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Keppra and Alcohol
Mon, 02/04/2008 - 13:49I am a healthy 28 year old male who just had his first 2 seizures on consecutive days. I went to the hospital and had an MRI and an EEG. The EEG came back abnormal so the DR. put me on Keppra 1000mg a day. I am a social drinker who drinks regularly. The Doctor said I shouldn't drink and if I do I can only have one drink. Is this true? I am not an alcoholic but the thought of never being able to get drunk again is fairly upsetting to me. Does anyone have any advice? What happens if I do drink?
Thanks
Comments
Re: Keppra and Alcohol
Submitted by Elaine Howell on Mon, 2008-03-24 - 12:34
Hi Dark Angel I just read your comments on Keppra and booze, and as a fellow wine drinker, I thought I'd reply. All I drink is red wine, the occasional white wine in the summer, but I think I drink too much. If I'm honest, it halps me to chill out, gives me confidence, and helps me to forget my troubles, I don't get drunk every night or anything that crazy, but once I start drinking, I just don't want to stop, I do have to stop after about five large Shiraz or Merlots, what's your limit? Yesterday, I got totally hammered on about four glasses, it was lunch time though, I don't drink that often during the day, and having recently lost my job, that would be a very"slippery slope" if I did start daytime boozing.
I'm on 1500mg of Keppra twice a day, I really only have Complex Partial seizures, I usually get the aura beforehand, which totally freaks me out, I get the taste, smell, the epigastric rising, and I find them more terrifying than any seizure, I've just spent the whole day in what's become known as "wobbly mode" meaning I've had lots of auras and just felt unlike my usual self, I forgot to take the Keppra last night as I was half cut, I usually just go to sleep, I don't get aggressive or mouthy after a drink. I just wanted to reply to you, as it was good to hear from a fellow wine drinker.
I'm writing a book about my experiences with epilepsy called "Fit For Life" and if it's the last thing I do, I'll get it published, I'm just waiting for a second lot of brain surgery, it worked for five years the first time then my seizures came back again after five years, fingers crossed eh?
Anyway, all the best to you, long may you continue seizure free!
Cheers
Elaine
Hi Dark Angel I just read your comments on Keppra and booze, and as a fellow wine drinker, I thought I'd reply. All I drink is red wine, the occasional white wine in the summer, but I think I drink too much. If I'm honest, it halps me to chill out, gives me confidence, and helps me to forget my troubles, I don't get drunk every night or anything that crazy, but once I start drinking, I just don't want to stop, I do have to stop after about five large Shiraz or Merlots, what's your limit? Yesterday, I got totally hammered on about four glasses, it was lunch time though, I don't drink that often during the day, and having recently lost my job, that would be a very"slippery slope" if I did start daytime boozing.
I'm on 1500mg of Keppra twice a day, I really only have Complex Partial seizures, I usually get the aura beforehand, which totally freaks me out, I get the taste, smell, the epigastric rising, and I find them more terrifying than any seizure, I've just spent the whole day in what's become known as "wobbly mode" meaning I've had lots of auras and just felt unlike my usual self, I forgot to take the Keppra last night as I was half cut, I usually just go to sleep, I don't get aggressive or mouthy after a drink. I just wanted to reply to you, as it was good to hear from a fellow wine drinker.
I'm writing a book about my experiences with epilepsy called "Fit For Life" and if it's the last thing I do, I'll get it published, I'm just waiting for a second lot of brain surgery, it worked for five years the first time then my seizures came back again after five years, fingers crossed eh?
Anyway, all the best to you, long may you continue seizure free!
Cheers
Elaine
Re: Keppra and Alcohol
Submitted by Seruzies on Mon, 2008-02-25 - 22:25
I used to call myself a social drinker but the alcohol treatment center I wound up in told me I was an alcoholic. It was another 20 years or so after that before I'd had my first seizure, and was still drinking. I used the process of elimination when treating my Epilepsy, and the first thing to go was the drinking. It was easy to ask myself after a seizure, I wonder if I had a seizure because I was drinking because I knew I wasn't. Now, it's easier to try to figure out what I might have done/not done as to the reason I had a seizure, I know it wasn't the drinking because I quit that. Did I not eat or forget to take my meds as that's usually a trigger. Usually the only other reason is I forgot to take my meds, and didn't get enough sleep. These days, I know better to even think about drinking, just don't do it.
I used to call myself a social drinker but the alcohol treatment center I wound up in told me I was an alcoholic. It was another 20 years or so after that before I'd had my first seizure, and was still drinking. I used the process of elimination when treating my Epilepsy, and the first thing to go was the drinking. It was easy to ask myself after a seizure, I wonder if I had a seizure because I was drinking because I knew I wasn't. Now, it's easier to try to figure out what I might have done/not done as to the reason I had a seizure, I know it wasn't the drinking because I quit that. Did I not eat or forget to take my meds as that's usually a trigger. Usually the only other reason is I forgot to take my meds, and didn't get enough sleep. These days, I know better to even think about drinking, just don't do it.
Re: Keppra and Alcohol
Submitted by darkangel on Mon, 2008-02-25 - 20:21
Well, I had my first seizure at age 17 and have been on Epival for the last twelve years without any problems when I would drink. You can imagine being in high school means you are pretty much exposed to alcohol on a frequent basis (at least I was!) so yeah, I indulged. Maybe a bit too much sometimes, but I never had any seizures while drinking.
I then ended up marrying a drummer in a local band here and his group plays the bar circuit nearly every weekend so I often go out to support him. It hasn't been a problem - so far so good.
Then, my neuro switched me to Keppra nearly two weeks ago and I wanted to test the waters so I had a glass of wine with dinner one night without any incidence. I am now up to 2000mg of Keppra and again had a couple of drinks and seemed to notice that it hit me just a little harder than normal. I swear I'm not an alcoholic though! I just happen to enjoy my wine...good luck to you and just go by how you feel. Take care!
Well, I had my first seizure at age 17 and have been on Epival for the last twelve years without any problems when I would drink. You can imagine being in high school means you are pretty much exposed to alcohol on a frequent basis (at least I was!) so yeah, I indulged. Maybe a bit too much sometimes, but I never had any seizures while drinking.
I then ended up marrying a drummer in a local band here and his group plays the bar circuit nearly every weekend so I often go out to support him. It hasn't been a problem - so far so good.
Then, my neuro switched me to Keppra nearly two weeks ago and I wanted to test the waters so I had a glass of wine with dinner one night without any incidence. I am now up to 2000mg of Keppra and again had a couple of drinks and seemed to notice that it hit me just a little harder than normal. I swear I'm not an alcoholic though! I just happen to enjoy my wine...good luck to you and just go by how you feel. Take care!