Adrenaline & Seizures

Adrenaline is sometimes known as epinephrine and is a hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla in the brain. It is also a central nervous system neurotransmitter that is released by neurons. The release of adrenaline can be linked with seizures.

Expert Insight

• Neurologist Mark Spitz, director of the University of Colorado Epilepsy Center, says during seizures "a lot of adrenaline is released."

  He believes this to be true, he says, because many people with a history of seizures who have died suddenly show signs of irregular heart rhythms and other heart injuries. The sudden release of adrenaline during seizures puts increased pressure on the circulatory system and can result in heart damage.

Significance

• Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, shortened as SUDEP, is used to categorize the medical phenomenon that affects a small number of people. Less than 1 in 1,000 who have epilepsy die from this condition, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Considerations

• While individuals in forums on sites such as Epilepsy.com raise questions about adrenaline as a cause of seizures, the Mayo Clinic's site does not list adrenaline specifically as a known cause. However, health sites, like Epilepsy Action, state stress can trigger a seizure, which then can result in large amounts of adrenaline releasing into the body.