What Is a Seizure From Alcohol Withdrawal?

You’re watching an episode of your favorite show, Stranger Things, when all of a sudden one of the characters falls to the ground, jerking and convulsing rapidly. This is a seizure (or at least a massive generalization of what a seizure looks like). Beyond being in an alternate dimension like the characters in the show, seizures can happen for many different reasons — even ones that may seem unrelated, such as alcohol withdrawal.

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.

Understanding Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures

Seizures are sudden, uncontrolled spurts of electrical activity in our brain that change or disrupt normal messaging in our brain. It’s like getting hit with a spam email. Clicking on it might download a virus, messing up the normal function of your phone or computer.

When we quit or cut back on alcohol abruptly, we may experience withdrawal, a period of physical and mental symptoms occurring as our brain tries to regain balance. The abnormal electrical activity from a seizure can scramble normal activity in our brain, which can impact our consciousness, movement, and behavior. There are different types of seizures, but the most common type caused by alcohol withdrawal is generalized tonic-clonic seizures. 

This type of seizure is what probably comes to mind when we think of a “seizure” and what we commonly see portrayed in movies (although typically exaggerated). It involves two phases: the tonic phase, which is the stiffening phase, and the clonic, which is characterized by rhythmic jerking. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures can include the following symptoms: 

• Muscle stiffness
• Clenched jaw
• Oral bleeding from biting down on the tongue or cheeks 
• Rapid jerking of the body 
• Loss of bladder/bowel control 
• Blue skin from lack of oxygen 
• Difficulty/stopped breathing
• Loss of consciousness

Symptoms typically last about one to three minutes. If someone is experiencing a seizure or other serious symptoms, it’s important to seek emergency medical assistance right away. Now that we know alcohol withdrawal can undoubtedly cause seizures, let’s understand how it works. 

How Alcohol Withdrawal Can Cause Seizures

Alcohol is directly linked to an increased seizure risk due to the way alcohol affects our brain chemistry. Here’s how:

1. Brain Chemical Upheaval

Alcohol impacts two major neurotransmitters that can play a role in seizures: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate. 

GABA slows down signaling in the brain by blocking messages in the central nervous system (CNS). This neurotransmitter produces a calming effect by reeling in nerve cell hyperactivity, which is linked to fear, anxiety, and stress. 

On the other hand, glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that stimulates brain signaling. It’s critical for normal brain function and plays a key role in learning, memory, and mood regulation. GABA and glutamate are opposites that keep each other in balance.

Alcohol throws a wrench in the works by mimicking GABA and increasing its depressant effects. Meanwhile, alcohol blocks glutamate receptors, decreasing brain signaling. This significant disruption to our brain activity can trigger seizures for those who may have epilepsy and even for those who don’t.

2. The New Normal

While consuming alcohol can lead to seizures, the more common alcohol-related reason for seizures is alcohol withdrawal. To understand why, let’s first understand why withdrawal occurs. 

Because alcohol mimics GABA, it decreases our brain’s natural ability to produce GABA and decreases its receptors over time. Glutamate receptors adapt to alcohol’s depressant effects by increasing brain activity to compensate. This “balance” becomes the new normal, explaining why we become more tolerant or less affected by alcohol. This tolerance is the reason why alcohol withdrawal occurs, and consequently, alcohol withdrawal seizures.

3. Recalibration

When we quit or cut back, alcohol’s depressant effects are reduced or eliminated and brain activity can go into overdrive. Imagine pulling back a bowstring tighter and tighter, increasing tension. When we release the string quickly rather than slowly, the arrow shoots forward forcefully — similar to how activity in our brain can go into overdrive. 

As our body adjusts, we might experience physical withdrawal symptoms such as headache, nausea, increased heart rate, tremors, and excessive sweating. As our brain adjusts, we may experience mental and emotional symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, insomnia, confusion, and hallucinations. 

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. 

Now that we better understand how alcohol consumption and withdrawal are linked to seizures, let’s map out the steps we can take to prevent them and maintain our well-being.

Preventing Seizures From Alcohol Withdrawal

We can better prevent seizures and complications tied to seizures by practicing more mindful consumption and safe alcohol detox. Here are some practices we can implement: 

• Drink in moderation. Heavy drinking increases the risk of triggering seizures and alcohol withdrawal. Stay below drinking guidelines, which define moderate drinking as 2 drinks or fewer in a day for men and 1 drink or fewer per day for women. 
• Consider family history. Research shows that those of us with a family history of seizures are more likely to experience alcohol-related seizures. Understanding this helps us take even greater precautions. 
• Avoid quitting cold turkey. Quitting cold turkey can be too abrupt a change for our brain and body, increasing seizure risk. Consult a professional to see if this method is right for you or consider taking a more gradual approach to cutting back, such as reducing your consumption by half each week.
• Seek supported detox. Another option is to seek supported alcohol detox, which means medical monitoring to treat any complications that occur. Check out “Home Alcohol Detox: Is It Right For You?”
• Reach out for support. If you’re having trouble quitting or cutting back, or you’re looking for support during withdrawal, you can reach out for support. Consider joining the Reframe community to connect with others who may be going through a similar experience and explore resources to help quit or cut back safely and effectively. 

Alcohol withdrawal is unpleasant and sometimes dangerous, but it’s also a sign that we're breaking free from harmful drinking habits. The steps we can take to prevent seizures can be our first steps to a healthier future!

Seizing the Opportunity for Health and Well-Being

Seizures are scary, but now that we understand how the upheaval of our brain chemicals during withdrawal can cause seizures, we can take steps to prevent them. Practicing moderation, taking a more gradual approach to quitting or cutting back, and exploring supported detox options decreases our risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures. Take control and seize the opportunity for a healthier, seizure-free future!