Seizure triggers: Alcohol, Drugs and Epilepsy

I was very confused and scared. I was 19 years old and never had a seizure before. I didn’t even know what epilepsy was and so my parents and I went and saw a neurologist. The first thing he asked us was if there was a history of epilepsy in the family. My older sister had a couple of Petite Mal seizures when she was very young but that was it. No history of anyone having Grand Mal seizures. The second question he asked me directly was “what were you doing the night before?” I reluctantly told him – I was out drinking the night before with friends. He asked me how much and I only told him it was a few beers, but it was a lot more than a few. The neurologist informed me that alcohol can trigger a seizure. Alcohol makes you dehydrated and alcohol withdrawal can trigger a seizure the next day. He told me that I can have one or two drinks when I’m out with friends, but that’s it.