You may think you know what to expect, but the truth is, there is no clear-cut way of predicting exactly how you will feel and what symptoms you will experience while your body adjusts to not having its usual alcohol supply. Medical professionals often recommend that people with epilepsy avoid or consume a moderate amount of alcohol. If you do drink, avoid binge drinking or chronically high consumption, which may help reduce your seizure severity or frequency. The amount of alcohol intake before alcohol-related seizures was at least 7 standard drinks, or the equivalent of 1.4 liters of beer or 700 milliliters of wine. In almost all cases, seizures occurred within 12 seizures from alcohol withdrawal hours of stopping alcohol consumption.
Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures Explained
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a clinical diagnosis that relies heavily on the history and physical, which is also used to gauge disease severity. This abrupt change in our brain chemistry can also lead to seizures, as our brain recalibrates to functioning without alcohol’s depressant effects. Research shows that about 5% of those who experience alcohol withdrawal experience seizures, and more than 90% of those seizures occur within the first 48 hours after stopping drinking. Quitting or cutting back on alcohol is undoubtedly good for our health, but stopping abruptly after a period of heavy drinking can throw off the chemical balance in our brain, potentially triggering alcohol withdrawal seizures. Let’s jump into everything we need to know about this dangerous and often overlooked effect of alcohol withdrawal to stay healthy and safe.
Medical Supervision
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol is the most commonly used substance in the United States, with over 75% of individuals aged 12 and older reporting lifetime consumption. Alcohol consumption spans a spectrum from low-risk to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol withdrawal syndrome poses a significant clinical challenge arising from the spectrum of AUD—a prevalent condition affecting a substantial portion of the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ United States population. The syndrome typically presents as mild anxiety and gastrointestinal discomfort and can progress to severe manifestations, such as alcohol withdrawal delirium, which poses significant diagnostic and management challenges. The patient should be checked for other signs of alcohol withdrawal such as tachycardia, tachypnea, mydriasis, elevated blood pressure, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, and tremor, among others (27).
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Alpha2-adrenergic agonists like clonidine and dexmedetomidine should not be used alone to prevent alcohol withdrawal seizures or delirium as they “do not treat the underlying pathophysiology” (79). Data on dexmedetomidine use are limited in alcohol withdrawal syndrome, and conflicting results require further investigation with randomized controlled trials. A Cochrane review of studies using baclofen for acute withdrawal syndrome found very low-quality evidence and no greater efficacy when compared to placebo, diazepam, and chlordiazepoxide (38).
Recognizing these symptoms is vital, as alcohol seizures can lead to further complications and require immediate medical intervention. Treatment may involve medications such as benzodiazepines to manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent alcoholism symptoms future seizures. Certain metabolic disturbances caused by alcohol overdose, such as significantly low blood sugar, can also lead to seizures. Individuals with a history of epilepsy are at increased risk of seizures during alcohol withdrawal.
- If you’ve developed alcohol use disorder in addition to alcohol dependence, detox may not be enough to address your alcohol problem.
- On average, we found that patients received a total of 16 units of alcohol during their treatment.
- The alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a spectrum and ranges from anxiety and mild tremors to potentially life-threatening delirium tremens characterized by autonomic hyperactivity, tachypnea, hyperthermia, and diaphoresis.
- Originally prescribed for epileptic seizures, topiramate may also help people who are alcohol-dependent to abstain from consuming alcohol.
- But for some patients, they aren’t always effective, leaving them at risk of severe withdrawal complications.
However, they may cause people to fall and sustain potentially serious injuries, such as head injuries. Alcohol seizures may share symptoms with seizures that are not linked to alcohol. A person with epilepsy should speak with their doctor to determine how much alcohol, if any, is safe to consume with their condition. Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. At Discover Recovery, we work with a wide variety of health insurance providers so those in need can get access to the treatment they need. That means you (or your loved one) won’t have to worry about covering the cost of treatment.
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