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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 kickinitru2 on Thu, 2009-12-31 - 01:51
You need to talk to your neurologist before considering having a glass of wine. My son has been on just about every med there is out there along with the keto diet and now VNS. He had behavioral problems on Keppra, which was not his normal behavior. I wouldn't suggest drinking alcohol with meds that chemically change your mind. You need to understand that everytime you have a seizure, it is a lot of wear and tear on not only your brain, but all of your organs. Alcohol kills brain cells. With seizures adding to this, do you think you should really be intentionally killing brain cells? He is now 20, I have been watching him have seizures since he was 5, they get worse as time goes on, he is now moving into grand mal, it breaks my heart everytime he encounters one and he has too many to count in a day. Don't put extra stress on your parents by adding to an already complicated situation. Good luck to you.
Re: Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??
Submitted by anita4pets on Wed, 2010-04-07 - 15:26
My husband was on keppra for about a year. It wasn't the occasional glass of wine or beer that was the problem, it was the rage and depresseion. Things got so bad he was weaned off the keppra and is now working on stabalizing on the new med (Topamax) and Depakote. I am here to tell you, the rage and depression was from the keppra and nothing else. Two weeks after he was off the drug the anger and rage disappeared.
Re: Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??
Submitted by kay. on Wed, 2009-12-30 - 18:42
hii :)
i'm 18 and have been on keppra for probably at least 2 years and my god, it has honestly reduced my seizures, i still take a load of them but when i come off them i take awful seizures and am sick and ill the rest of the day.
i can still drink but get drunk a lot faster than my friends and have been warned of this but hey, less money on alcohol i suppose? (look on the bright side as much as you can i suppose :) )
i amnt too bad with the side affects but iv been on medication since i was 14, so i was never "normal"
im on the same amount as you and im doing ok and can still drink (also on lamotrigine and clobizam) so you should be fine :)
if you can, get in touch if you fancy and i hope this helps somehow?
x
hii :)
i'm 18 and have been on keppra for probably at least 2 years and my god, it has honestly reduced my seizures, i still take a load of them but when i come off them i take awful seizures and am sick and ill the rest of the day.
i can still drink but get drunk a lot faster than my friends and have been warned of this but hey, less money on alcohol i suppose? (look on the bright side as much as you can i suppose :) )
i amnt too bad with the side affects but iv been on medication since i was 14, so i was never "normal"
im on the same amount as you and im doing ok and can still drink (also on lamotrigine and clobizam) so you should be fine :)
if you can, get in touch if you fancy and i hope this helps somehow?
x