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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 MichaelK on Fri, 2008-11-07 - 09:27
You should not drink alcohol due to the fact that it is a depressant drug and, when mixed with other drugs that you are taking, could have a negative impact on your overall treatment. Depakote is a mood stabilizer, meaning that it will make it difficult for you to change moods. It is often prescribed to manic-depressives for this reason. If combined with a depressant drug, such as alcohol, it could make you depressed. This would also have a negative impact on your therapy, for it has been proven that depression increases the frequency of seizures. In short, it could have numerous negative side effects that may outweigh the benefits of drinking. If you are still not sure, check with your doctor first.

Re: Alcohol and Epilepsy medicine

Submitted by bleedingheart on Fri, 2008-11-14 - 00:55

Alcohol does negate the medication. It takes over the anti-convulsant processs itself. But once it is gone there is no anticonvulsant in the bloodstream. If one was to replace their anticonvulant medication with  alcohol, they would be exchanging being an epileptic person for being an alcoholic person. There is also research that shows while red wine may be good for the heart it still can shrink a person's brain, permanently, over time. I have drank some of those beverages with only 0.5% of alcohol and not had any problems with my seizures. But I don't drink them any more, prefering to use wine and sherry in cooking.

Alcohol does negate the medication. It takes over the anti-convulsant processs itself. But once it is gone there is no anticonvulsant in the bloodstream. If one was to replace their anticonvulant medication with  alcohol, they would be exchanging being an epileptic person for being an alcoholic person. There is also research that shows while red wine may be good for the heart it still can shrink a person's brain, permanently, over time. I have drank some of those beverages with only 0.5% of alcohol and not had any problems with my seizures. But I don't drink them any more, prefering to use wine and sherry in cooking.

Re: Alcohol and Epilepsy medicine

Submitted by nizzle212 on Sat, 2008-11-15 - 02:09

I've said this in another post I believe... it's different for everyone.

ME PERSONALLY:
I got seizures when I was around 13. I am 21 now. I have been taking Lamictol the whole time and it was fine. I have had seizures randomly, but I see a connection. For me it's the lack of sleep. It was pretty much controlled throughout my high school years. When I FIRST entered college, I would sleep at 3/4 AM for no good reason. I didn't drink though. Then later, as I continued to still sleep bad hours and became more stressed, I got a seizure. I've always known that mine is mainly because of the lack of sleep (and genetics). At some point I started drinking because I just didn't give a shit. I was pissed off and I didn't care. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I did not get a seizure. I really don't drink the way a lot of college students do. At some point in summer, I got straight up drunk. I don't remember what I had because it was 2 years ago, but I did NOT get a seizure either. After that I just didn't care to get drunk, I get tipsy and that's about it. So basically, FOR ME, I don't think alcohol triggers anything. 

I would say that if you're worried, maybe you shouldn't. If you're still worried, but reeeeeeally want to, just try like, one beer or mixed drink. Then perhaps you might want to get tipsy.
Kinda like when you increase your medication. You don't just randomly double the dosage right away. You have to increase little by little so your body doesn't get messed up.

In general, I just hate having seizures. I know no one wants to have it, but some people have come to accept it. I did at some point and changed my sleeping habits, but I would still get scared and close signs that I was about to have one. This was not related to alcohol. It's just bullshit. It's all a guessing game and I say good luck to you.

 That was just my story.. in case anyone else is like me in terms of seizures and is worried about drinking, what I said might have been helpful.

I mean I hope it's helpful for anyone.

I don't think one drink will kill you unless your seizures are really really bad.

I've said this in another post I believe... it's different for everyone.

ME PERSONALLY:
I got seizures when I was around 13. I am 21 now. I have been taking Lamictol the whole time and it was fine. I have had seizures randomly, but I see a connection. For me it's the lack of sleep. It was pretty much controlled throughout my high school years. When I FIRST entered college, I would sleep at 3/4 AM for no good reason. I didn't drink though. Then later, as I continued to still sleep bad hours and became more stressed, I got a seizure. I've always known that mine is mainly because of the lack of sleep (and genetics). At some point I started drinking because I just didn't give a shit. I was pissed off and I didn't care. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I did not get a seizure. I really don't drink the way a lot of college students do. At some point in summer, I got straight up drunk. I don't remember what I had because it was 2 years ago, but I did NOT get a seizure either. After that I just didn't care to get drunk, I get tipsy and that's about it. So basically, FOR ME, I don't think alcohol triggers anything. 

I would say that if you're worried, maybe you shouldn't. If you're still worried, but reeeeeeally want to, just try like, one beer or mixed drink. Then perhaps you might want to get tipsy.
Kinda like when you increase your medication. You don't just randomly double the dosage right away. You have to increase little by little so your body doesn't get messed up.

In general, I just hate having seizures. I know no one wants to have it, but some people have come to accept it. I did at some point and changed my sleeping habits, but I would still get scared and close signs that I was about to have one. This was not related to alcohol. It's just bullshit. It's all a guessing game and I say good luck to you.

 That was just my story.. in case anyone else is like me in terms of seizures and is worried about drinking, what I said might have been helpful.

I mean I hope it's helpful for anyone.

I don't think one drink will kill you unless your seizures are really really bad.

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