New - Keppra
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UPDATED: Mon, 02/04/2008 - 10:49am
jppkt
Keppra and Alcohol
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I am a healthy 28 year old male who just had his first 2 seizures on consecutive days. I went to the hospital and had an MRI and an EEG. The EEG came back abnormal so the DR. put me on Keppra 1000mg a day. I am a social drinker who drinks regularly. The Doctor said I shouldn't drink and if I do I can only have one drink. Is this true? I am not an alcoholic but the thought of never being able to get drunk again is fairly upsetting to me. Does anyone have any advice? What happens if I do drink?
Thanks
By jppkt at Mon, 02/04/2008 - 10:49am | 338 views | 31 comments
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Recent Comments on this Discussion
Hi jppktat. I am a healthy 27 year old female who started had her first seizure (a grand mal) in August 2005 about 3 weeks after I turned 24. I am a social drinker as well (especially when I was still in college and I was told to avoid alchohol as well. For 2 years my EEGs all came back negative until last summer when I was put on a video EEG and I had one recored while I was having one. I contiued to have seizureseven though I was taking 500mg of Phenytoin, 500mg of Lamictal, and 1000mg of Keppera 2x a day. I also was told to avoid alcohol, because alcohol decreases dilantin levels ( the hormone that controls your seizures). The last time I drank, I had 2 or 3 beers and the next morning I went to Kennywood, an amusment park in Pittdburgh and was told that I wnt into convulsions right in the middle of the park. The next morning I woke up in the ER, and of course I don't remember anything. Since then, I have not drank and I have not had any convulsions even though I still have the very tiny petit mal seizures where I twich and loose awaereness of all of my surroundings for a minute or two or I will wake up with my lips chewed up from where I had a seizure in the middle of the night. My advice to you from my personal experiance, is to be very carefull about when you drink and make sure you listen to your doctors. In fact, I really don't feel the urge anymore since my 21st b-day.
i have drank on keppra and not had any real problems, no seizure etc. I get drunk quicker and my hangovers are about twice as bad as before
i have decided to stop drinking though because the hangovers are a killer, and i want off my tablets if i can go a year or so longer with no seizure. they said after 2 yrs i could consider it.
i feel im "outgrowing" going drinking and bored of it.
i say never say to yourself NEVER allowed to drink. just drink when you really want to and feel youre missing out, but best not make it a regular thing. but dont deny yourself too much because you have to LIVE
a lot of people are puritanical so will automatically say dont drink before thinking about it properly and weighing up the pros and cons. ie, the fact you will be unhappy if you can never drink again.
i went to the doctor and he said small amounts have some benefits but its not a license to just get wasted every day.
What up everyone, I've only been epileptic since sept. 07, but since middle school i've always smoked weed and drank (18 now). Once this happened I obviously lost my license and as a result spent the next 8-9 months drinking and smoking more then ever. I always noticed before medication when I would drink I'd never have a myoclonic twitch but when I'd smoke weed it'd be immeadiate. Now that I've had medication I've noticed that smoking doesn't do a thing anymore and drinking the same until I haven't drank for a period of 3 days or more. After a few days go by almost always, when im tired before I go to sleep I would have a major myoclonic twitch. I myself, am into lowriding and cruising cars so getting my license back (7 days from today I get my last EEG) is important and can't really afford to get a bad EEG result. My 2 cents, it aint really worth it bro.
I would like to draw to everyone's attention the possibility, that if the belief is that alcohol did not cause the seizures, then why are you all discussing the connection?
I have made the connection after years of habitual drinking, which I would never have considered to be either excessive or problematic in terms of leading a normal lifestyle. I was, and still am a very fit man. I have won fitness titles, and coach others to this end. If there is a clue to what has changed in my life, it is this; I decided about a year ago, to stop drinking. Not long after, I started to experience some strange sensations. Through time I was diagnosed with Epilepsy. I have no doubt that this was as a direct result of my abrubt cessation of alcohol use. If you want my advice, you will take this not only as a warning, but also as an opportunity to have an even healthier way of life....alcohol free.
Good Luck.
Anyone diagnosed with seizures and taking seizure medicine should read up on alcohol effects on both meds and seizures, and talk to their doctor for individual device.
While drugs of many kinds and alcohol don't mix, too much alcohol can aggravate seizures directlly in some people or increase seizures as the withdrawal effects of alcohol occur. People also may get more forgetful, missing seizure medicines which can increase likelihood of seizures even more. How much people drink and how fast may affect how the alcohol effects them, and how it may affect their seizures meds. It may also affect how drunk a person gets. Here's a link to info about things that can affect seizures. Make sure to listen to your doctor too and ask lots of questions. It will help you learn what's important for you. People do need to learn how to cope with the social effects - how and where to go out with friends and not drink, and other ways of socializing.
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/provoke_seizure
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/provoke_alcohol
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_medicines
Epi_help,
Resource Specialist
Keppra is a medicine that is used with other medicines to treat primary
generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children 6 years of age and older with
idiopathic generalized epilepsy, myoclonic seizures in patients 12 years of age and older
with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and partial onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and
older with epilepsy. This may cause extreme sleepiness, tiredness, weakness or problems with
muscle coordination. If I were you, follow what the doctor said. In fact it's for your own sake. Alcohol can do no good to you and to your health.
____________________
wilbert
Alcohol abuse affects millions. This site has a lot of useful information.
Alcohol AbusePlease put external links under the forum thread of "resources, products and helpful lilnks". Thanks!
Epi_help,
Resource Specialist
this website is so good
===========================
sarika
Alcohol abuse affects millions. This site has a lot of useful information.
<a href="http://alcoholabuse.com">http:// alcoholabuse.com</a>
Please remove external links - they belong in the section on Products, Resources and Helpful Links.
Epi_help,
Resource Specialist
Ask yourself if alcohol is more important than your family, friends and others around you? That should lead you to your answer. They are your support and if they aren't helping you quit drinking....question their intentions.
Find a neuro you trust and ask any/ all questions on your mind.
Good luck and stay strong.
I don't drink at all because of my meds.One drink and all I want to do is sleep and then sometimes I have a breakthrough sez they called them.Last weekend we where at a wedding and I was the only nondrinker there.
This is a comprehensive addiction portal focusing on topics of alcohol and drug abuse. http://www.alcoholaddiction.org
I dont suggest drinking any alcohol while on medication..... not only does it counteract with the medicaton, it also can cause more seizures and god knows what else.
I was told not to drink alcohol at all, or even take cold medication. So better care your self and good luck in years happens.
_______
Sweet16
This is a comprehensive addiction portal focusing on topics of alcohol and drug abuse. http://www.alcoholaddiction.org
i have had e all my life. in my early 20s i did drink, had only abscence seizures at the time. after a night of drinking socially, in bed at 11pm, i had my first tonic clonic. spent time in the hospital getting on new meds. the neuro back then, it was the mid 80s said ok to a drink now and than, well the next time i had a magarita, at about 3or 4 in the morning i had a siezure so violent it dislocated my shoulder so again my hubby had to call an ambulance for i was out of it and when i got out of the postical state, the pain was excrutiating. i stoped drinking and was under control for 20 years, at 45 i started having siezures again, neuro said occasion wine or beer ok. well i went thru many meds and after 10 months he gave up and sent me to a epilepsy specialist, who told me to stop drinking completely, no alcohol at all! cuz i put down i occasionally had a glass of beer or wine on paperwork they give you. said alcohol and e do not mix and neither do siezure meds and alcohol. also found out that stimulants such as sinus meds alter the way siezure meds work as well. so you are playing with fire. you only have 1 brain. dont fry it by mixing stuff that may not hurt you as you see it today, but long term effects are killers. you need a new doctor, a epilepsy specialist that will give you the straight info. regular neuros knew some e stuff but treat alot of other neurological disorders so their training in e is limited compared to the specialist. hope this helps, there is also lots of info on this website.
God Bless!
banffgirl
Hi,
Am taking Keppra 500 mg twice a day for the past 2 months. I had beer last week and the next day I had a mild siezure in my work area. Thank God, my collegue who knows about this helped me. I have complex partial seizure since my 10 years of age and now am 23. For these days I was taking carbamizene and gardinal. i switched to keppra onlt 2 month back. So, is there anything like, keppra does not support alcohol consumptuion ? carbamizene was supporting.
George - NYC -- A neurologist I am not, but I have had virtually all versions of epilepsy and the seizures connected to them for 35 years. Fortunately, I've never seen drinking alcohol wise--socially or health-wise. Maybe having a couple of grandparents die a young life because of drinking taught me quite a lesson. I am on Keppra (2250mg), Depakote ER (1000mg), and Lexapro (20mg) and know well that drinks and anti-seizure pills mean "war" within our systems. And it's not a matter of letting of precious bodies have time to adjust to the swigs aimed at them; it is our logical acceptance of taking pills and aiming our loose change at things far wiser than alcoholic drinks. If this sounds Victorian, let it. However, ask people who have had epilepsy for decades, not merely those who just been told about it.
I used to call myself a social drinker but the alcohol treatment center I wound up in told me I was an alcoholic. It was another 20 years or so after that before I'd had my first seizure, and was still drinking. I used the process of elimination when treating my Epilepsy, and the first thing to go was the drinking. It was easy to ask myself after a seizure, I wonder if I had a seizure because I was drinking because I knew I wasn't. Now, it's easier to try to figure out what I might have done/not done as to the reason I had a seizure, I know it wasn't the drinking because I quit that. Did I not eat or forget to take my meds as that's usually a trigger. Usually the only other reason is I forgot to take my meds, and didn't get enough sleep. These days, I know better to even think about drinking, just don't do it.
