Alcohol Seizures: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention


Therefore, even seemingly non-threatening alcohol withdrawal marijuana addiction symptoms require medical attention. Contact our team at Alcohol Awareness to learn more about safe, effective treatment options for alcohol withdrawal. Regular alcohol consumption may begin as a way to bolster confidence in social settings or unwind after work or on weekends.

What Happens During Alcohol Withdrawal: Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Stages, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment

Alcohol may also affect anti-seizure medications, which could trigger seizures. Alcohol acts by stimulating receptors in your brain that cause brain activity to be suppressed. Alcohol itself does not normally cause seizures, but during withdrawal, when the suppressive activity of alcohol is removed, your brain will be more susceptible to seizures than it normally would. There are some specific considerations that may affect your risk of seizures when using alcohol. After a long history of alcohol abuse, the brain pathways have become altered. When this has what causes alcohol withdrawal seizures taken place after your last drink , and then you suspend drinking to enter recovery, the body will react.

what causes alcohol withdrawal seizures

Comprehensive Treatment Strategies for Alcohol Seizures

  • Our alcohol addiction treatment center in southern California is safe and supportive place where you can receive a full continuum of customized care from a team of highly skilled professionals.
  • Our dedicated and caring staff always offers extra support and motivation.
  • It’s when someone attempts detoxification for alcohol that they’re at the most risk of seizures.
  • You may also experience physical manifestations of agitation, including an increased heart rate, excessive sweating, and heart palpitations.

Alcohol-related seizures pose significant complications, particularly due to the effects of alcohol on brain chemistry and withdrawal processes. Be aware of withdrawal symptoms like tremors and anxiety, which may precede these seizures. Post-seizure symptoms can include grogginess, confusion, and memory loss, signaling the need for immediate medical attention.

What Happens When You Stop Drinking?

You may avoid potentially better available treatments with no real advantage, even if the cold turkey approach still works for you. The serious discomfort combined with little support greatly increases the odds of giving up or relapsing. However, treatment is effective in improving the survival rate for this condition.

How Are Seizures Managed During Medically-Supervised Withdrawal?

For women, heavy drinking means four or more drinks on any day or eight or more drinks per week. When you or a loved one are ready to embark on the path to recovery, our Recovery Advocates are here, ready to assist. Reach out to learn more about our tailored treatment programs, designed to cater to your specific needs and situation.

  • This significant disruption to our brain activity can trigger seizures for those who may have epilepsy and even for those who don’t.
  • About half of all people with alcohol withdrawal will have two to four seizures within the six hours that follow the first.
  • The most effective way to avoid DTs is to seek medical monitoring and treatment before withdrawal sets in.

Therapy Services

Understanding how alcoholism can lead to seizures is crucial for recognizing risks, seeking timely medical intervention, and promoting recovery. It’s rare for people going through alcohol withdrawal to experience hallucinations more than 48 hours after their last drink. When the neurotransmitters are no longer suppressed, but are used to working harder to overcome the suppression, they go into a state of overexcitement. If you suddenly stop drinking or significantly reduce the amount of alcohol you https://mesonocruce.com/diseases-that-cause-alcohol-intolerance-insights/ drink, it can cause alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is when someone has terrible effects after they stop drinking alcohol.

Habits for Proper Mental Health

Not everyone who quits drinking will have a seizure, but having certain risk factors can significantly increase the odds. Those with a high level of chronic heavy alcohol use (particularly those who have had prior withdrawal in the past). 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. In people with epilepsy, drinking three or more drinks may increase the risk of seizures.

Methadone Addiction and Rehab in South Jersey

Understandably, it is important to know how alcohol seizures are related to withdrawal symptoms for one who is trying to cease drinking or has someone in mind who does. This knowledge will enable one to identify when he/she sees the symptoms early enough and seek medical help if needed. Inpatient medical detox programs offer a tranquil environment with medical support and attention throughout the withdrawal process. Psychological symptoms and cravings are also addressed with proper guidance and support. Northridge Addiction Treatment Center provides onsite medical detox with 24-hour care. Drinking heavily for a long time can lead to more severe withdrawal symptoms.

what causes alcohol withdrawal seizures

If people withdraw from alcohol after heavy use, it is important to do so with medical supervision. For people with epilepsy, alcohol may interfere with anti-seizure medications and increase the risk of seizures. People with alcohol withdrawal seizures may also experience tremors, hallucinations, muscle spasms, and a rapid heart rate.

While in withdrawal, if a person experiences multiple seizures, status epilepticus may occur. Seizures during status epilepticus will last more than five minutes, or be so close together that there is no recovery period between seizures, and can cause brain damage. A focal seizure, sometimes referred to as a partial seizure, occurs in just one area of the brain. Common causes are localized scar tissue (sometimes caused by meningitis or a stroke), low blood sugar, brain tumors, epilepsy, and alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal and the complications that can come from it can be incredibly dangerous.


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