Urinary ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate have been reported to have high sensitivity and specificity for recent drinking (11; 70). Ultimately, regular medical check-ups serve as a preventive strategy for maintaining quality of life and prolonging independence, particularly for those navigating the challenges of alcohol recovery. This proactive approach enhances overall health and helps in the early identification of factors that could lead to alcohol-induced seizures. These visits also facilitate a comprehensive review of the patient’s lifestyle, dietary habits, and stress levels, all of which can influence seizure risk.
Impact on your health
Alcohol and some antiseizure medications can have similar side effects, and taking them together can cause potentially dangerous complications. 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. If you think you may be struggling with alcoholism or have experienced an alcohol-induced seizure, it may be time to seek professional help. For many, choosing to take that first step to seeking treatment can be scary, but you’re not alone. In the short term, a head injury can cause confusion and disorientation.
Epileptic lesions due to malformation of cortical development
This dependency means that their brains crave the drug, causing them to experience withdrawal when they do not drink. Doctors have not yet established a safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, so the best strategy for preventing fetal alcohol syndrome is to abstain altogether from alcohol at this time. If a pregnant woman cannot abstain, she should aim to reduce her alcohol consumption as much as possible. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption can damage both the brain and liver, causing lasting damage. Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. This is of particular concern when you’re taking certain medications that also depress the brain’s function.
Alcohol misuse and epilepsy
- With multiple treatment centers throughout the United States, American Addiction Centers offers everything from detox and inpatient treatment to outpatient treatment and aftercare.
- There has been a general concern that phenobarbital may have an increased risk of sedation prompting invasive mechanical ventilation (49).
- According to NIDA, 50% of patients who remain in rehab for at least three months stay clean for at least two years.
Doctors often warn people who have epilepsy to avoid alcohol or to only drink in moderation. Although alcohol can cause significant brain damage, an emerging body of research suggests that modest alcohol consumption alcohol withdrawal seizure may be beneficial for the brain. Without treatment, DT can be fatal in more than one-third of people whom it affects.
Can a person die from an alcohol-related seizure?
The overdose effects of Phencyclidine (PCP) include seizures, coma, and even death. An overdose occurs if more than 20 milligrams of PCP is ingested at once, which leads to serious outcomes. Chronic Phencyclidine (PCP) addiction leads to (permanent) brain damage, with cognitive impairments such as memory loss and amnesia being common.
People should talk to a doctor about medical detox, which may prevent serious issues, such as delirium tremens. Some people find that inpatient rehab or support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, are helpful. Chronic exposure to alcohol leads to upregulation of NMDA receptor function, increasing NR1, NR2A, and NR2B subunits in hippocampus, cortex, and cerebellum in mice (73). The signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome are thought to reflect this upregulation (14; 23).
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management
This is the most severe manifestation of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and progresses 48 to 72 hours after consumption cessation, lasting up to 14 days, with a mortality of 1% (44; 27). Approximately 2–5% of those who misuse alcohol will experience alcohol withdrawal seizures. However, you do not have to experience alcohol dependency to have withdrawal seizures.
- Alcohol withdrawal has been found to be the most common cause of acute symptomatic seizures (74.1%) in one study (52).
- Healthcare providers can use medications such as benzodiazepines (lorazepam, diazepam) to lower the risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures and treat them if they occur.
- This may be accompanied by a groan or cry as air is forced through the vocal cords.
- As the seizure ends, the person may lose bowel or bladder control due to relaxation of the body.
Strategies for Preventing Alcohol-Induced Seizures
Symptom-triggered treatment has been reported to be as effective as fixed-dose or loading therapy, resulting in lower doses and shorter treatment time (58). Yet, treatment strategies and doses vary from center to center and consensus is lacking (46). The first consideration in a patient with possible alcohol withdrawal seizures is the exclusion of life-threatening causes of seizures, as described in the differential diagnoses above (42). At the same time, a history of chronic alcohol abuse must be sought and the patient should be classified as having one of the categories of alcohol-related seizures (42).