Well, I had my first seizure at age 17 and have been on Epival for the last twelve years without any problems when I would drink. You can imagine being in high school means you are pretty much exposed to alcohol on a frequent basis (at least I was!) so yeah, I indulged. Maybe a bit too much sometimes, but I never had any seizures while drinking.
I then ended up marrying a drummer in a local band here and his group plays the bar circuit nearly every weekend so I often go out to support him. It hasn't been a problem - so far so good.
Then, my neuro switched me to Keppra nearly two weeks ago and I wanted to test the waters so I had a glass of wine with dinner one night without any incidence. I am now up to 2000mg of Keppra and again had a couple of drinks and seemed to notice that it hit me just a little harder than normal. I swear I'm not an alcoholic though! I just happen to enjoy my wine...good luck to you and just go by how you feel. Take care!
Hi Dark Angel I just read your comments on Keppra and booze, and as a fellow wine drinker, I thought I'd reply. All I drink is red wine, the occasional white wine in the summer, but I think I drink too much. If I'm honest, it halps me to chill out, gives me confidence, and helps me to forget my troubles, I don't get drunk every night or anything that crazy, but once I start drinking, I just don't want to stop, I do have to stop after about five large Shiraz or Merlots, what's your limit? Yesterday, I got totally hammered on about four glasses, it was lunch time though, I don't drink that often during the day, and having recently lost my job, that would be a very"slippery slope" if I did start daytime boozing.
I'm on 1500mg of Keppra twice a day, I really only have Complex Partial seizures, I usually get the aura beforehand, which totally freaks me out, I get the taste, smell, the epigastric rising, and I find them more terrifying than any seizure, I've just spent the whole day in what's become known as "wobbly mode" meaning I've had lots of auras and just felt unlike my usual self, I forgot to take the Keppra last night as I was half cut, I usually just go to sleep, I don't get aggressive or mouthy after a drink. I just wanted to reply to you, as it was good to hear from a fellow wine drinker.
I'm writing a book about my experiences with epilepsy called "Fit For Life" and if it's the last thing I do, I'll get it published, I'm just waiting for a second lot of brain surgery, it worked for five years the first time then my seizures came back again after five years, fingers crossed eh?
Anyway, all the best to you, long may you continue seizure free!
Cheers
Elaine
Hey, I'm a 26 year old female who has been a bartender/dancer (ballet/jazz, etc...) for the last few years. I had my first partial seizures about a year and a half ago and my first tonic clonic a little over a year ago. I still wasn't diagnosed until this past summer with epilepsy and I was told drinking wasn't the cause, so I've continued and nothing has really changed- even on Keppra and Lamictal. I feel like my health has still declined-I've had about 5 or 6grand mals in the last year and countless partials and the meds don't help at all as long as I'm still drinking. Despite the fact that I've been told I have temporal lobe epilepsy and drinking is not a major factor, I recently stopped drinking altogether. I was going out a lot and given where I work and the lifestyle I lead, it's extremely hard to say no to a drink with friends and the idea of not drinking is daunting. I am not an alcoholic but I know what you mean about how hard it seems to believe you can never have a few too again. I know it's cliche, but I'm just taking it one day at a time. You have to trust your own body. I am doing my own experiment now after a year and a half of not getting better to see if alcohol is the primary factor in my epilepsy and if it is, then I would rather not drink again and listen to my own advice than heed the advice of doctors and suffer what I have been for the last year and a half.
The effects are different for everyone...part of the beauty of epilepsy, eh?
I live with epilepsy; I am 42 and I began having seizures at age six.
I take several meds for epilepsy, keppra among them. I also enjoy a drink now and then...I hope you find that sweet-spot.
Take care...
Hi
I started on Keppra six weeks ago - 500 mg a day.
My doctor told me to avoid alcohol for three weeks.
I had my first two glasses of wine last week with a meal and had the shakes all night.
It's put me off drinking again. I wouldn't risk your health.
I'm finding it hard at the mo. My workmates don't know I'm on Keppra or my condition so also trying to avoid the pregnancy rumours on social drinks out!
I just hope maybe I can have the odd drink again soon.
:-)
My epilepsy started when I was 20, right in the middle of my peak drinking age. (18 was the legal age back then) I didn't have much problems with my own desire to drink, but it was VERY hard to avoid the social pressure. It took some time and others around me got used to it. I just used a very generic response when pressured. "I have nothing against drinking, I just can't with my medication." This worked with most people and I rarely had to explain my E to them. Sometimes it even made me a little more popular, because I was the sober driver.
Now at 46, I do drink occasionally. One way I keep from going to excess is by drinking wine, weak mixes, or dark beer. This way I get to drink, but slower than those around me.
