In 2019, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that approximately 14.5 million Americans over 12 had an alcohol use disorder (AUD).1 While most people know the devastating effects alcohol can have on a person’s health, not everyone realizes the dangers of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal seizure is a life-threatening side effect of the withdrawal process.
What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
You may be surprised that alcohol is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S.2 Underage drinking, drunk driving crashes and other alcohol-related accidents, and health issues caused by alcohol abuse are responsible for nearly 88,000 deaths yearly.3
Along with these health dangers, people struggling with alcohol addiction may also experience the destruction of relationships and careers, financial ruin, and long-term damage to their mental and physical health.
Getting alcohol addiction treatment can end this destructive cycle, but it’s not as easy as some assume. Going through alcohol withdrawal is, at best, emotionally and physically painful. At its worst, the process can cause severe symptoms like alcohol withdrawal seizures.
When a person drinks regularly for an extended time, it changes their brain chemistry. Alcohol is a depressant. To balance the depressive qualities of alcohol, the brain produces more stimulating chemicals like gamma-aminobutyric acid and dopamine.2 This provides temporary balance and reinforces the pleasurable feelings associated with alcohol.
One or two drinks may have been enough to produce those feel-good chemicals in the past, but with continued drinking, the body builds a tolerance, and larger doses are required to produce the same results. More significant amounts of alcohol mean the brain must have more chemicals to create balance.
When a person stops drinking, it takes the brain some time to readjust. The brain continues to produce stimulating chemicals even though they are no longer needed, which causes withdrawal symptoms.
Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms can be mild to severe, depending on how long the person has been misusing alcohol and the amounts they consume. However, the severity of withdrawal symptoms does not always correlate with the person’s level of use.
Symptoms may include:
- Body aches, fever, and other flu-like symptoms
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Increased heart rate
- Nightmares
- Hallucinations
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens (DTs)
Because many factors related to alcohol withdrawal are unpredictable, detoxing alone is unsafe. Medically managed detox is the solution to these challenges. Clients receive medical care, including medications, to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms. If severe symptoms like withdrawal seizures should occur, having skilled medical staff available could save a person’s life.
Another benefit of managed detox is that it helps to build a foundation for successful treatment. When clients feel better sooner, they can fully participate in the therapies and educational programs to help them maintain long-term sobriety.
Understanding Alcohol Withdrawal Seizure
Approximately 5% of people going through alcohol withdrawal experience seizures.3 Those with prolonged and severe AUD and those who quit drinking abruptly are at the highest risk of having withdrawal seizures. People who have had withdrawal seizures before or experienced severe withdrawal symptoms like delirium tremens are also at higher risk.
There are two main types of seizures, each affecting the brain differently. Generalized seizures can affect all areas of the brain. Tonic-clonic seizures (also known as grand-mal) are the most common type related to alcohol withdrawal.
Focal or partial seizures affect only one side of the brain. They are more likely to occur because of trauma, stroke, or meningitis.
Status epilepticus occurs in approximately 10% of alcohol withdrawal seizures.6 Status epilepticus is not a type of seizure; it is a life-threatening condition that can develop when multiple withdrawal seizures happen within a few minutes.
Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal Seizure
Seizures are the result of an electrical disturbance in the brain. They can be over in a few seconds or last several minutes. Most people associate seizures with convulsions — whole-body shaking — but not every person convulses when experiencing a seizure. Other symptoms related to seizures include:4
- Temporary confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of awareness, though the person may still be awake and talking
- Staring blankly into space
- Fear and anxiety
- Screaming or yelling
- Loss of bladder control
- Blinking
- Feelings of deja vu
Seizures caused by alcohol withdrawal typically occur within six to 48 hours after the last drink of alcohol. People who experience a withdrawal seizure are more likely to have other severe withdrawal symptoms. One study found that over 50% of those who experienced alcohol withdrawal seizures had an additional risk for seizure, such as a brain injury or epilepsy.5
Can Alcohol Withdrawal Seizure Be Prevented?
Withdrawal seizures can be prevented and treated.7 The most obvious way to prevent withdrawal symptoms of all types is to drink only in moderation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines moderate drinking as two drinks per day for men and one drink or less per day for women.8 Following a monitored tapering-off protocol may also reduce the risk of withdrawal seizures.
Choosing to go through withdrawal at a medically monitored detox center can reduce your risk of withdrawal seizures and other severe withdrawal symptoms. The healthcare professionals at a monitored detox program can prescribe medications to help keep you safe and as comfortable as possible while detoxing.
People at high risk for severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms are strongly advised to receive this potentially life-saving treatment. High-risk individuals include:
- Those with severe and prolonged alcohol use history
- Anyone with co-occurring conditions, such as depression or anxiety
- People with epilepsy
- Those who have been through alcohol withdrawal at least once in the past
- Individuals with addictions to multiple substances
Clinicians may detect other risk factors during an admissions evaluation. Long-term alcohol use disorder can cause several health issues that may increase the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms. Undergoing a complete physical and mental health evaluation before detoxing provides your wellness team with the information they need to reduce your risks, control cravings, and provide the wellness support you deserve.
Staying Safe During Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal seizure is a severe and potentially life-threatening symptom of detoxing from alcohol. Experiencing a withdrawal seizure without medical supervision increases the risk of death or long-term health consequences, such as brain damage.
Seizures and other severe withdrawal symptoms are not 100% preventable but treatable. People who try detoxing at home place themselves at greater risk of life-threatening symptoms and relapse. Recovering from alcohol use disorder does require a strong personal commitment to change, but first and foremost, addiction disorders are medical issues that respond to medical treatment.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use disorder, don’t put yourself at even greater risk by detoxing alone. Call Clear Life Recovery today to learn more about our medically monitored detox program.
Sources:
[1] https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
[2] https://www.verywellhealth.com/alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms-5198606
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15706735/
[4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seizure/symptoms-causes/syc-20365711
[5] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1197/aemj.9.8.824
[6] https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/seizure-triggers/alcohol
[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17323538/
[8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17323538/
