Alcohol and Seizures

Symptoms of Seizures from Alcohol

Although all seizures from alcohol are different, there are some basic signs to look out for. Some common alcohol-induced seizure symptoms include:

A person who’s experiencing a seizure of any kind may have blue lips due to abnormal breathing. They may also feel confused or sleepy afterward. There is a clear relationship between alcohol and seizures, and those who drink heavily for long periods are at a higher risk. Moreover, people with epilepsy should avoid drinking, as alcoholism may also aggravate their condition.

Alcoholic Seizure Causes

Alcohol mainly causes seizures when a person has completely stopped drinking or greatly reduced their alcohol intake because the body has trouble adjusting. Alcohol, especially in large amounts, greatly impacts your central nervous system, increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling to reduce nerve activity while increasing excitatory signaling through chemicals like glutamate.

This means that in heavy or chronic drinkers, the body compensates for the sedative effects of alcohol by working hard to keep the brain in a more awake state and increasing nerve activity. When an alcoholic suddenly stops drinking or dramatically reduces their intake of alcohol, the brain remains in an excitatory state, which leads to withdrawal and symptoms like seizures.

Seizures caused by alcohol also occur due to an imbalance of nerve-signaling brain chemicals. As with many other drugs of abuse, individuals who fail to receive inpatient drug treatment for their alcoholism may eventually suffer from changes in chemical brain structure. Not only can changes in levels of chemicals like dopamine contribute to addiction, but they can also lead to seizures.

Can Alcohol Withdrawal Cause Seizures?

What to do if Someone Has an Alcoholic Seizure?

If someone has a seizure from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, you should move things out of the way that they could accidentally hurt themselves during the seizure. You should not try to touch them or hold them during the seizure. You should also call 911 and get emergency medical help as soon as possible, even if the seizure has stopped. After the seizure, you should position them on their side and ensure that their airway is clear while waiting for emergency assistance.

Different Types of Seizures

Focal seizures and their symptoms can be misdiagnosed as different medical problems such as narcolepsy, migraine, or mental illness.

Generalized Seizures

Sometimes, the seizure experienced involves all areas of the brain. These are called generalized seizures and there are a few different kinds of them. Here is what is experienced with each one:

• Absence Seizures: Blankly staring into space while performing subtle movements like lip-smacking. Most common in children
• Atonic Seizures: Sudden loss of muscle control, often results in falling to the ground
• Clonic Seizures: Commonly results in rhythmic and jerking movements of muscles
• Myoclonic Seizures: Sudden twitching and jerking of the legs and arms
• Tonic Seizures: Sudden stiffening of muscles, especially in the back, arms, and legs
• Tonic-Clonic Seizures: Otherwise known as grand mal seizures, these are the most abrupt and dramatic types of seizures. Body stiffening or shaking, falling to the ground, and loss of consciousness are all to be expected here.

While some people have specific triggers, for most people, there’s no known cause for these seizures. However, we do know of some things that can lead to this experience.

Inpatient Treatment for Alcoholism

Inpatient drug rehab is a type of addiction treatment where patients reside at a rehabilitation facility 24/7 while receiving supervised and highly structured care for their drug abuse.

Once a person enters inpatient drug or alcohol rehabilitation, they become a full-time resident of their chosen program.  They receive targeted care and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  They may live alone in an assigned room or board with a roommate, eat meals at their facility, and go to structured one-on-one or group therapy sessions several times per day.

For many, one crucial benefit of inpatient treatment is that it separates clients from the substance completely. They are also removed from the environment in which they were used. This will allow clients to better focus on their recovery, all under the trained guidance and supportive care of a professional addiction treatment team.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), addiction is a multifaceted disease. Effective treatment for substance use disorders should adhere to several principles.  Some of these include:

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