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Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??
Mon, 02/05/2007 - 02:58Topic: Medication Issues
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 beccaaa_t on Tue, 2010-04-06 - 09:54
I'm only 16 and have had JME for maybe a year and a half, I take 2000mg of Keppra a day, and my neurologist told me I shouldn't drink, like ever, cause I'll seize. I know I should listen to my doctors but I've drank before and never had a seizure. They say that drinking increases your risks but now I'm starting to be convinced it just effects every person differently. I feel terrible and embarrassed to ask but I was wondering if anyone else ever gets drunk, kinda like trashed, and not be effected from their epilepsy?
I had my first seizure three
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2014-05-05 - 06:49
I had my first seizure three years ago (my stroke was five year ago. I was in a car accident. My blood clots were in my left hemisphere brain). I drive my car. I run a business. Make love. Exercise. Go for walks. Cook. Early in the morning, I'm on Levetiracetam 750 mg tab and drinking tea.On the evening, I drink one or two glasses of red wine or, one bottle of beer (6%). I'm 45 year old.
Re: Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??
Submitted by russo on Mon, 2013-07-15 - 00:08
I've been on Lamictal for years, recently Keppra was substituted for Topamax. Regardless of the medication, it seems like the problem remains the same:
Drinking is usually ill-advised on most medications. Many epilepsy medications (at least the 3 I've mentioned) have drowsiness and dizziness as side effects, which are exacerbated with alcohol consumption. After a certain point (for me, it's usually at about 4 beers), I start to feel as if I'd had twice that many. Whether that is the side effects of the medication or the alcohol itself, is hard to tell.
Worse, though, is the fact that many times after a night of heavy drinking (mostly liquor), I'll have a horrible headache the next morning and will have a seizure sometime in the late afternoon. Not always, but often enough that I'm very, very weary of liquor now. I can drink wine and beer to my heart's content. Probably they're easier and faster for the body to filter than liquor.
In short, I think you're ok as long as you keep it in moderation. I'd imagine a glass or two would be fine for most people.
I've been on Lamictal for years, recently Keppra was substituted for Topamax. Regardless of the medication, it seems like the problem remains the same:
Drinking is usually ill-advised on most medications. Many epilepsy medications (at least the 3 I've mentioned) have drowsiness and dizziness as side effects, which are exacerbated with alcohol consumption. After a certain point (for me, it's usually at about 4 beers), I start to feel as if I'd had twice that many. Whether that is the side effects of the medication or the alcohol itself, is hard to tell.
Worse, though, is the fact that many times after a night of heavy drinking (mostly liquor), I'll have a horrible headache the next morning and will have a seizure sometime in the late afternoon. Not always, but often enough that I'm very, very weary of liquor now. I can drink wine and beer to my heart's content. Probably they're easier and faster for the body to filter than liquor.
In short, I think you're ok as long as you keep it in moderation. I'd imagine a glass or two would be fine for most people.