Neurológia pre prax 4/2021

Should we treat patients with chronic alcohol dependency by antiepileptics?

Alcohol dependency syndrome is common in the Czech population. Neurologists encounter these patients during inpatient and outpatient care. One of the frequent health problems is the occurrence of epileptic seizures. People addicted to alcohol may have some type of epilepsy as well. The aim of the review article is to specify whether these are acute symptomatic seizures or clinical manifestation of epilepsy as a chronic disease and how to approach them in treatment. The therapy of withdrawal and addiction syndrome is briefly mentioned. Chronic administration of antiepileptic drugs is indicated in alcoholics in the case of diagnosed epilepsy and in the treatment of dependency. Following acute symptomatic seizures, the longterm administration of antiepileptic drugs is not warranted.

Keywords: alcohol dependence, withdrawal syndrome, acute symptomatic seizures, epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs