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Keppra and Alcohol

Mon, 02/04/2008 - 13:49

I 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 BTKRiverPlate on Thu, 2009-02-19 - 15:12

I have been taking Keppra for about 3 years now. I had my first seizure in Summer of 2005 out of no where. Over the years I have had several grand mal seizures, most have been caused because I didnt take my medicine for a day or two or getting no sleep studying for exams.

I am a social drinker (23 yr old male) and I have not had any problems with seizures due to my drinking. (My last seizure was about a year ago)

 I have read a lot of people talking about bad hangovers and I have experienced those. However, I also found out how to prevent them. When I take my medicine for the night (which is now 250mg twice a day) I take my Keppra with my meal and lots of water. I also take a vitamin B supplement before and after I go out. Also, I do not start drinking until the Keppra has been in my system for at least 2-3 hours. I noticied that if I took my medicine while drinking or right before I started to drink I would get really bad headaches and I wouldnt even want to drink but now I do not have any problems.

It is possible to drink on Keppra but you have to find out what works for you. Don't overdue do it, you just have to find your happy medium. Also, my experience might be different due to the fact that it has been a long time since my last seizure and my low dosage. I might think twice about going out a lot if I were taking a higher dosage and my seizures were more frequent.

 Good luck and be careful.

I have been taking Keppra for about 3 years now. I had my first seizure in Summer of 2005 out of no where. Over the years I have had several grand mal seizures, most have been caused because I didnt take my medicine for a day or two or getting no sleep studying for exams.

I am a social drinker (23 yr old male) and I have not had any problems with seizures due to my drinking. (My last seizure was about a year ago)

 I have read a lot of people talking about bad hangovers and I have experienced those. However, I also found out how to prevent them. When I take my medicine for the night (which is now 250mg twice a day) I take my Keppra with my meal and lots of water. I also take a vitamin B supplement before and after I go out. Also, I do not start drinking until the Keppra has been in my system for at least 2-3 hours. I noticied that if I took my medicine while drinking or right before I started to drink I would get really bad headaches and I wouldnt even want to drink but now I do not have any problems.

It is possible to drink on Keppra but you have to find out what works for you. Don't overdue do it, you just have to find your happy medium. Also, my experience might be different due to the fact that it has been a long time since my last seizure and my low dosage. I might think twice about going out a lot if I were taking a higher dosage and my seizures were more frequent.

 Good luck and be careful.

Re: Keppra and Alcohol

Submitted by gordman on Mon, 2009-05-25 - 08:25
You should pay attention to your doctor, alcohol and epilepsy don't work together and it's better for you to understand this now otherwise you risk having other seizures and things can get worse. If you find it hard keep sober you may consider alcohol rehabilitation, once you are done with that you can focus on your condition in a better way.

Re: Keppra and Alcohol

Submitted by mike91 on Tue, 2009-12-15 - 02:29
Today I was diagnosed with Epilepsy after having my first seizure last week.  It was enduced when I did not sleep for about 40 hours and I had it during a math exam.  I'm a freshman at Ohio State University and I have been drinking and partying since I was in middle school.  Growing up in North Dakota, partying is one of the only things to do and today my doctor said I can't get drunk.  It wasn't a devastating blow but I considered it shitty once I thought about how much I actually do drink.  Seeing how I am a freshman at  a party school, its going to be really hard not to party too hard.  I was put on keppren and I am going to get my prescription filled tomorrow.  I'm back home now for winter break and obviously I'm going to drink with my friends.  I was thinking a light drunkeness will be all I can settle for maybe once or twice a week.  If there are any adverse affects I will probably stop using keppra seeing how I have only had one seizure and it was because I didn't sleep.

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