can anyone drink alcohol while taking AEDs?

[girlwithadog]

I am pregnant and soon I will have the baby. I have complex partial with secondary generalized and I drank plenty before my diagnosis. Not over done but a glass of wine a few nights a week and sometimes more. Sometime I got pretty drunk. Never had an episode while drinking. Ive drank plenty while I was unknowingly having seizures but alcohol and sleep deprivation never made things worse.
But I have never drank alcohol while on AEDs and once I have this baby Id like to have a glass or three of wine. Im over that stage of wanting to get drunk but to have the loosened up relaxed feeling Ive been looking forward to since mid pregnancy. I wasnt on AEDs until recently so IDK if drinking a little bit is even possible at this point. I mean can you really never drink alcohol again?

Does anyone ever successfully drink without it causing seizures? Does going on the AEDs make it more dangerous to drink than if I were not taking them at all? I am currently on Vimpat 100mg 2x a day but will be changing to Lamictal after the pregnancy

Does anyone drink or is alcohol pretty much off limits? Is it from being on the AEDs or would it be off limits even without? Is tthere a limit to how much you can drink before you risk a seizure?

 

[Fedup]

girlwithadog

It is never a good idea mixing medication with alcohol, that said it is possible for some to take a drink in moderation. There are a lot myths about what you can and cannot do when you are diagnosed with epilepsy. The one thing you must remember is things affect everybody differently, so a drink may not agree with you.

 

[Cint]

Drinking alcohol while taking an AED is usually an individual thing. But if you're a new mother plus taking an AED, I would advise you NOT to drink alcohol, especially since you also have generalized seizures! There is always that "what if?" question. Are you planning on nursing? Who is going to be around to help after the baby is born, in case you have a seizure?

Read this for more info on seizures & alcohol:

Alcohol and seizures – some fact
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/triggers-seizures/alcohol
~Seizure medicines can lower your tolerance for alcohol, so the immediate effects of alcohol consumption are greater. In other words, people get drunk faster. Rapid intoxication is a big problem because many of the side effects of these medicines are similar to the acute effects of alcohol itself. If you are sensitive to alcohol or seizure medicines, you may find the combination even worse.

~Many persons with epilepsy are at a high risk of seizures after drinking three or more alcoholic beverages.

~Moderate to heavy alcohol use is never recommended for persons with epilepsy. Alcohol and some seizure drugs have similar side effects. Using both at the same time can lead to bothersome and potentially dangerous problems. Driving would be especially dangerous since both alcohol and seizure medicines can affect your awareness, reflexes, coordination and ability to drive safely.

Also, being a women, your hormones change after the birth of your child, so that is something else you need to consider. Hormones can cause seizure changes. Talk with your neurologist and your ob/gyn about it.

Check this out for more info:

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/impact/reproductive-risks/risks-during-pregnancy
A number of factors have been suggested as possible triggers for these seizures, including hormone changes, water and sodium retention, stress, and decreasing blood levels of antiepileptic medications.

 

[Nakamova]

Generally speaking, AEDs + alcohol tend to reinforce the sedative qualities of each. This means that you can potentially be sleepier/less alert than you might be used to.

I have no problem drinking alcohol (I'm on Lamictal), but as Fedup notes, everyone is different. For some people, alcohol is a seizure trigger, so ANY drinking can be a no-no. For others it's mostly the sedative effects to watch out for. If you are considering having a glass of wine:

1. Check with your neuro or GP first.
2. Assuming you get the green light, proceed with caution until you know how you are affected: Small drink size, low alcohol, sipped slowly, food in your stomach, plenty of water, etc.
3. Have someone with you, and don't plan on driving.
4. Consider drinking an alcohol-free beer -- they can be tasty and have a relaxing effect, even without the alcohol.

Cheers! And good luck w. your pregnancy.

 

[Nakamova]

A few CWE threads on the topic:

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/alcohol-epilepsy-3049/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/alcohol-epilepsy-medication-6807/

 

[Cint]

as Fedup notes, everyone is different. For some people, alcohol is a seizure trigger, so ANY drinking can be a no-no. For others it's mostly the sedative effects to watch out for.

Like I said in my post, drinking IS a no-no, especially for someone experiencing TC seizures and being pregnant!! Think of the CHILD!! Yes, we are all different, but the FACTS remain the same. I do have two children and I have suffered TC seizures, so I DO know a bit about a women's life with seizures and having kids.
You gotta consider the changes in your body, too. Read the links in my post.

