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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 just_joe on Thu, 2013-07-11 - 18:33

You will hear from many different people about side effects and also about drinking. I have had epilepsy since I was 12 they ran tests when I was 13. That was back in 1963. I have been on most of the medications that people have been taking. Understand too that side effects do happen but you also need to be checking the %ages of people i the studies that had those side effects. As for Keppra I have been taking it since before it was on the market or as it was put on the market. The amount you take would do nothing for me since I take 3 750 mg BID. Which equates to 4500 mg a day.

As for keppra working. For me it has done well. It has cut the number of seizures down and has shortened the length of time in the seizure. Mose of my seizures last seconds and I can focus within minutes. I have been working and on the phone with customers and had them and the customer didn't know it. Most of the people I was around at work didn't know I had seizures while I was infront of them. SO yes Keppra has helped me and it does work. I also can tell you that a medication that works for one person may not work for everybody.

As for drinking My friends and I would close the bars down now and then but that was when I was 20-30.  My neuro and my PCP have borh told me that a glass of wine or a beer now and then is not bad. So I do have a glass of wine now and then.  I have wine and will get beer now and then if I know someone is comming over that likes them. I also cook with both beer and wine.

You will hear from many different people about side effects and also about drinking. I have had epilepsy since I was 12 they ran tests when I was 13. That was back in 1963. I have been on most of the medications that people have been taking. Understand too that side effects do happen but you also need to be checking the %ages of people i the studies that had those side effects. As for Keppra I have been taking it since before it was on the market or as it was put on the market. The amount you take would do nothing for me since I take 3 750 mg BID. Which equates to 4500 mg a day.

As for keppra working. For me it has done well. It has cut the number of seizures down and has shortened the length of time in the seizure. Mose of my seizures last seconds and I can focus within minutes. I have been working and on the phone with customers and had them and the customer didn't know it. Most of the people I was around at work didn't know I had seizures while I was infront of them. SO yes Keppra has helped me and it does work. I also can tell you that a medication that works for one person may not work for everybody.

As for drinking My friends and I would close the bars down now and then but that was when I was 20-30.  My neuro and my PCP have borh told me that a glass of wine or a beer now and then is not bad. So I do have a glass of wine now and then.  I have wine and will get beer now and then if I know someone is comming over that likes them. I also cook with both beer and wine.

I'm wondering if this can

Submitted by Harley milton on Wed, 2014-03-26 - 04:56
I'm wondering if this can interfere with his medicine or if it can cause seizures. Read More at http://www.showerfilterstore.com/shop/category/water-filters/. I have bad side effects from the other anti-convulsant drugs.

I've been on keppra, 3000mg a

Submitted by Matboy891 on Sun, 2017-08-20 - 01:29
I've been on keppra, 3000mg a day, for 13 years now. I also was a homelessness methamphetamine addict...not the best when you have epilepsy. Nonetheless, I've been clean for a year, I'm 26 now. The worst thing that I've combined with my keppra, and I've done ever drug you can imagine from cocaine to meth to heroine, is alcohol. That being said, just stay on your dose. I've been drunk many more times than if actually care to admit, and almost every morning after having a drunk night...seizureific! I could be spun on meth, awake, for almost 2 weeks straight and I'm fine. Combine alcohol with your AED and you're running a risk. Literally the only drug I didn't like doing, health wise, was alcohol. Just smoke a blunt and chill and you're fine. But keep in mind keppra causes behavioral issues, so if you want to combine alcohol and/or drugs, research what's going to happen on a neurological basis...or hit me up lol =) love all of you. -matt

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