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Smoking marijuana and drinking
Thu, 02/07/2008 - 01:51Comments
Re: Smoking marijuana and drinking
Submitted by leapoffaith17 on Fri, 2008-02-29 - 14:17
I was only officially diagnosed a year and a half ago but I've been told that my seizures probably started when I was about 5. I've been smoking marijuana regularly for about 2 and a half years now and it hasn't had any effect on my seizures, negative or positive. My response from my neuro when I asked him was basically that marijuana is more likely to suppress the brain activity that would result in seizures and alcohol would stimulate it. I also drink on occassion and have not had any alcohol related issues regarding my epilepsy. I've been taking Lamictal since Oct. '06 and that's the only thing that's made a difference in the frequency of my seizures.
Mostly as I can gather it's on an individual basis, it could just affect one person differently than another, but I haven't had any personal issues with either weed or alcohol.
I was only officially diagnosed a year and a half ago but I've been told that my seizures probably started when I was about 5. I've been smoking marijuana regularly for about 2 and a half years now and it hasn't had any effect on my seizures, negative or positive. My response from my neuro when I asked him was basically that marijuana is more likely to suppress the brain activity that would result in seizures and alcohol would stimulate it. I also drink on occassion and have not had any alcohol related issues regarding my epilepsy. I've been taking Lamictal since Oct. '06 and that's the only thing that's made a difference in the frequency of my seizures.
Mostly as I can gather it's on an individual basis, it could just affect one person differently than another, but I haven't had any personal issues with either weed or alcohol.
Re: Smoking marijuana and drinking
Submitted by Nylrad on Wed, 2008-03-19 - 22:52
I don't know the medical answer for this, but I asked my neurologist about it and he told me that he could not condone it. I find it helps me sleep better and I can't say whether my seizures are reduced from it, but I don't think they have increased either.
Two days ago my doctor told me that I'm a candidate for surgery, so I've got to check out everything I can. I haven't had a grand mal seizure in several years, but I still have seizures. I can't decide whether to even go forward with the testing that has to be done first. I'm afraid the induced seizures may actually make me start having the big ones again. And I'm at the maximum level I can take of the drugs I'm taking (Keppra and Trileptal). Any thoughts on surgery (left temporal lobe)?
I don't know the medical answer for this, but I asked my neurologist about it and he told me that he could not condone it. I find it helps me sleep better and I can't say whether my seizures are reduced from it, but I don't think they have increased either.
Two days ago my doctor told me that I'm a candidate for surgery, so I've got to check out everything I can. I haven't had a grand mal seizure in several years, but I still have seizures. I can't decide whether to even go forward with the testing that has to be done first. I'm afraid the induced seizures may actually make me start having the big ones again. And I'm at the maximum level I can take of the drugs I'm taking (Keppra and Trileptal). Any thoughts on surgery (left temporal lobe)?
Re: Smoking marijuana and drinking
Submitted by LeslieM90 on Fri, 2008-02-29 - 00:16
yea weed is definetly fine. i've had to deal with seizures my whole life, and basically the only time i was seizure free as a teen was when i smoked weed. then i got mono, and stopped smoking and sure enough my seizures came back. it could just be coincidence though. but definetly do nottt drink alcohol. it is a seizure's worst enemy! i find even a little bit of drinking can trigger some seizure activity.
obviously i wouldn't exactly go out and buy tons of weed, but i've heard it's really good at prevented them, especially if you feel the onset of one.
i'm more worried about smoking it and having a reaction with my meds. are you on any?
yea weed is definetly fine. i've had to deal with seizures my whole life, and basically the only time i was seizure free as a teen was when i smoked weed. then i got mono, and stopped smoking and sure enough my seizures came back. it could just be coincidence though. but definetly do nottt drink alcohol. it is a seizure's worst enemy! i find even a little bit of drinking can trigger some seizure activity.
obviously i wouldn't exactly go out and buy tons of weed, but i've heard it's really good at prevented them, especially if you feel the onset of one.
i'm more worried about smoking it and having a reaction with my meds. are you on any?