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Alcohol and Seizures

  • Chapter
Seizures

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCP))

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Abstract

Alcohol abuse is one of the most common causes of adult-onset seizures. Earnest and Yarnell reviewed 472 adults who were admitted with seizures and found that 41% were related to alcohol abuse (1). A variety of etiologies for seizures related to alcohol exist, the most frequent being the partial or absolute withdrawal of alcohol following a period of heavy use. In addition, seizures may be caused by acute head trauma or alcohol-related toxic-metabolic disorders. Other factors noted to precipitate seizures in the setting of acute and chronic alcohol abuse include pre-existing idiopathic or post-traumatic epilepsy. The term alcohol-related seizures (ARSs) has been adopted in recognition of the multifactorial origin of seizures in the setting of acute and chronic alcoholism (2). Today the management of patients presenting with ARSs remains challenging, despite years of experience, observation, and study.

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Authors
  1. Gail D’Onofrio MD
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  2. Andrew S. Ulrich MD
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  3. Niels K. Rathlev MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Norman Delanty MB, FRCPI (Consultant Neurologist) (Consultant Neurologist)

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D’Onofrio, G., Ulrich, A.S., Rathlev, N.K. (2002). Alcohol and Seizures. In: Delanty, N. (eds) Seizures. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-094-0_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-094-0_10

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-207-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-094-0

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