Alcohol Induced Epilepsy Seizures: Risks and Recommendations

Some tests can be performed by a doctor to rule out other causes of neurologic symptoms. The alcohol will continue to circulate in the bloodstream and eventually affect other organs. Consuming too much, especially over months or years, can result in severe symptoms.

How can alcohol-related neurologic disease be prevented?

If health professionals don’t know how the seizures began, they may say the seizures are of unknown onset. Alcohol misuse can lead to neurological damage that can affect multiple areas of a person’s health and well-being. The best way to avoid the issue is to limit alcoholic consumption to 2 or fewer drinks per day for males and 1 or fewer for females. This condition can be acute, affecting people for a short period of time before resolving, or chronic, lasting for a longer period of time. Alcohol can also cause seizures in a person who doesn’t have epilepsy.

Fetal alcohol syndrome can occur when a person is exposed to alcohol before birth. Researchers have not determined if this is caused by the effects of alcohol on the brain or is the result of thiamine deficiency. Alcoholic neuropathy occurs when too much alcohol damages the peripheral nerves. This can be permanent, as alcohol can cause changes to the nerves themselves. Deficiencies in B6 and B12, thiamine, folate, niacin, and vitamin E can make it worse.

Essentials Epilepsy Caregivers Should Know

Consuming alcohol in large quantities for extended periods seems to increase seizure frequency and might increase your risk of SUDEP. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it promotes water loss by increasing urine output. SUDEP is the sudden and unexpected death of a person with epilepsy who is otherwise healthy without a known cause. The risk in people with epilepsy is roughly 1 in 1,000 people per year. Assessments help treatment professionals figure out if a problem exists and, if so, determine the diagnosis. They will use multiple assessment tools to get an accurate portrait of your current alcohol misuse, as well as your and your family’s history with alcohol misuse.

If you experience an alcohol-related seizure, seek immediate medical attention. Professional help is also available for those struggling with alcohol addiction. If you experience an alcohol-related seizure, you may experience falling to the floor and shaking violently for a few minutes.

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1. Seizures can be focal—or occur on one side of the brain—or generalized in which they appear in both sides of the brain.
2. Doctors or family and friends can provide early intervention, which can help you avoid alcohol-related neurologic disease.
3. Deficiencies in B6 and B12, thiamine, folate, niacin, and vitamin E can make it worse.
4. Completely avoiding alcohol and eating a balanced diet can help minimize damage.

NICE recommends that Epidyolex is only used to treat the conditions above if two other ASM have been tried and they have not controlled the seizures. They also recommend that doctors check every six months to see if Epidyolex is working to control or reduce seizures and stop prescribing it if it is not. Independent predictors for alcohol consumption within the last 12 months.

We have published data What Is Salvia for Parents on epilepsy and illicit drug use earlier (15). Only subjects ≥18 years who had suffered from epilepsy for at least 1 year were included. Epilepsy types and seizures were classified according to the International League Against Epilepsy (16). Light, infrequent drinking isn’t linked to seizures, but people who are regular or heavy alcohol users have an increased risk of alcoholic tremors or seizure activity.

It usually develops as symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy go away. Join the conversation today to share your experiences and connect with others on MyEpilepsyTeam. At Discover Recovery, we work with a wide variety of health insurance providers so those in need can get access to the treatment they need.

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. Alcohol-related seizures can happen when people are acutely intoxicated.

The ads we show you may be personalized based on the information that you share. 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. If you do decide to use CBD it’s important to let your epilepsy specialist know as it might affect the way your existing ASM works. This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.