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Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??

Mon, 02/05/2007 - 02:58
Hi, I'm 27 and had two grand mal seizures in the past month. I don't remember anything and am pretty much out cold for 30 min afterwards, and disoriented for the remainder of the day. All my tests have come back negative and my doc has put me on 1500 mg of Keppra a day. It's only been a couple weeks, but I've noticed that I get fatigued much quicker, I've lost my appetite, and my short term memory is shot. Are these the same side effects everyone else has?? Has Keppra worked well for you?? Also, I've read all the medical forms on it and talked to the doc some, but does being on the meds mean that I need to cut out alcohol 100%? I don't really drink a lot, but would occasionally like to still have wine every now and then, but I'm not sure if I should be concerned with any possible interactions. I'd like to hear other's experiences. Thanks.

Comments

Re: Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??

Submitted by debolabon on Wed, 2008-09-10 - 14:55

Are you sure that the anger wasn't a side effect that was increased due to your social drinking?

I haven't had a drink since I started Keppra, because my docs said 'not at all' to the idea, and I haven't had any emotional/mood altering side effects at all.

Are you sure that the anger wasn't a side effect that was increased due to your social drinking?

I haven't had a drink since I started Keppra, because my docs said 'not at all' to the idea, and I haven't had any emotional/mood altering side effects at all.

Re: Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??

Submitted by Edain on Sat, 2008-12-20 - 12:32
My son was on Keppra for a year and he was 5 not drinking at all.  His temper was horrible and got better as soon as he was weaned off of Keppra.  It is known to cause rage outbreaks in some people and it should be reported to your Neurologist because if you have the rages you are more prone to the psychotic breaks that can be a side effect of the Keppra.

Re: Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??

Submitted by katatonic on Thu, 2012-09-06 - 18:39
I had my first tonic-chlonic seizure last year and dislocated my jaw-the past January, the next one fractured my hip, so I am now in a wheel chair from a botched surgery. (I finally got a county health plan, thank GOD). I was on Depakote, (nightmare), Keppra, and the dosage was originally 1500 mg/twice a day. It was way too much. I was angry, sick to my stomach, fatigued, my memory was like a game of scrabble, and I was really depressed. I stopped taking it (and I was not drinking) and then I had my next serious seizure, and not only did they lower the dosage, but I had no health insurance anymore since being wrongfully terminated from my long time job. They put me back on Keppra, and I didn't consume alcohol for 3-4 months. However, my fracture never healed; so l was living with chronic pain, given pain pills, which just interacted terribly with the Keppra. I have cut my Keppra down to 250 mg/twice a day, and my new doctor wants me to take 500 mg/twice a day then increase it to 750/ two times a day. I call bullish*t. I drink occassionally, eat tons of fiber, consume plenty of water, and lots of produce and protein. Keppra does a number on my digestive track, and it does make me irritable and tired. Sometimes you have to listen to your body- you know your body better than anyone. -It;s 4 o'clock somewhere, Doc. I'd rather have a martini than an oxy-codone or vicodine-talk about liver damage.

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