Alcohol-Induced Seizures: Can Drinking Cause Seizures?

ED visits related to alcohol withdrawal have increased across the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Published guidelines for alcohol withdrawal are largely limited to the primary care and outpatient settings, and do not provide specific guidance for ED use. The purpose of this review was to synthesize published evidence on the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in the ED. Magnesium is also known to reduce the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. A select few treatment centers use megadoses of magnesium, along with other nutrients like vitamin C, to detoxify the body and reduce the likelihood of alcohol withdrawal seizures.

• Addiction treatment often involves cognitive behavioral therapy , family therapy, group and individual therapies, and therapies to address co-occurring mental health issues.
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• Calculations must be re-checked and should not be used alone to guide patient care, nor should they substitute for clinical judgment.

Many people with epilepsy are at a high risk of seizures after drinking three or more alcoholic beverages. Antipsychotics, such as haloperidol, are sometimes used in addition to benzodiazepines to control agitation or psychosis. Antipsychotics may potentially worsen alcohol withdrawal as they lower the seizure alcohol withdrawal seizure threshold. Clozapine, olanzapine, or low-potency phenothiazines are particularly risky; if used, extreme caution is required. The tonic-clonic seizure is what most people think of when they hear the word “seizure.” This type of seizure used to be known as “grand mal” but that term is no longer used.

alcohol continuation to prevent withdrawal

Diazepam is a useful antianxietal in women undergoing fetal therapy procedures. Flumazenil is indicated for complete or partial reversal of the sedative effects or treatment of a benzodiazepine overdose. When you have a seizure due to alcohol, you are more likely to develop DTs. If it happens, it often starts about 3 to 5 days after your last drink.

Dependence is a chemical response to the consistent presence of alcohol in your brain and body. Abnormally low blood sugar levels can lead to seizures, and this drop normally occurs at the same time as a hangover, causing people to connect the hangover with the seizure. Those on blood sugar medications are most at risk for this complication.

Risks Associated With Alcohol-Related Seizures

The second phase involves rapid tightening and relaxing of the muscles, which involve convulsions that can lead to serious injuries. However, alcohol, along with other depressants, is among the most dangerous substances during the withdrawal phase, especially if you quit cold turkey. The overstimulating effects of alcohol withdrawal can lead to increased blood pressure, heart palpitations, sleeplessness, fever, hallucinations, panic, and seizures.

There is no recognized treatment to slow or prevent this kindling process. In animals, benzodiazepines have yielded variable effects, in some cases slowing withdrawal-induced kindling, and in other cases, causing paradoxical worsening . Whether other agents used in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal have antiepileptogenic potential remains to be determined. In line with results from animal studies, there is little evidence that carbamazepine prevents alcohol withdrawal seizures and delirium in humans, although it may be useful to treat alcohol craving .