Many people diagnosed with epilepsy have been told that alcohol and epilepsy should never mix because alcohol can trigger seizures. Many doctors and pharmacists recommend total abstinence from drinking, if possible. However, some people with epilepsy find they can drink moderately without triggering a seizure. In fact, research shows that a drink or two does not increase seizure activity. Electroencephalogram (EEG) tests show brain activity remains the same, as long as the amount of alcohol ingested is small. As one MyEpilepsyTeam member advised, “It can depend on the person. I can have one beer or one glass of wine and be OK, but almost no more. However, I would err on the side of caution and not drink at all.”
Next
When seizures do happen as a result of alcohol consumption, they typically occur within six to 72 hours after drinking. They do not generally happen while a person is drinking, or even within a few hours of stopping. For this reason, if you do choose to drink, it’s important that you pay attention to your seizure activity for up to three days afterward.
Next
Binge drinking has been found to trigger seizures. Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 percent or higher. This means consuming roughly five or more drinks for a man, or four or more drinks for a woman, in about two hours.It’s important to note that it’s not just the alcohol itself that can cause seizures. Binge drinking is associated with other seizure triggers, including disrupted sleep cycles. (Lack of sleep is a common trigger for many people with epilepsy). Because of this, it’s possible that a seizure that seems to be triggered by alcohol may actually be caused by another trigger.
Next
Some AEDs have side effects that include lowering tolerance for alcohol. This means a person will become intoxicated faster than they used to before they were on the medication. This rapid intoxication can surprise a person and cause them embarrassment, stress, and anxiety — which can, in turn, trigger seizures. Most antiepileptic medications also have side effects that mimic those of alcohol. They may slow down central nervous system responses, make a person sleepy, or cause parts of the brain to work differently. If you research a medication and these symptoms show up, it’s likely that AED will lower your tolerance for alcohol, too. Ultimately, it’s important that you understand the side effects of your medications, as well as how they interact with alcohol, if you choose to drink.
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Alcohol can cause seizures in a person who doesn’t have epilepsy. This most commonly happens during alcohol withdrawal. People who drink large amounts of alcohol and suddenly stop are at a higher-than-usual risk of seizures. About 5 percent of people detoxing from alcohol abuse will have alcohol withdrawal seizures as part of the process of quitting drinking. This can happen whether or not a person has epilepsy at the time of the withdrawal. However, people with epilepsy may be more likely to have seizures while going through alcohol withdrawal. It’s also important to understand that quitting alcohol after a period of alcohol abuse or misuse may be harder for people diagnosed with epilepsy than it is for those without it. People with epilepsy may have a higher risk of withdrawal seizures than others.
Quiz: Can Alcohol Trigger Seizures?
MyHealthTeam
Created on April 16, 2026
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Transcript
Many people diagnosed with epilepsy have been told that alcohol and epilepsy should never mix because alcohol can trigger seizures. Many doctors and pharmacists recommend total abstinence from drinking, if possible. However, some people with epilepsy find they can drink moderately without triggering a seizure. In fact, research shows that a drink or two does not increase seizure activity. Electroencephalogram (EEG) tests show brain activity remains the same, as long as the amount of alcohol ingested is small. As one MyEpilepsyTeam member advised, “It can depend on the person. I can have one beer or one glass of wine and be OK, but almost no more. However, I would err on the side of caution and not drink at all.”
Next
When seizures do happen as a result of alcohol consumption, they typically occur within six to 72 hours after drinking. They do not generally happen while a person is drinking, or even within a few hours of stopping. For this reason, if you do choose to drink, it’s important that you pay attention to your seizure activity for up to three days afterward.
Next
Binge drinking has been found to trigger seizures. Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 percent or higher. This means consuming roughly five or more drinks for a man, or four or more drinks for a woman, in about two hours.It’s important to note that it’s not just the alcohol itself that can cause seizures. Binge drinking is associated with other seizure triggers, including disrupted sleep cycles. (Lack of sleep is a common trigger for many people with epilepsy). Because of this, it’s possible that a seizure that seems to be triggered by alcohol may actually be caused by another trigger.
Next
Some AEDs have side effects that include lowering tolerance for alcohol. This means a person will become intoxicated faster than they used to before they were on the medication. This rapid intoxication can surprise a person and cause them embarrassment, stress, and anxiety — which can, in turn, trigger seizures. Most antiepileptic medications also have side effects that mimic those of alcohol. They may slow down central nervous system responses, make a person sleepy, or cause parts of the brain to work differently. If you research a medication and these symptoms show up, it’s likely that AED will lower your tolerance for alcohol, too. Ultimately, it’s important that you understand the side effects of your medications, as well as how they interact with alcohol, if you choose to drink.
Next
Alcohol can cause seizures in a person who doesn’t have epilepsy. This most commonly happens during alcohol withdrawal. People who drink large amounts of alcohol and suddenly stop are at a higher-than-usual risk of seizures. About 5 percent of people detoxing from alcohol abuse will have alcohol withdrawal seizures as part of the process of quitting drinking. This can happen whether or not a person has epilepsy at the time of the withdrawal. However, people with epilepsy may be more likely to have seizures while going through alcohol withdrawal. It’s also important to understand that quitting alcohol after a period of alcohol abuse or misuse may be harder for people diagnosed with epilepsy than it is for those without it. People with epilepsy may have a higher risk of withdrawal seizures than others.