“My mate got really drunk a few weeks ago and had a seizure. He’d never had one before and it was really scary. He’s now being tested for epilepsy and other things but can drinking too much cause a seizure?”
The link between alcohol and seizures is complex. Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of experiencing a seizure, especially if you drink too much, too quickly. Drinking in this way can affect the nervous system and trigger these events. This is not the norm, however, and is more likely to occur if you have a history of epilepsy.
A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain that can temporarily affect your consciousness, muscle control and behaviour. Not all seizures are the same but the most recognisable symptoms are a temporary loss of consciousness and uncontrollable movements (convulsions). Most seizures last for less than 2 or 3 minutes and will stop on their own, without any treatment.
Although there may be several reasons why drinking too much has this effect, alcohol poisoning is believed to be one of most likely causes. Poisoning occurs when someone drinks faster than their liver can metabolise it, causing the amount of alcohol in the blood to rise, sometimes to a danger point. This can lead to an overdose situation. At very high blood alcohol levels, a person may suffer a seizure, lose consciousness and slip into a coma.
Alcohol poisoning can severely reduce your blood sugar levels, leading to hypoglycemia. This condition is one of the known triggers for seizures and, although this is more likely to occur in those who use medicine to keep their blood sugar levels in a normal range, it can happen to anyone suffering an alcohol overdose. Alcohol poisoning can also lead to slow or absent breathing, reducing the amount of oxygen in the brain, a condition called hypoxia. This can lead to temporary and lasting brain damage and increase the likelihood of seizures.
Alcohol withdrawal seizures are the most common types of seizures associated with drinking alcohol. These occur when someone abruptly stops or significantly reduces their alcohol use after a history of prolonged and heavy drinking.
Although a seizure is unlikely to be fatal it can result in serious injury as the person may fall and hurt themselves. If someone you’re with is having a seizure, do your best to clear the area around them and put something soft under their head. Most importantly, stay with them until the seizure has finished. Take note of how long it lasts and call an ambulance if it continues for more than 5 minutes, if the person is unresponsive for more than 5 minutes afterwards, or a second seizure quickly follows the first. Of course, if you’re unsure or are frightened in any way, don’t hesitate to call 000.
Please note that the advice provided is for information purposes only. As such, it cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional.
First published: November 2024
