If you are especially sensitive to either your AED or alcohol, it may be best to avoid drinking while taking that particular medication. Most of these antiepileptic medications also have side effects that mimic those of alcohol. They may slow down central nervous system responses, make a person sleepy, or cause parts of the brain to work differently. If you research a medication and these symptoms show up, it’s likely that AED will lower your tolerance for alcohol, too. Alcohol acts by stimulating receptors in your brain that cause brain activity to be suppressed. There are some specific considerations that may affect your risk of seizures when using alcohol.
Don’t forget to take your meds
If you are dependent on alcohol, it’s important to participate in a medically supervised detox program, which can help alleviate the risks of the situation. In fact, people struggling with chronic alcohol abuse increase their risk of developing seizures when they suddenly stop drinking. The biggest seizure culprit may be when you often drink to excess and then suddenly stop.
How long after you quit drinking may you experience a seizure?
When alcohol is can you drink alcohol if you have seizures abruptly removed, the body’s finely tuned equilibrium is disrupted, leading to a cascade of withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal seizures can begin within just a few hours after stopping drinking, or they can take up to 72 hours to start. Withdrawal is something that happens when your body has become dependent on the presence of drugs or alcohol.
The 6 Stages of Mental Health Recovery
It’s important to be aware that uncontrolled alcohol withdrawal can be fatal, and there is a risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. 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.
- Heavy alcohol consumption is a common trigger for seizures in those who already have epilepsy.
- Skipping meals can lead to stress on the body which can lead to triggers for seizures, especially if there is alcohol involved – so don’t skip meals.
- Effective treatment aims to address both the physical dependence on alcohol and the psychological factors that contribute to alcohol misuse.
- People who chronically consume large amounts of alcohol seem to be more likely to have epilepsy than people who don’t.
Medical professionals often recommend that people with epilepsy avoid or consume a moderate amount of alcohol. If you do drink, avoid binge drinking or chronically high consumption, which may help reduce your seizure severity or frequency. Consuming alcohol seems to aggravate seizures in people with epilepsy and may lead to increased seizure frequency. Doctors often warn people who have epilepsy to avoid alcohol or to only drink in moderation. With everyone’s epilepsy being unique to them, and the meds used to manage your epilepsy being different, it’s tough for us to answer that question, because everyone is unique.
It can even cause seizures in people who don’t have epilepsy – particularly those who binge-drink large amounts of alcohol at one time or are dependent on alcohol. Well when the alcohol wears off, your brain tries to achieve its usual rhythm after being slowed down. Over-acceleration of brain activity causes seizures – which is obviously a concern if you have epilepsy. 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. Though alcohol can trigger seizures, they are more often linked to withdrawal from alcohol if your body has developed a tolerance for it and dependency on it. People with epilepsy should consult their doctor before using alcohol, as alcohol can affect epilepsy medications.
Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
- Luckily, current research can help you make wise decisions about your relationship with alcohol.
- Most of these medications lower your alcohol tolerance, causing you to become intoxicated or feel the effects of alcohol more quickly or severely.
- Your meds, or your seizures, might mean that your epilepsy health team recommend you don’t drink at all, or not very much.
- Though alcohol can trigger seizures, they are more often linked to withdrawal from alcohol if your body has developed a tolerance for it and dependency on it.
- This is especially true for alcoholics or people who often drink heavily.
Alcohol can also impact how certain medications are absorbed by the body. Do not mix anti-seizure medication and alcohol without first speaking to a physician. If someone has a seizure from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you should move things out of the way that they could accidentally hurt themselves with during the seizure. You should not try to touch them or hold them during the seizure. You should also call 911 and get emergency medical help as soon as possible, even if the seizure has stopped.
It’s about understanding how alcohol affects your body and brain, especially if you’re prone to seizures. If unsure, it might be wise to seek advice from a healthcare professional. Withdrawing (stopping drinking) from alcohol causes people’s brains to become more excitable. This means that some people who do not actually have epilepsy may also experience seizures when they stop drinking. This is especially true for alcoholics or people who often drink heavily.
Remember they aren’t there to judge you, they are there to help you to keep safe. You deserve to let your hair down and enjoy yourself, after all life is a reason to celebrate without waiting for a special occasion. But it’s never all about alcohol and it certainly doesn’t mean you have to drink at all if you don’t want to (or can’t), or drink more than you are comfortable with. A report from 2021 also found that alcohol-related deaths were five times more likely in people with epilepsy than those without the condition. Delirium tremens is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal and affects about 2% of people with alcohol use disorder.
Speak to your doctor and read the leaflet in the packet for more information. Combining ASMs with alcohol may also increase the side effects of medications, such as dizziness or drowsiness, and may also increase your risk of liver problems. However, other people with epilepsy find they can drink moderately without triggering a seizure. In fact, research shows that a drink or two does not increase seizure activity.
A united family front can be instrumental in maintaining long-term recovery success. Family dynamics can play a pivotal role in both the development of and recovery from AUD. Family therapy sessions bring together spouses, siblings, parents and other close relatives to address dysfunctional patterns and improve communication skills.
Impact on Those with Epilepsy
If you are conscious during an alcohol withdrawal seizure, you may experience repetitive, uncontrolled movements of part or all of your body. Prior to the seizure, you may also experience an “aura,” consisting of an unusual visual change, smell, taste, or sound caused by abnormal brain activity. Over half of those with alcohol withdrawal seizures may have repeat seizures, and up to 5% of cases may lead to status epilepticus. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a condition that occurs after an abrupt stopping of heavy drinking in people with alcohol use disorders (AUD). Binge drinking—downing a large number of drinks in a short time—is especially risky, upping your chances of having an alcohol-induced seizure.
Join the conversation today to share your experiences and connect with others on MyEpilepsyTeam. Limited alcohol amounts also do not change EEG results, which measure electrical activity in the brain. Below is a collection of FAQs based on what we do know about this subject.