BE SURE TO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. You're chances of a break through seizure are increased and could prove fatal for you or someone else.
Best of Luck.
I used to be a regular social drinker and I wasn't exactly told, "No, you can't drink alcohol again!" but why take the chance?
As hard as it was & still is (I still have a fully stocked wine rack) I haven't touched a drop since my seizure and going on Keppra. At first it was rather unbearable, kinda like the kid in the candy store who is denied everything if you know what I mean, but it did pass.
I guess it is just a personal decision. Everyone has to figure out the correct course of action for themselves and their families but why risk having another seizure if going dry would have or could have prevented it? Of course, my first (and only) seizure was a tonic-clonic and my desire to avoid another seizure overrides any desire to consume alcohol.
Just my thoughts on the subject!
SAV
I have been taking keppra for the last 6 yrs.-3750mg/day. I like wine and have 2-3 glasses @ get togethers, ok'd by my dr. Good thing to eat when drinking for the meds to be absorbed into the system. Maybe the dr, because this is a new med for you, and seizures are new for you says "no" to the drinking. I'd follow what he says and see if the keppra helps stop the seizures-that's MOST impt. And if you're still having them, and taking the meds, maybe you can start drinking more. Good luck-hope it works for you!
I like wine with dinner every night, usually a couple of glasses. I take 2000 mg of Keppra daily for TLE and have never had a problem with it.
Deb
I am currently on this perscription and I am also a social drinker. I had to practically pry it our of my doctor to see if I could even have alcohol, but he told me that I could and I have had a few nights where I had a little to much other nights where just the occasional drink. I have been fine every time but maybe you doctor has a nother reason for saying what he did about alcohol and it might be because you are so new to the medication and he just wants to monitor you for a little.
doctor have to say " if you drink, take only one - no more". if people is epilepsy doctor say no alkohol, if you eat keppra or depracine or something doctor say no alkohol if you have to take , take only one.
keppra and alkoloh mean if you take pils and alkohol - one keppra and 5 drinks is you body more keppra (maybe 2) and alkohol is 6-10 drinks. and /or you take only one and you have very bad feel then.
Wow.... we all have different scenarios so it's hard to exactly tell you what will or won't happen.... but I am 27... 28 in 2 weeks & I have had epilepsy since the age of 12.
I have enjoyed much of my college life drinking & learned that there are times where you have to judge it. Personally, taking 3 meds & drinking shortly after can trigger it quickly.... I have to make sure I eat well ,take meds at the right time.... then have a good time....
Hope that helped... if you decide to do it.... be responsible & make yourself eat well to soak in the meds....
~take care
David P.
if you have any questions... feel free to give me a buzz @ 678-523-6789 or email dgpatel80@gmail.com
-DP
hey man this is henry im 16 years old i just got diagnosed with epilepsy im new to this site and i just read your comment and it made me feel alot better because this has been life changing for me its so hard to think just a month ago i was living a normal life and now i have to deal with a brain disorder its just been really hard for me these last couple of weeks but its good to find people that have gone trought this and made it through college and continued a normal life. I just got prescribed keppra today so im a little drugged out so im on 400mg of zonegran and 1000 mg of keppra a day it seems to be working for now so i hope to God this is the right combination of medicine. As for drinking i used to drink every weekend with my friends just to relax and hangout but now i just choose not to drink because i would rather just not drink and not have seizures.
Henry Candela
I notice lots of the people who have had seizures after a drink of alcohol are on Keppra.
I had my first seizure at age 26 and was put on Phenobarbitol. That didn't work so I ended up on Mysoline--(Primidone) a really old med. I was on the highest dose and have only had nocturnal, grand-mal seizures.
I was told not to drink. I did anyway--on weekends; not every weekend, just once in a while. I partied, I got drunk, I passed out--again, once in a while--every few months. And I never had a seizure after any of those instances.
I had seizures other times. Seemingly for no rhyme or reason. During the middle of the week or on weekends when my husband and I had worked OT and were dead tired and went to bed early. Again, not everytime I was tired, just once in a while. Other times on the weekend....Saturday seemed to be the favorite night.
I was on Lamictal for the last 5 years and drink 1 glass of red wine in the evening. I have had 2 seizures per year on average over the last 20 years.
I am now on Topamax (400 mg. all at bedtime) (last 6 months--long story with side affects) and I have not had a seizure in over 2 years. Last one was in April of 2006. I am going to ask to go off the meds.
My husband and I were told, 20 years ago, that if I was seizure free for 2 years, I could get off the meds. I am going to see if they will let me. I have to try. I am so sick of all the side effects of the meds and want to feel *normal* again.
Anyway, as long as it doesn't negatively affect you, I don't think 1 glass of wine or 1 beer will harm you. I'm still here. (smile) I did everything wrong. Believe me. I'm not proud, just telling the truth.