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Alcohol and Epilepsy medicine

Wed, 11/05/2008 - 01:22

       Ive been taking Epilepsy medicine for 4 years now. I just turned 21 and would like to drink alcohol.  Does alcohol really negate the medicine or are the doctors just saying that? Even if it wears the medicine down a little bit, do you think it would still be fine to drink as long as I still take my medicine on time?

Any thoughts would be great!

Comments

Re: Alcohol and Epilepsy medicine

Submitted by roxibaby16 on Wed, 2008-11-05 - 13:34
u should be fine i do. i just watch how much. what meds r u on

Re: Alcohol and Epilepsy medicine

Submitted by bigstudcole on Wed, 2008-11-05 - 23:21
I'm taking a big amount of depakote extended release and an average amount of Lamictal

Re: Alcohol and Epilepsy medicine

Submitted by clcsidi on Fri, 2008-11-07 - 03:53

There are a few reasons NOT to drink while taking AEDs first they are all CNS depressants as is alcohol.  Therefore the combination can decrease your respirations and stop your breathing, espcially if you are drinking quite a bit or are on large doses of AEDs.  Second meds are either processed in your liver, kidneys or both.  A daily dose of something that is hard on your liver is bad enough, adding alcohol to the mix just add to the issue because alcohol is processed in the liver. 

That being said, is a single drink going to be the end of the world as you know it? probably not, is the weekly frat party where you drink until you pass out every week? Much more of a problem than those that do not take AEDs. Drinking is strongly discouraged for those reasons.  Then again... most docs realize we are all human and make dietary indescrtions occaisionally.

There are a few reasons NOT to drink while taking AEDs first they are all CNS depressants as is alcohol.  Therefore the combination can decrease your respirations and stop your breathing, espcially if you are drinking quite a bit or are on large doses of AEDs.  Second meds are either processed in your liver, kidneys or both.  A daily dose of something that is hard on your liver is bad enough, adding alcohol to the mix just add to the issue because alcohol is processed in the liver. 

That being said, is a single drink going to be the end of the world as you know it? probably not, is the weekly frat party where you drink until you pass out every week? Much more of a problem than those that do not take AEDs. Drinking is strongly discouraged for those reasons.  Then again... most docs realize we are all human and make dietary indescrtions occaisionally.

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