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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 amyleigh2012 on Thu, 2010-01-28 - 01:03
My symptoms have been the same as yours. My neurologist said it is still ok to drink but to limit it 2 drinks a day. I have been on Keppra since May 2009 and haven't had any known seizures since then. I have found myslef not being able to eat the same as I use to, I also get tired very easily, and sometimes feel a little overwhelmed and easily irritable. I have recently noticed that my short-term memory is not nearly as well as it use to be.

So I had my first grand mal

Submitted by Seizuregirl808 on Sat, 2018-09-22 - 22:04
So I had my first grand mal on my birthday a few weeks ago, I had been fainting with no shaking or anything for two months end of last year. Since my birthday September 3rd to today September 22 I have had over 70 seizures. I’m not epileptic but they also don’t know why I’m having seizures I get auras most of the time and I’m usually conscious during them I feel like I’m locked in a house and watching my body and everyone else happen around me sometime I shake real bad other times my face gets stuck like I’m having a strok. I noticed many of you said you have seizures in your sleep so that’s normal too even on the Keppra? I have seizures in my sleep and noticed my heart rate can hit anywhere from 110-250 while I’m sleep. I don’t have much appetite to eat food I’m very tired after a sextant if I walk around for an hour I’ve only had one seizure I don’t remember but I do lose time a lot was taking 500mg twice a day but since my seizures were so often I now take it three times a day which I noticed I’m less tachycardic in my sleep have fewer seizures expect for when I’m late on the meds and generally do ok minus the side effects. I do have the mood swings and an intense sex drive lately. I also have a lung disease which I treat with medical marijuana and most of the time keeps me from flares. If I’m not epileptic shouldn’t the Keppra not work? 

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

Submitted by treley on Sat, 2008-12-20 - 07:40
I am newly diagnosed with partial-onset epilepsy (just over a year) and I am 41.  I am also a nursing student.  I am currently taking 1500mg of Keppra, and it appears to be working.  I have gone from seizures every three to four days to 7 days and as many as fifteen days.  Keppra is metabolized by what is known as the first bypass effect.  This means that it is not metabolized in the liver.  It does not need the protein binding of the cytochrome p450 to work. It is, however, metabolized and excreted from the kidneys.  I am not sure what kinds of effect drinking would have on Keppra, but it would not be from a fight with the liver.  I would suggest check with your neurologist, refrain from drinking or everything in moderation.

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