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Is it advisable that people with epilepsy avoid alcohol?
What is moderate drinking?
Does alcohol abuse cause epilepsy?
Drinking in moderation can be an enjoyable experience. However, people with epilepsy need to be extremely careful when it comes to alcohol and there are a number of reasons for this:
Alcohol can interfere with anti-epileptic medicines, by preventing them from reaching levels in the bloodstream necessary to control seizures
.
Large amounts of any liquid, can trigger seizures in a person with epilepsy.
Heavy drinking is often associated with late nights, lack of sleep, missed meals and forgotten tablets. All of these can increase the risk of a seizure.
Is it advisable that people with epilepsy avoid alcohol?
Medical opinion on whether to avoid alcohol completely is divided. Some doctors believe that it should be avoided at all times, while others believe a moderate amount will do no harm in the majority of cases. Each person must decide what to do themselves, in light of their doctor’s advice.
However, it is important to bear in mind that a person taking medication that acts on the brain, i.e. anti-epileptic drugs, is likely to be more sensitive to the effects of alcohol, compared to other people. This means that for certain activities, such as driving, no alcohol should be consumed. While at other times, consumption should be carefully moderated.
What is moderate drinking?
Unfortunately moderate drinking can mean different things to different people and the line between social and problem drinking can be a thin one.
Healthy men should not drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day.
Healthy women (non-pregnant) should not drink more than 2-3 units of alcohol a day.
One unit of alcohol is roughly equivalent to:
- Half a pint of beer or lager
- One glass of wine
- One measure of spirits
However, these amounts are guidelines only and in many cases, they may be too high. It is important to discuss your specific situation with a health professional.
Does alcohol abuse cause epilepsy?
Excessive drinking over a long period of time may result in temporary or permanent brain damage. This in turn can increase the risk of conditions such as epilepsy. In fact, one in five alcoholic men and one in 10 alcoholic women over the age of 25 experience epileptic seizures. In most cases, these seizures result from a withdrawal of alcohol after an intense bout of drinking.
In some cases of alcoholism, established epilepsy develops as a result of brain damage caused either by the direct effects of alcohol on the brain, or head injuries sustained while drunk. In such cases, hospital tests will usually reveal abnormal brain activity, which often remains even if alcohol is no longer consumed.
Some people can experience epileptic seizures that are unrelated to their alcoholism. These are people who would have developed epilepsy anyway, regardless of their drinking habits.
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