Festivals, parties, birthdays, nights out clubbing, gigs, meals out, dinner at a friend’s, they might all have one thing in common – alcohol. Studies have found that an unusually high number of alcoholics also have epilepsy. You should never stop taking your prescribed ASM without talking to your specialist first as this could cause more seizures or more severe seizures. 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. Health Union reaches millions of people through condition-specific online health communities and a Social Health Network of patient leaders across virtually all health conditions. Both impact your awareness, reflexes, and other physical functions.

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Some cannabis-based products are available to buy over the internet, without a prescription. 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. Moreover, family therapy offers loved ones an opportunity to learn healthy boundaries, cope with the emotional toll of a family member’s addiction and strengthen their own resiliency.

• That can trigger a seizure – usually within 6-48 hours after stopping drinking.
• Alcohol-related seizures in those with epilepsy mostly occur due to alcohol withdrawal rather than the act of drinking itself.
• It is also possible to experience seizures as a result of alcohol withdrawal.
• This can make seizures more likely, particularly in heavy drinkers or those with a seizure history.
• Alcohol use can also trigger seizures in people with epilepsy if withdrawal symptoms begin to occur.

Recreational drugs and epilepsy

If you’re taking ‘clobazam’ daily, or require buccal midazolam or diazepam regularly, you should avoid alcohol. These medicines and alcohol make a dangerous mix and can suppress the breathing centre in the brain potentially slowing your breathing down to dangerous levels – especially during sleep. Chat to your epilepsy team and read the information supplied with your meds to see what rules apply to taking them and having a drink. People who drink a lot of alcohol for an extended period can develop permanent changes in their brains, and removing alcohol can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Seizures, and a severe condition called delirium tremens, are possible complications of alcohol withdrawal. That being said, there is evidence that alcoholism could cause long term epilepsy too.

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Nearly all of the seizures occurred within 12 hours after they stopped drinking. Furthermore, seizures seemed particularly likely if the participants did not regularly drink that much alcohol. People with a history of alcohol misuse seem to have a greater risk of developing sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) than people with epilepsy with no history.

The risk in people with epilepsy is roughly 1 in 1,000 people per year. Eating isn’t just so you have something to absorb the alcohol, it’s also a way to maintain stable blood sugar and reduce the risk of seizures. Firstly, if you’re on medication for epilepsy, such as anticonvulsants, alcohol might interfere with how these drugs work. Well, there’s a chance it could either lessen the effectiveness of your meds or increase their side effects.

For most adults, this means having more than five drinks in a couple of hours. Sticking to one drink per hour can prevent overwhelming your system. While one person’s system might tolerate a certain level of alcohol, another’s might not. It’s about being responsible while still enjoying life in a way that keeps it safe and seizure-free. When you have a drink, alcohol travels through your bloodstream and makes its way to your brain, impacting neurotransmitters.

Its effects can depend on various factors like the type of medication you take, the frequency of your seizures, and your overall health condition. Heavy, long-term alcohol use and withdrawal from alcohol can lead to seizures. Alcohol can also trigger seizures if you have epilepsy and often interacts poorly with anti-seizure medications. If you take an ASM, speak with your doctor about the risks of drinking alcohol. They can advise you on what is safe for you and if there could be interactions. If you have epilepsy you may have heard about risks related to alcohol and seizures.

Alcohol Withdrawal and Seizures

• 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.
• Alcohol enhances GABA’s inhibitory effects, which can lead to temporary sedation and decreased neuronal excitability.
• Signs include needing to drink more to feel the same effects, experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and continuing to drink despite negative consequences.
• When a person consumes alcohol regularly, their brain and body become accustomed to its presence.

Alcohol-related seizures in those with can you drink alcohol if you have seizures epilepsy mostly occur due to alcohol withdrawal rather than the act of drinking itself. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it promotes water loss by increasing urine output. Dehydration is a common seizure trigger for people with epilepsy.

By helping families understand the nature of addiction and its impact, therapy sessions create a supportive atmosphere that can reinforce the individual’s commitment to sobriety.

CBT focuses on recognizing triggers (e.g., stress, social pressures) and developing healthier coping strategies to avoid relapse. By learning to challenge negative thought patterns and replace them with constructive alternatives, people build the resilience needed to maintain sobriety. Alcohol withdrawal seizures can occur within a few hours or up to 72 hours after stopping drinking. It is also possible to experience seizures as a result of alcohol withdrawal. This can happen after someone who has misused alcohol for a long time stops consuming it.

Alcohol and Epilepsy: A Potential Seizure Trigger

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 does not imply any endorsement by Epilepsy Society. People who drink in moderation are not likely to experience seizures. Prolonged drinking can lead to compensatory changes in your brain, such as the down-regulation of GABA receptors and increased expression of NMDA receptors.

To simplify, alcohol relaxes your brain, which makes seizures less likely. But when people who drink a lot suddenly stop, their brain suddenly becomes much more active. That can trigger a seizure – usually within 6-48 hours after stopping drinking. In one small study from 2018, people with epilepsy who reported seizures after drinking had consumed seven or more standard-sized drinks before their seizures occurred.