link between chronic alcohol use (alcoholism) and epilepsy risk.
Alcohol is a CNS Depressant
Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that play an important role in how the brain functions. The central nervous system (CNS) maintains a balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Alcohol is a CNS depressant. It stimulates an inhibitory neurotransmitter called GABA. This is what causes the signs of alcohol intoxication, such as sedation (calmness, relaxation, sleepiness) and disinhibition. Chronic alcohol use leads to neuroadaptive changes in the brain when the body tries to restore the balance in neurotransmitters.
Alcohol Withdrawal Can Cause Seizures
When alcohol is withdrawn after prolonged use, there is a deficiency of GABA and an excess of excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate. This results in the symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome, including alcohol seizures. When people binge drink (consume a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time), the subsequent alcohol withdrawal can trigger seizures. Research also suggests that repeated episodes of alcohol withdrawal seizures can make the brain more excitable. As a result, people who previously experienced seizures provoked by binge drinking may start to experience seizures even in the absence of alcohol use – this is called alcohol-induced epilepsy.
Alcohol Seizure Causes
Alcohol-induced seizures are triggered by alcohol withdrawal in people with a long history of drinking. Alcohol withdrawal seizures can occur a few hours to a few days after a person stops drinking after chronic alcohol abuse. Withdrawal is the body’s way of readjusting to the absence of alcohol. Alcohol seizures can range in severity from mild to severe and can even be life-threatening in severe cases. That’s why it’s important to seek professional help and undergo a medically supervised alcohol detoxification.
The Link Between Alcohol and Epilepsy
People with epilepsy experience seizures (convulsions) due to excessive electrical activity in their brain. Some people with epilepsy can drink small amounts of alcohol without a change in seizure control, but this is not true for everyone. Alcohol can interact with some seizure medications and can disrupt sleep, which is a common seizure trigger. If you have epilepsy, ask the doctor who prescribes your seizure medication whether any amount of alcohol is safe for you.
Epilepsy and Binge Drinking
Alcohol withdrawal can trigger seizures and people with epilepsy are at a higher risk of experiencing alcohol seizures. Such individuals are at a particularly high risk of seizures after drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short time. Binge drinking is a pattern that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or higher, which for a typical adult means about 4 or more drinks for women or 5 or more drinks for men in about 2 hours.
Alcohol and Antiepileptic Drugs
Another thing to keep in mind is that alcohol and anti-seizure medications can cause similar side effects, such as fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, and blurred vision. Therefore, drinking alcohol while on antiepileptic drugs can make these adverse effects more severe. For the same reason, anti-seizure drugs can also lower alcohol threshold, meaning a smaller amount of alcohol than usual can cause intoxication, when alcohol intake is combined with antiepileptic treatment.
Can Alcohol Cause Epilepsy?
As discussed above, some studies have found links between chronic alcohol use and the risk of developing epilepsy. This may be due to neuroadaptive changes in the brain because of prolonged drinking.
How Long After Stopping Drinking Can Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures Occur?
Alcohol withdrawal seizures can begin within a few hours of the last drink and typically occur between 8 and 48 hours after a person stops or sharply cuts back on drinking.
Alcohol Seizure Symptoms
Early symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include tremors, headache, insomnia, palpitations, irritability, anxiety, nausea, loss of appetite, excessive sweating, high blood pressure, and rapid heart rate. More serious symptoms include confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and delirium. Alcohol withdrawal seizures can begin within a few hours after a person cuts back or stops drinking and most occur within the first 48 hours. Alcohol withdrawal seizures are usually generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which affect the whole body. A seizure that starts on one side of the body or in one area points to another cause and needs medical evaluation. These seizures are associated with violent muscle contractions and loss of consciousness. They consist of alternating tonic (stiffening) and clonic (jerking) phases. On average, a seizure lasts 1-3 minutes. Repeated alcohol-related seizures can occur over the next 24 hours. Sometimes a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or seizures follow one another without the person waking up in between. This is called status epilepticus and it is a medical emergency that needs immediate treatment.
What are Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures Like?
An alcohol withdrawal seizure is frequently a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. It begins with stiffening of the muscles. The person may cry or groan and fall to the floor as they lose consciousness. Additionally, they may bite their tongue which may cause the saliva to be blood-tinged. This is the tonic phase of the seizure. It is followed by the clonic phase in which the person’s limbs jerk rhythmically and rapidly with bending of the large joints such as the elbows and knees. This can continue for a few minutes until the seizure stops. Afterward an alcohol-related seizure, the person’s skin may appear dusky or slightly blue if the seizure lasted for a long time. The person may also soil themselves due to loss of bowel and bladder control when the body relaxes. Awareness or consciousness typically returns slowly after a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The person may appear confused for some time.
