Can smoking and drinking cause eating epilepsy??

[rajivmenon]

Hi,
i had 3 episodes of seizures in the last 3 years. After the 3rd episode only doctor confirmed its eating epilepsy bcoz all the 3 episodes happened when i was having food. I'm on medication now using Oxcarbazepine(Oxfol XR 600) and Levetiracetum(Keppra 500) tabs. Keppra will be gradually withdrawn the doctor said. I'm using Keppra for last 3 years nd the other tab started only after the 3rd episode. I'm a smoker nd drinker. Will that cause any harm?? Can i drive my vehicle??? Please give an appropriate answer

 

[Nakamova]

Hi rajivmenon, welcome to CWE!

Below are threads on "eating epilepsy" from the CWE archives that might be useful:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f22/seizures-induced-eating-1445/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/eating-triggers-my-sons-seizures-10919/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/treatment-medication-eating-seizures-7065/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f20/eating-induced-seizures-whats-causing-them-6854/

The questions you have are best answered by your doctor -- he should be able to advise you about what's safest, including whether or not it's okay to drive. Depending where you live, there may be requirements that you be seizure-free for a certain period of time before you are legally allowed to drive. Generally that time period runs from 6 months to a year, but you should check to make sure what your local laws specify.

With eating epilepsy, it's thought that the the actual sensory characteristics of the food are what's triggering -- the texture or the smell for instance. So that suggests that alcohol and tobacco aren't playing a big role (unless you seize immediately after drinking or lighting up).

However, it can't hurt to take a close look at your habits and behaviors to see if there may be secondary triggers that are stressing your system. With only three seizures, it's tough to identify a specific pattern, but you may want to try some changes to see how you feel. For some people, the stimulant properties of nicotine are seizure triggers. Alcohol can also be triggering for some people, particularly if it's consumed in excess -- the resulting changes in metabolism like fatigue and dehydration may be playing a role. Another concern is the way alcohol combines with anti-seizure meds. They tend to reinforce each other's sedative properties, so you should be cautious with your drinking until you get a good sense of how you feel.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[rajivmenon]

i had all the 3 seizures while i was eating rice...

 

[rajivmenon]

upto 3 months back, i used to drink 2 beers a week and while drinking used to smoke also... but don't had any problem....

 

[Nakamova]

It sounds like your smoking and drinking were pretty moderate, so probably not a factor in the seizures.

Interesting about the rice! Was that the only thing you were eating at the time, or was there a particular sauce or spice?

 

[rajivmenon]

2 times i was having boiled rice and curd... the 3rd time i was eating chicken fried rice and chilly chicken...

 

[nightowl47]

I used to drink & had several seizures...

I was going through a bad time in life and started only socially drinking at the age of 40, then as the years went by I progressively got worse, as well as my seizure activity. But I just really didn't get it together until the third time I ended up in the Emergency room. At that point, it was time to quit, and quit I did cold turkey, with God's help and many people praying for me. I never even went through dry spells or anything. That was back in October of 2010 and to this day I never even desire any of the alcohol. I have to deal with the repercussions of what I put my body through but I have been able to gain the respect back of family members and friends and for me that's the important thing. Oh yeah, at least I am alive to tell my story too!
However, I am a smoker and started about the same time, but I have to quit now due to the fact that I am facing another surgery on the left leg soon and it's very extensive so this doctor says I must be nicotine free for 30 days before he will do it. Guess that's one way to stop, huh? Plus my husband's quitting as well, will save us about $160 monthly he says and that's going in our savings! Haven't heard if smoking causes seizures, but I did ask my Neuro about the drinking, he says an occasional glass of wine or beer doesn't bring on a seizure, it's the excess of alcohol consumption. That's what I have been able to find out in my research, but I will surely not ever drink again myself. To each his own I say.

 

[Gillette]

Hi, this is my first post but felt compelled to add onto this conversation. My epilepsy is through a brain injury caused by a car accident but I have triggers that bring on seizures. One of them is tiredness, so if we are going on an evening out I have to make sure I get a sleep during the day otherwise if i am lucky I know I will have the build up auras if my meds can do their job and keep a full seizure at bay, but the other trigger is alcohol and if I have a couple of drinks I tend to find I don't have a proper sleep the way I normally would. I also have the dehydration issue, the alcohol cancelling out the meds. I am pretty much asking for a seizure but sometimes I just get frustrated and try to be how I was before much to the horror of my husband as I am being selfish and not thinking of him being left to pick up the pieces on the days after. I am not talking loads here I am meaning 2 maybe 3 drinks at most on an extremely rare occasion when I need a blow out, then pay the price the next few days after ..... I no longer drink alcohol. I know it's a long story but my point is you may have a trigger just like me, I was trying to deny mine as I felt I had enough taken from me through my accident which is for another post . I know it is risky but it's a matter of trial and error that's what I had to do to find out if it was just tiredness or if it was the alcohol or a combination and I found it was all individually and all together.

Each time I have a seizure I can't drive for 6 months but my neurologist recently increased to 12 months. So for yourself this is something that only your treating specialist can answer.

Good luck and stay strong.

 

[Janus]

I totally hear your statement Gillette, I also have seizures that stem from a brain injury I had in 1986. And today I have found that being overtired is a huge trigger for me. I am working on slowing down because I tend to drink more coffee and 'push through' instead of rest. Also, I am nervous about flying redeye flights. It seems that even if I use calming tea and ear-plugs etc. I can not sleep on planes; once I arrive at (now to see my girlfriend in Wisconsin) I am excited and may never get sleep caught up. That really scares me. And yet visiting her is one of the best things I can do for myself.

 

[nightowl47]

I myself for months now don't sleep hardly ever at night, the meds Zonegran has a well known side effect of insomnia, so for a long time I was on Trazadone to counteract that and it helped for a while then I started having these strange dreams all the time and couldn't sleep. I tried all sorts of meds but nothing worked, now I'm on Cymbalta, not only for mild depression, but as a non narcotic back pain reliever and it has helped some for sleeping. There are still nights I stay up then sleep the next day, but it's getting in my system more everyday and I can tell the difference. The great thing, I haven't had any side effects with this medication and I am so glad. It's about time too. Wouldn't it be great if all our meds had no side effects??