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Caffeine a No-No?

Fri, 07/21/2006 - 14:57
The more I ask folks with "E" about their reactions to caffeine (in far more foods than coffee and tea), the more I realize I'm not alone. For as great as a cup of that brown stuff tastes, it sure can screw up my neuro system. Indeed, in most cases when I have a seizure or get "auras" -- I've had coffee, or an extensive amount of it. Oh, maybe that wake-me-up cup in the morning isn't that bad, but those pleasure-filled cups can become addictive, can't they? Let's hear how you and Starbucks get along! --George

Comments

With so many pleasures

Submitted by Steveo_5bf8342317b34 on Fri, 2018-11-23 - 12:28
With so many pleasures eliminated from my life: beer, late nights out, debauchery, It is no fun to eliminate one last source of comfort. I only drink 1~2 cups of coffee in the morning with no problems. However three or four times in the last six months after an additional afternoon cup "to keep me alert", I have had a nocturnal episode. I experience a headache I find worsening and with pain I never thought possible.It has been said,"moderation in everything,& listen to your body". Listening to music helps.

Re: Caffeine a No-No?

Submitted by olpdog on Sat, 2010-08-07 - 11:53
As others have stated, it's not the caffeine on its own that is causing additional seizures. But, caffeine can definately contribute to the problem. Through personal experience, I have seen the affects of daily caffeine intake on an epileptic. A few years ago, I was drinking one bottle of caffeinated cola every day I was at work. I did not know it was caffeinated, so I didn't see the harm in drinking it 5 days a week. It was a slow process, but after about a month of drinking this beverage 5 days a week I had a seizure. After the seizure, I felt another starting, so I was taken to the local ER where I had another grand maul in the waiting room (got me back to a bed immediately). After some medication, the seizure activity stopped and I was shown the results of the lab work by the MD. I had a potassium level of 2.7 and my phenytoin level was around 6. After telling the MD what I had been drinking while at work, it became clear that caffeine had played a role in the seizures. The caffeine does slightly increase blood flow & pressure, but what really got to me was the diuretic effects of the caffeine. I was urinating much more frequently which lead to a loss of potassium and the low Dilantin level in my blood. The primary cause of the seizure was a low Dilantin level. This, though, was caused by the low potassium levels which is due to the effects of the dehydration caused by the frequent urinations, which, in turn, was caused by the regular caffeine intake. Dehydration is a very common cause of seizures, even in nonepileptics. Caffeine definately contributes to dehydration, so if you have epilepsy, use caution in over using caffeine. It's just like many other problems, caffeine is fine if used in low levels, but when its levels get too high, problems often occur.

Re: Caffeine a No-No?

Submitted by Puddleofbacon on Sat, 2010-08-14 - 14:40

I was diagnosed with Epilepsy in 1998 and have tried different medications since then. I started drinking coffee daily in 2007 while I was on Lamictal and Topamax. I never had any issues with caffeine until this year when I switched to Keppra. Now, whenever I have a cup of coffee or tea, I have a terrible headache/migraine for several hours following. What stinks the most is that all of these medications have made me extremely drowsy and I really would like to be more lively during the day without a constant headache.

I was diagnosed with Epilepsy in 1998 and have tried different medications since then. I started drinking coffee daily in 2007 while I was on Lamictal and Topamax. I never had any issues with caffeine until this year when I switched to Keppra. Now, whenever I have a cup of coffee or tea, I have a terrible headache/migraine for several hours following. What stinks the most is that all of these medications have made me extremely drowsy and I really would like to be more lively during the day without a constant headache.

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