10 Common Seizure Triggers and 9 Tips To Avoid Them
Before a seizure, people may experience an aura or feel a change in sensation — such as smell, taste, sound, or vision — due to abnormal activity in the brain. A person with epilepsy should speak with their doctor to determine how much alcohol, if any, is safe to consume with their condition. Before taking your medications, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor or your pharmacist to see if it’s safe to mix with alcohol. It’s important to always talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume alcohol with your medication. Consuming alcohol in large quantities for extended periods seems to increase seizure frequency and might increase your risk of SUDEP. The leaflet that comes with your medications can advise you on whether it’s safe to mix your medication with alcohol.
In other words, they may experience more rapid intoxication compared to people who aren’t taking these medications. Additionally, alcohol and antiepileptic drugs cause many of the same side effects, and the combination can make these side effects worse. Alcohol-related seizures can happen when people are acutely intoxicated.
Delirium tremens is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal and affects about 2% of people with alcohol use disorder. If your doctor agrees that you can drink alcohol, ask how much you can safely drink and how often. If you choose to drink, always drink in moderation and only occasionally. It’s best to have an alcoholic drink with a meal and not on an empty stomach. You should avoid drinking alcohol when you are taking seizure medications for epilepsy until you’ve discussed this with your doctor. Some medications, such as benzodiazepines and phenobarbital, have warnings against any alcohol use.
Healthcare providers can use medications such as benzodiazepines (lorazepam, diazepam) to lower the risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures and treat them if they occur. Delirium tremens (DTs), also called alcohol withdrawal delirium (AWD), is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal. It occurs in 5-10% of alcohol-dependent people and is a medical emergency. Signs and symptoms of DTs include disorientation, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, high blood pressure, and fast heart rate.
Alcohol Withdrawal (Delirium Tremens)
Seek help at a professional addiction treatment facility if you have problems controlling your drinking. Signs and symptoms of an alcohol use disorder include a preoccupation with alcohol consumption and continuing to drink despite the negative effects of alcohol. In people with epilepsy, drinking three or more drinks may increase the risk of seizures. Alcohol may negatively affect sleep, and sleep disruptions may trigger seizures. For people with epilepsy, alcohol may interact with epilepsy medications and worsen their side effects or make the medications less effective in preventing seizures.
- It is important to identify what provokes your seizures and to learn how you can avoid those triggers.
- This is when you drink a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time or drink continually for many hours.
- 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.
- Alcohol use with your epilepsy medicines might provoke seizures if you misuse other substances, like marijuana or illicit drugs.
- Sometimes, high-contrast geometric patterns can also trigger these types of seizures.
Tips on Taking Epilepsy Medications for Kids and Adults
The sudden change in brain chemistry results in overactivity in the brain, which is what causes the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal that are a result of this brain activity include tremors, muscle rigidity, seizures, and delirium tremens. Binge drinking can trigger alcohol withdrawal seizures 6-72 hours after drinking stops. Some AEDs have side effects that include lowering tolerance for alcohol. This means a person will become intoxicated faster than they used to before they were on the medication.
It could be that most of these products may be illegal in the UK, even those called CBD oils. It’s possible that they may contain THC, and may not be safe to use. The tonic phase is followed by the clonic phase in which the arms and legs jerk rhythmically and rapidly. This typically involves bending and straightening of the major joints (elbows, hips, and knees). The person’s face may turn bluish if they have trouble breathing during a prolonged seizure.
The choice about whether to drink alcohol as someone with epilepsy goes beyond, “Does alcohol cause epileptic seizures? ” You need to consider more factors than just the alcohol itself — especially your medications. Be sure to ask your doctor about the effects of alcohol on any medications you might be taking. The effect of alcohol on people with epilepsy will vary from person to person, even on the same medication.
Avoid Caffeine, Nicotine, and Other Substances
Discuss these possible drug interactions with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the combined use of alcohol and your epilepsy medication. Alcohol use with your epilepsy medicines might provoke seizures if you misuse other substances, like marijuana or illicit drugs. Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Any of us could potentially have a single epileptic seizure at some point in our lives. This is not the same as having epilepsy, which is a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain. If you experience an alcohol-related seizure, seek immediate medical attention.
Treatment for Alcohol Seizures
Answers are not, and should not be assumed to be, direct medical advice and is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctors. Epilepsy Society and any third party cannot be held responsible for any actions taken as a result of using this service. Any references made to other organisations can you drink alcohol if you have seizures does not imply any endorsement by Epilepsy Society.