 

[Nakamova]

Cint, I absolutely agree that alcohol usage should be approached with extreme caution if you are a person with epilepsy — even if you aren't! And pregnancy adds an additional level of risk to consider.

My experience (which is only mine and will not necessarily be the case for any other person), is that I have had zero issues with alcohol while taking Lamictal. So, to answer the thread title, yes, it's possible to drink alcohol while taking AEDs. I am not encouraging others to take my experience as a template for their own use of alcohol. As always, check with your doctor(s) and proceed with caution.

 

[girlwithadog]

This is all great information and I really appreciate it. I wanted to note though that...

I am speaking of after the baby is born not while pregnant haha. I wouldnt dream of drinking any amount of alcohol while being pregnant. My husband has a cousing whose mother drank while pregnant and its so sad. Shes got many problems. My mom also dated a guy who had an autistic child that they are certain came from his mothers alcohol use while pregnant. Its a huge risk I wouldnt dare take.

I also would have a sitter if I chose to drink. I wouldnt dare hold a child of mine while drinking so I would have to have a sitter. Before i was diagnosed just because i have seen babies dropped due to their parents alcohol level i wouldnt dare hold a baby while drinking.

I do plan on nursing but would pump in advance and dump whatever was pumped during the drinking.

I will see my neurologist two weeks after the baby is born and see if I get a green light. If so i will definately take it slow. One glass of wine the first time. That may not be for a while though since when i see her i will be changing medsand i hate changing meds. I always get complex partials when changing meds. They always intensify. Im finally starting to get comfortable on Vimpat (was switched from Keppra it only took two weeks for the kepprage to take effect). But my insurance wont cover Vimpat its given me the least side effects so far but I still get complex ones every so often but no generalized yet so thats a plus.

 

[Porkette]

Hi girlwithadog,

Just like you I have complex partial seizures and if I have a drink or two I end up going
into a seizure because the alcohol is a sedative and it can often mess up the seizure meds
a person is taking. I wish you the best with the little one coming and I wish you only the best. May God Bless You and Your Family!

Sue

 

[seagull]

I have odd drink also on lamatical but I unfortunatly bypass the relax stage go direct to hangover where I die for 24 hours

 

[resaebiunne]

I am on keppra and lamictal. I have no problems with drinking or feeling sleepy. The main thing for me is that if I drink a lot, it'll trigger a migraine when the withdrawal starts.

 

[N Sperlo]

I drink on Keppra and Trileptal. I'm a beer a day kinda guy and sometimes I enjoy a little more.

In my case, alcohol will usually increase the dizziness effect from the keppra. That is really the only problem I have, so I'd always suggest experimenting conservatively until you're sure of the effects.

Enjoy moderately and be safe.

 

[Janus]

For me alcohol is a trigger. I however use Mmj daily. It causes a drop in seizure activity.

 

[girlwithadog]

I know this is off topic but I didnt want to start another thread. Im just so annoyed.

I had to tell my boss what was going on after my third call in from hospital visits. She didnt have to tell everyone but did anyways. I mean Im walking down the hall and hear people saying "Yeah shes been having seizures so I am keeping an eye on her" by people I barely know! But thats not the worst of it.

These people for some reason feel the need to share their worst case experience with epilepsy with me. Somehow they all know some horror story of someone who was seemingly healthy and out of no where had a seizure and died on the spot. And of coirse this person was young and in shape and only after they died did they learn there was a "spider web aneurysm" or some crap that did them in.
I mean seriously? Some lady last night had to tell me a 30 minute story (along with acting out the seizure) of how her uncle died unexpectedly at 30 from a seizure. How is this helpful? Im glad I was able to sleep last night because after she went into every little detail I was fighting off an anxiety attack that felt like it was going to cause a seizure. Im so glad I am officially on maternity leave now.

Why do people feel the need to share this? Its like telling a person in chemo about your dead uncle who went through hell only to die from his cancer in the end. Whats wrong with people???

 

[Cint]

Why do people feel the need to share this? Its like telling a person in chemo about your dead uncle who went through hell only to die from his cancer in the end. Whats wrong with people???

It makes them feel better and more comfortable to tell you these horrible stories. You don't need to listen to their BS. Simply tell them you're grateful for their concern, but we are all different and use this as an opportunity to educate them about epilepsy. Tell them you're NOT gonna die and your seizures are carefully being monitored by your neurologist. If they have any questions, they can call your dr. Get some info/brochures from the Epilepsy Foundation to ease their minds. Unfortunately, the public is still in the dark ages when it comes to epilepsy.

