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While over 62% of Oregon adults admit to regularly drinking alcohol, only 1% of Oregon citizens have active epilepsy. How are these two statistics related? Well, in certain situations, alcohol can lead to seizures. While these situations usually only arise in extreme situations, that doesn’t mean it isn’t something that people should be aware of.
At Serenity Lane, we believe in the importance of not only education regarding substance use, but also lowering the stigma around it. People being well-informed is a key part of acceptance. Many times judgment stems from a lack of understanding. So let’s dive more into alcohol and its connection to seizures.
For those who take medication for seizures or epilepsy, it’s important to know that alcohol can interact with the way your medication works. You should reach out to your doctor or pharmacist if you don’t know if you can drink on your current medication. Regardless of the answer, if you do drink while on your medication it’s important to keep taking it like normal in order not to increase your chances of having a seizure.
Alcohol in small amounts does not lead to seizures. The correlation between alcohol and seizures comes primarily from overdoses or withdrawals.
In most cases, small amounts of alcohol will not impact the medication in your system. However, some people on epilepsy medication say that they feel drunk faster due to their medication.
If you’re already managing a seizure-related disorder, the best thing you can do to help yourself is to avoid binge drinking. Even having more than 3 drinks has been shown to lead to a high risk of seizures in those who have epilepsy.
Seizures in relation to alcohol consumption stem primarily from overdoses or withdrawals. For those who regularly consume alcohol, the body can become used to having it in its system, leading to withdrawal when you go without it. During the first 72 hours of withdrawal, you’re at risk of experiencing seizures.
Long-term alcohol use can lead to an increased risk of a person developing epilepsy. Studies show that the risk of developing epilepsy is higher in those who regularly drink 4-8 drinks daily compared to those who don’t.
Those who binge drink or are going through alcohol withdrawal are also at potential risk for status epilepticus. Status epilepticus is when you have a seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes or you have multiple seizures in a row without having time to recover between them.
If you or a loved one is going through alcohol withdrawals, be aware of the dangers of some of the symptoms that can occur within the first 72 hours, such as seizures. If you start experiencing seizures that last longer than 5 minutes or have multiple in a row, contact medical help immediately.
Binge drinking can increase the risk of alcohol-related seizures, especially for those who already have epilepsy. After only 3 drinks, those who are already managing a seizure disorder are at increased risk of experiencing a seizure.
Seizures related to alcohol use don’t come from the drinking itself but rather the withdrawal or potential for overdose. For those on medicine for epilepsy, many have reported feeling the effects faster, which can lead to a higher potential of overdose.
The definition of binge drinking varies depending on your sex. Men typically have a higher production of an enzyme known as dehydrogenase which can help break down alcohol. This is why the number of drinks measured to define binge drinking, on average, is measured higher for men than women. Binge drinking consists of 5 or more drinks in one sitting for men and 4 or more drinks for women. One drink is either 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine, or 1.5 oz of other spirits like tequila or vodka.
With long-term alcohol use, the body becomes accustomed to the substance being inside of your system. This means if you stop drinking alcohol, you will experience withdrawal. Within the first 24-48 hours, you’re at risk for seizures amongst a myriad of other symptoms. Some of these symptoms include:
During withdrawal and detox, the majority of the symptoms peak within the first 72 hours following your last drink. Some of these symptoms can be dangerous so if you’re planning to detox from alcohol, it’s best to seek medical help at places like Serenity Lane. We have trained and licensed staff who know how to help you safely go through detox.
Alcohol is a depressant. It primarily affects the central nervous system. Despite this, more than just your nervous system can become altered by alcohol use. The longer someone participates in consistent alcohol consumption, the higher the chance of other parts of their body being impacted. This includes places like your liver, brain, and heart. While some of the results of alcohol use disorder can heal over time, certain things like organ damage can take much longer to heal.
Here are just a few of the things that can develop because of long-term alcohol use:
When it comes to recovering from alcohol use, Serenity Lane is here to help. This process will vary depending on the needs of the individual patient, but our professional, licensed staff is here and ready to help you along the way.
Detoxing from alcohol can start as soon as 6 hours after the last drink is consumed. This process can come with some annoying and even dangerous symptoms. Going through detox with medical staff helping you along the way can help lessen and even negate some symptoms, while also ensuring your health and well-being along the way.
After detox, clients will discuss with their medical team to determine what the best course of action will be for their continued journey to recovery: inpatient treatment, or outpatient.
Inpatient treatment is when a client stays at the facility 24/7. This allows them access to medical staff at any point during their visit while being in an environment of safety and healing. Being around others who are going through a similar journey can be an important piece to recovery. There are both individual and group therapy sessions throughout a client’s stay, as well as other activities and skill-building sessions. While relearning behaviors, adding in new hobbies can help the brain focus on other things besides the old desires.
Outpatient treatment can offer many of the same benefits as inpatient, without the patient staying on-site 24/7. This works especially well for those who may still need to work or be with family during their recovery.
Here at Serenity Lane, we strive to offer our clients options when it comes to recovery. We know not everyone heals the same way, which is why we offer both 12-step programs and other alternatives to find the path that works best for you. We also believe strongly in treating the whole person, not just the problem, which is why we offer dual diagnosis treatments as well for those dealing with both a substance use disorder and mental health as well.
If you or a loved one is looking to start the recovery journey from alcohol use disorder, or you have any questions at all, feel free to give us a call today at 800-543-9905. We want to help you reach your recovery goals.
Can you die from an alcohol-induced seizure?
Seizures are not always fatal, however, some alcohol-induced seizures can lead to status epilepticus, which is when you have multiple seizures in a row or a single seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes. This is a serious medical concern that requires medical attention.
What is an alcohol withdrawal seizure?
Due to the way alcohol interacts with your body and central nervous system, if your body becomes used to having alcohol in it on a regular basis, going without it can cause withdrawals. As the body is processing these sudden changes in the body and brain, this can lead to a shock to the system which can cause seizures.
What to do if someone has a seizure from alcohol withdrawal?
If you notice someone is suffering from a seizure, it’s best to help make sure they don’t hurt themselves. Don’t try to restrain them, though. Time the seizure to make sure it doesn’t last more than 5 minutes and call for medical assistance.
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