Psychiatria pre prax 6/2003

Alcohol, drugs and some other psychotropic substances in association with epilepsy

The paper offers the informative review of relationship between alcohol and psychopharmacologically effective drugs. Regarding the risk of triggering an epileptic paroxysm, alcohol is the most dangerous during acute intoxication or sudden intake cessation. Cocaine and heroine possess proconvulsive activity as well. Association between cannabis and epilepsy is controversial. Stimulants trigger epileptic paroxysms mainly using excessive dosage. Due to high prevalence of epilepsy and rising numbers of drug addicts, questions regarding mutual relations have been attracting lots of medical attention recently.

Keywords: epilepsy, alcohol, alcohol abuse, drugs, toxicomania.