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Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??
Mon, 02/05/2007 - 02:58Comments
Re: Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??
Submitted by MarthaRoser on Thu, 2012-09-06 - 05:40
I got diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 18 about a month before I started uni. I was put on Sodium Valporate and only had one seizure in the next 9 months. Then I stopped taking my medication because I thought 'I've not got epilepsy they were just one offs.' Then I had one which resulted in a brain hemmorhage and was then put on Levetiracetam. That was a year ago and since then I have had seizures at least once a month resulting in worsening injuries. CAN I PLEASE TELL EVERYONE DO NOT STOP TAKING YOUR MEDICATION!! As far as side effects go alcohol has never been involved in a seizure so drink away as far as I am concerned! But yes, it does seem to make it easier to get drunk to begin with but that wears off with time. Other side effects I have experienced are memory loss, anger issues, weight gain, skin rashes and bruising. I am on the highest dose of keppra now and quite frankly can't wait to get off it. This is the first time I've actually found a group about epilepsy as I don't know any one else with it! Reassuring to know I'm not the only neurologically challenged individual :)
Martha x
I got diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 18 about a month before I started uni. I was put on Sodium Valporate and only had one seizure in the next 9 months. Then I stopped taking my medication because I thought 'I've not got epilepsy they were just one offs.' Then I had one which resulted in a brain hemmorhage and was then put on Levetiracetam. That was a year ago and since then I have had seizures at least once a month resulting in worsening injuries. CAN I PLEASE TELL EVERYONE DO NOT STOP TAKING YOUR MEDICATION!! As far as side effects go alcohol has never been involved in a seizure so drink away as far as I am concerned! But yes, it does seem to make it easier to get drunk to begin with but that wears off with time. Other side effects I have experienced are memory loss, anger issues, weight gain, skin rashes and bruising. I am on the highest dose of keppra now and quite frankly can't wait to get off it. This is the first time I've actually found a group about epilepsy as I don't know any one else with it! Reassuring to know I'm not the only neurologically challenged individual :)
Martha x
Re: Side Effects for Keppra & Can you drink alcohol??
Submitted by BIonicDuck on Wed, 2010-04-07 - 18:12
When taking any kind of anti convulsant, you're not even supposed to consume any amount of alcohol. Alcohol passes through your liver, as do the meds, so it negates the effects of the medication. The consumption of alcohol also has the possibility of bringing on a grand mal. I refused to believe it, until I wound up sicker than a dog one morning after a night of heavy drinking and going into a grand mal along with passing out in the shower. I haven't given up on alcohol, but I keep it to a minimum of special occasions, which are few and far between. As for Keppra, I experienced the same side effects, but also included increased depression and mood swings. I also had my first grand mal when I was transitioning onto Keppra from Zonnegran and Lamictal.
When taking any kind of anti convulsant, you're not even supposed to consume any amount of alcohol. Alcohol passes through your liver, as do the meds, so it negates the effects of the medication. The consumption of alcohol also has the possibility of bringing on a grand mal. I refused to believe it, until I wound up sicker than a dog one morning after a night of heavy drinking and going into a grand mal along with passing out in the shower. I haven't given up on alcohol, but I keep it to a minimum of special occasions, which are few and far between. As for Keppra, I experienced the same side effects, but also included increased depression and mood swings. I also had my first grand mal when I was transitioning onto Keppra from Zonnegran and Lamictal.