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Keppra and Alcohol

Mon, 02/04/2008 - 13:49

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

Comments

Re: Keppra and Alcohol

Submitted by dgpatel on Mon, 2008-02-04 - 15:03

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

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

Re: Keppra and Alcohol

Submitted by henry199 on Mon, 2008-06-09 - 16:00

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

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

Re: Keppra and Alcohol

Submitted by day_me_in on Thu, 2008-07-24 - 18:26

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. 

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. 

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