Who is at Risk for Alcohol Seizures?
Anyone can experience alcohol withdrawal seizures after they stop drinking; however, some people are at a higher risk, such as:
- People who have a history of severe alcohol use disorder with prolonged heavy alcohol use are more likely to suffer severe manifestations during alcohol withdrawal, including seizures, hallucinations, and delirium tremens (DTs).
- People who have previously had seizures during an alcohol withdrawal in the past are at a high risk of experiencing seizures during future alcohol withdrawals.
- People who have had repeated episodes of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are at an increased risk of alcohol seizures. Repeated withdrawals lower the seizure threshold and increase the likelihood of experiencing seizures during subsequent withdrawal episodes.
- People with seizure disorders and previous brain injuries are at an increased risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures.
Kindling Effect
Studies show that multiple prior alcohol detoxifications predispose a person to withdrawal seizures more than the severity of their drinking history, which implies a kindling effect. Experts say the kindling effect develops due to genetic factors (it is present in people with a family history of alcoholism). Previous withdrawal experiences can also be risk factors for the kindling effect. A person’s previous experiences with repeated alcohol withdrawals cause neurochemical imbalances in their brain. These changes have a kindling effect, meaning they act as a kindle and trigger seizures during subsequent withdrawal episodes.
How are Alcohol Seizures Treated?
Any seizure during alcohol withdrawal is a medical emergency and needs care in a hospital or a medically supervised detox setting. Treatment is directed by a medical team and may include:
- Benzodiazepines such as chlordiazepoxide, lorazepam, and diazepam. These are the first-line, most widely studied medications for withdrawal and help prevent further seizures.
- Phenobarbital, which clinicians may use alongside or in place of benzodiazepines in some cases.
- IV fluids, vitamins, and electrolytes to treat dehydration and nutritional deficiencies.
- Other medications for specific symptoms, such as nausea or high blood pressure. These can ease discomfort but do not prevent seizures, so they are used only together with withdrawal treatment, never on their own.
Standard seizure medications used for epilepsy do not reliably prevent alcohol withdrawal seizures, which is one reason withdrawal needs to be managed by clinicians who specialize in it.
Can Alcohol Seizures Cause Death?
Yes. A withdrawal seizure can be dangerous on its own, because seizures can repeat, last too long or cause injury or choking. A seizure is also a sign of severe withdrawal, and people who have one are at higher risk of delirium tremens (DTs), a complication that can be fatal without prompt medical treatment. Treat any seizure during withdrawal as an emergency and call 911.
Alcohol Seizure Prevention
If you drink heavily or daily, do not stop suddenly on your own. Talk to a doctor or a medical detox team first, because stopping abruptly is what triggers withdrawal seizures. Here are some tips to prevent alcohol withdrawal seizures:
- If you do not have alcohol use disorder and choose to drink, drink less and avoid binge drinking.
- Avoid binge drinking. Withdrawal from alcohol after a bout of binge drinking can trigger alcohol seizures.
- Seek treatment for alcohol abuse. Alcohol withdrawal seizures are most common in people with binge drinking, heavy alcohol intake, and chronic alcohol abuse.
- Talk to your doctor about how much alcohol is safe to drink if you have a seizure disorder and take anticonvulsant medications.
Get Help for Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures
Fortunately, no matter how severe the drinking problem, most people with an alcohol use disorder can benefit from treatment. Seeking treatment at a professional alcohol rehabilitation facility can help you significantly reduce or stop your drinking. Treatment can also lower your risk of related problems such as alcohol seizures. Evidence-based treatment options for alcohol abuse include behavioral therapies and counseling, FDA-approved medications to reduce alcohol cravings, and support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous that offer 12-step programs.
Treatment for Alcohol Seizures at Discover Recovery
Millions of Americans have alcohol use disorder (AUD). 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. That’s why it’s important to seek help at a professional alcohol rehab facility, especially for detoxification. At Discover Recovery, we offer personalized alcohol addiction treatment programs to help you get sober and stay sober. Our holistic approach to alcohol rehab includes addressing the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of your recovery. Our goal is to give you the best chance of kicking the habit and reclaiming your life. We have an experienced team of healthcare providers who can manage alcohol-related seizures during the withdrawal phase and keep you safe and comfortable. Call us today to find out more about our alcohol detoxification and inpatient rehab programs.
