Alcohol and Seizures?

[NurseDude1966]

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Hello, I'm a nursing student here. Ok so I have been doing some research on epilepsy for a presentation in class. On of the subtopics is seizures in relation to alcohol. I have been asking this question as well as trying to search this question and cannot get any solid answer. Every answer is different and everyone claims their answer is correct. The question is, is it possible for someone to have a seizure while drinking alcohol? I am NOT referring to withdrawal because everyone immediately states that even though I'm not asking that. I am talking about specifically during intoxication, whether its related to the toxic effects of the alcohol itself or another reason?

I've read mixed information. Some sources say that acute alcohol consumption can actually raise the seizure threshold and suppress seizures because it is a depressant that works on the same receptors as benzodiazepines, but then other sources say that alcohol can directly cause seizures if too much is consumed too quickly like during binge drinking and that its toxic effects can lower the seizure threshold.

What is the real answer?

 

[Thama]

Most alcohol related seizures are withdrawal and the overwhelming majority of the alcohol related seizure literature is focused on that. There are some sparse case reports of alcohol intoxication related seizures, though the mechanism in those is not well described. I've generally been taught in both med school and residency that both withdrawal and intoxication are possible causes of seizures by ER-trained toxicology specialists.

 

[NurseDude1966]

Most alcohol related seizures are withdrawal and the overwhelming majority of the alcohol related seizure literature is focused on that. There are some sparse case reports of alcohol intoxication related seizures, though the mechanism in those is not well described. I've generally been taught in both med school and residency that both withdrawal and intoxication are possible causes of seizures by ER-trained toxicology specialists.

Thank you! Yes, it was confusing because so many sources stated that they can happen during intoxication (whether it's from the direct effects of the alcohol or an underlying cause triggered by the alcohol). But then other sources stated that since alcohol is a sedative and works in the gaba receptors like benzos it will act as an anticonvulsant and suppress seizures.

 

[Algor]

I would consider alcohol-related seizure as a provoked seizure. Those people often also have significant metabolic abnormalities, such as hyponatremia.