Hang in there.

 

[girlwithadog]

Youre right I should have informed her. I guess it just freaked me out so all I could do was smile through the conversation and convince myself I was not about to have a seizure. I will try to be better equipped for next time. Its not the first time someone has "shared" this kind of experience and I can imagine it wont be the last. Ugh

 

[Cint]

Probably won't be the last. I even had the tech giving me an EEg once telling me things like this. And one time at a bookstore, another young, good-looking individual had a seizure and other STUPID people made various cruel remarks about him. I wanted to SCREAM at those IDIOTS!! People don't like things that make them feel uncomfortable. Oh well..... they need to learn to deal with life in the way we all have had to..........

 

[girlwithadog]

It really is crazy how people react to it. I tell very few people about it and this is why.

My own mother in law, after my husband told her that I was diagnosed with epilepsy and had to go on medication while I was pregnant with my last baby she says "well she had one pregnancy that was fine. She doesnt need medicine." and "Why is she on medicine? She probably just fainted." and my mom says "Oh no, it was just a panic attack. No need to see the doctor." and these are after my tonic clonic episodes. They werent there for them and when we try to explain its blown off.

My sister in law is 22 weeks pregnant and so worn out from pregnancy she cant even go out in public because its just too much for her. Ive had two generalized seizures while being 34+ weeks pregnant and its no big deal. The hospital tends to disagree but Im supposed to bend over backward even though they are pumping me full of AEDs and Im about to have a baby while having seizures and cant control my conplex seizures and its no big deal because Ive had a couple healthy babies already.

And I cant count how many times Ive heard "You dont have epilepsy, Ive never seen you have a seizure." uh... Yes you have you just didnt notice. You just never saw my generalized seizures. My husband is finally starting to recognize my complex seizures.

I guess it is a need for awareness and for this stigma to pass. I asked my pastors wife to pray for this pregnancy when I started having the tonic clonics and my pastor keeps telling me every week that hes been praying for me as well as some of the elders but his wife wont even look at me and has been dodging me since it all went down. Another reason I tell very few people.

Maybe not beongopen about it is doing more har. Than good its just upsetting how everyone seems to know when what they know is so misguided.

 

[Fedup]

girlwithadog

It really is crazy how people react when you have epilepsy and when they tell you what is wrong with you, even though you tell them you have been to a doctor and been put on medication. Its not as though you take the medication for fun, so its not surprising you do not want to tell people and you cannot be blamed for it.

People seem to be afraid of the word epilepsy and there is a stigma associated with it I believe. For some reason people do not want to believe or except that somebody could have epilepsy. Its very upsetting when something like this happens, its not as though you are looking for special treatment, the one thing you can be sure of is, this has made you a better person, a stronger person than you realise.

 

[acshuman]

girlwithadog,
There is most definitely a stigma when it comes to people w/E. Like Fedup said if the other people are going to have such negative feelings about E we can't feel like we are not worth their time. If they are going to have those thoughts and actually act them out with their mouths and actions we, as the people w/E, have to stand together.y
When you look at how the federal government disregards E when they are passing out the research money it makes me sick. There are over 3 million people in the USA who have E. The government provides an average of less than $2 per person in money for research about E. At the same time they are providing hundreds of millions of $ to conditions like diabetes, asthma, and the other 'acceptable conditions'.
It is strange how E, diabetes and asthma can all cause seizures yet E is treated like an afterthought. 'Give it a few bucks so that they shut up.' is the way research for E is treated.
The government has even started separate agencies for some of the other conditions, yet E is literally 'ignored'!
It is something to see when a person tries to speak to members of Congress about E. Suddenly, there is a mad rush to the restrooms and many members needing to get cups of coffee. I feel the reason for this is that they don't want to hear the facts about E. They want to keep their 'ass-backwards' understanding of E. I have made appointments with some of these 'non-listeners' and seen what happens when they meet a person w/E who comes face-to-face with them and refuses to back down and let them push me around. Many times it takes something like this to break through that hard shell they have around their brains. They actually hear what you are saying and realize that they have been looking at E completely wrong their entire life.
This works! We have to be willing to get the truth out and force the people to listen, if we have to! :twocents:

ACsHuman