Alcohol can cause seizures when a person is going through alcohol withdrawal. Seizures can also occur as a result of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (SAW), which is the name of symptoms that occur when heavy drinkers or alcoholics stop using alcohol or significantly reduce it.
Drinking alcohol
in small amounts usually does not trigger seizures, but seizures may result from alcohol withdrawal. Although many people consider alcohol to be a “safe drug,” it can cause seizures. What counts here is not the consumption of alcohol, per se, but the amount of alcohol consumed.It is important to know that alcohol affects the brain and acts as a central nervous system depressant. Most studies show that alcohol-related seizures often occur when a chronic drinker abruptly stops using alcohol. This may be a symptom of withdrawal from alcohol dependence. Not everyone who goes through alcohol withdrawal will have seizures, but there is a risk.
This is why it's important to detox at an approved alcohol rehabilitation center, such as Landmark Recovery. Despite being a legal drug in most parts of the world, alcohol has some of the most serious withdrawal symptoms. Seizures can occur in any drinker, but the most common type of alcohol seizures is related to withdrawal, specifically when the person has drunk a lot for several years. Knowing the different types of seizures that result from alcohol use is vital if you or your loved one is about to go through withdrawal. Anyone who drinks a lot and who also has epilepsy is at even greater risk of seizures, and should abstain or reduce their consumption of alcohol as soon as possible. Cleveland Clinic warns that people with epilepsy have much lower thresholds when it comes to alcohol tolerance and that these people are more likely to experience seizures as part of alcohol withdrawal.
In conclusion, this study provides no evidence of any association between alcohol consumption and a symptomatic first seizure, whether acute or remote, and provides some clues to better explain the relationship between alcohol and seizures. Much research has been done on the effects of alcohol on the brain, and scientists continue to bring new insights to help us better understand alcohol abuse and addiction. In general, alcohol-related seizures are experienced during the period when the person experiences alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol rehab centers offer a wide range of medical and psychological treatments, and will ensure safe detoxification before addressing underlying causes. Although the relationship between seizures and alcohol consumption is likely to be dose-dependent and causal, available clinical data do not suggest that alcohol consumption leads to the genesis of seizures.
Research shows that people who drink alcohol as a way to cope with stressors and problems in their lives are more likely to abuse alcohol. A high and rapid dose of alcohol (a drunken session) or the cessation of a prolonged period of excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to a shock in this system and lead to an alcohol attack. The liver cannot process this amount of alcohol quickly enough, and alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. However, a person who is having an alcohol withdrawal seizure may not need any triggers other than to stop using alcohol. Alcohol itself does not normally cause seizures, but during withdrawal, when alcohol suppressive activity is eliminated, the brain will be more susceptible to seizures than it would normally. Unfortunately, even when alcohol consumption is solely motivated by social factors, it can become excessive and turn into alcohol abuse.
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Happens in Best Families Describe how alcohol and drug addiction affects the whole family. In general, it's important for people who are at risk for developing an addiction to be aware of how their drinking habits can affect their health. It's also important for those who are already addicted to seek help from an accredited rehab center as soon as possible. With proper treatment and support from family members and friends, recovery from addiction is possible.
