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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 Jimsun on Tue, 2012-12-18 - 01:03
Hi curio & Merry Christmas! There can be many causes of seizures & E & booze are just two of them. I appreciate your Szs have been widely spread out but try knocking the booze on the head for a couple of months before going back to the docs for another opinion. The booze may well not have anything to do with your probs but cutting back will always help - although I appreciate, too, this is probably the wrong time of year to be bouncing such thoughts off you! All the best J. "Even monkeys fall from trees"!

Re: Keppra and Alcohol

Submitted by craigknowles on Tue, 2012-12-18 - 06:54
Craig knowles

Re: Keppra and Alcohol

Submitted by russo on Thu, 2013-08-01 - 02:09

Unfortunately, I have quite a bit of trial-and-error in this particular area. I was diagnosed with absence seizures about 10 years ago, developed grand mal about 6 years ago. Epilepsy medications pretty much all have similar side effects to drunkenness; drowsiness and dizziness are the two big ones. That said, in my experience, it takes about half the drinks to get me feeling twice as drunk. If you insist on drinking on your medication, get used to being called a "lightweight." In my experience, hard liquor is FAR more damaging than beer or wine or the drinks with the lesser alcohol contents. Also, sleep is crucial. I can drink as many beers or as much wine as I would like, provided I've been taking my medication prior and get a minimum of 6 hours of sleep the next night, and be fine. But as soon as I start drinking too much hard liquor and start depriving myself of sleep...it's a toss-up whether I'll spend the next day in the hospital.

 Nobody can prevent you from drinking. But, with epilepsy, there's a certain science to drinking. Learn the science, or forgo the drinks. Best of luck. :) 

Unfortunately, I have quite a bit of trial-and-error in this particular area. I was diagnosed with absence seizures about 10 years ago, developed grand mal about 6 years ago. Epilepsy medications pretty much all have similar side effects to drunkenness; drowsiness and dizziness are the two big ones. That said, in my experience, it takes about half the drinks to get me feeling twice as drunk. If you insist on drinking on your medication, get used to being called a "lightweight." In my experience, hard liquor is FAR more damaging than beer or wine or the drinks with the lesser alcohol contents. Also, sleep is crucial. I can drink as many beers or as much wine as I would like, provided I've been taking my medication prior and get a minimum of 6 hours of sleep the next night, and be fine. But as soon as I start drinking too much hard liquor and start depriving myself of sleep...it's a toss-up whether I'll spend the next day in the hospital.

 Nobody can prevent you from drinking. But, with epilepsy, there's a certain science to drinking. Learn the science, or forgo the drinks. Best of luck. :) 

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