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[whyseizures]

Seizure BackgroundEdit Value
First seizure was around 19 yrs old, now 50. Didnt have another til i was 40. All were grand mal seizures. Took dilantin and didnt have anymore til i was about 47. They increased. Realized that they all occurred at night and most were near a time of considerable drinking. Usually 2-3 days, but primarily just beer with friends. Im not a heavy closet liquor drinker but i can have 15 beers sometimes. Bad sleeper, very often i get up at 3:15 and have to watch tv til i fall asleep. I asked my DR if i was having alcohol withdrawl seizures i read about, and he thought maybe, so he gave me clonazapam and primidone. I have had more in the last two years than ever before, so i believe i was misdiagnosed. I am going back to 100 mg Dilantin and will see what happens. Because i was drinking with friends that 7 yrs when i never had another??? I think the drinking really kept me up late, therefore not getting enough sleep triggered the seizures?? i am going to try dilantin only at night when i have been out with friends, drinking and perhaps not getting enough sleep. PS i usually drink 2-3 times a week and just beer! Anyone ever have similar history??? And do you think its the alcohol??? Please i want to hear your story and advice! God Bless!

 

[Porkette]

Hi whyseizures,

Welcome to CWE! Years ago I was on Dilantin and take my word you should never drink while taking that drug it will trigger seizures like crazy. Also if you are having problems sleeping you may have a sleep disorder which in turn is triggering seizures. My advice to you is for you to go in for a sleep study along with an e.e.g. and this will show if you are having seizures do to a sleep disorder but take my word never drink while taking Dilantin because the alcohol gets into the bloodstream and in turn that will mess up the Dilantin.
Wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

 

[whyseizures]

Hi whyseizures,

Welcome to CWE! Years ago I was on Dilantin and take my word you should never drink while taking that drug it will trigger seizures like crazy. Also if you are having problems sleeping you may have a sleep disorder which in turn is triggering seizures. My advice to you is for you to go in for a sleep study along with an e.e.g. and this will show if you are having seizures do to a sleep disorder but take my word never drink while taking Dilantin because the alcohol gets into the bloodstream and in turn that will mess up the Dilantin.
Wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Thanks, thats exactly what i plan to do. They have a machine you can take home now and use over several nights. Then they have a tech interpret the data. I tried one at clinic and couldnt sleep, when i fell asleep the dumbass woke me up and said his shift was over!!! Thanks so much!!!

 

[whyseizures]

Hi whyseizures,

Welcome to CWE! Years ago I was on Dilantin and take my word you should never drink while taking that drug it will trigger seizures like crazy. Also if you are having problems sleeping you may have a sleep disorder which in turn is triggering seizures. My advice to you is for you to go in for a sleep study along with an e.e.g. and this will show if you are having seizures do to a sleep disorder but take my word never drink while taking Dilantin because the alcohol gets into the bloodstream and in turn that will mess up the Dilantin.
Wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

PS, i have prob had 10-15 in my entire life. ???

 

[Cint]

I have had more in the last two years than ever before, so i believe i was misdiagnosed. I am going back to 100 mg Dilantin and will see what happens. Because i was drinking with friends that 7 yrs when i never had another??? I think the drinking really kept me up late, therefore not getting enough sleep triggered the seizures?? i am going to try dilantin only at night when i have been out with friends, drinking and perhaps not getting enough sleep. PS i usually drink 2-3 times a week and just beer! Anyone ever have similar history??? And do you think its the alcohol??? !

Could be alcohol, could be loss of sleep, could be anxiety or could be the seizures bringing on more seizures. If you want to stop the seizures, it would be a good idea to take the Dilantin every day, not just at night when you're out drinking.

Check out these websites:

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/triggers-seizures/lack-sleep-and-epilepsy
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/triggers-seizures/stress-and-epilepsy
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/triggers-seizures/alcohol

Avoid binge drinking – drinking too much at once or over long periods of time.

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

 

[acshuman]

! ! ! ! Welcome to CWE ! ! ! !

whyseizures,

Porkette gave you good advice as far as getting a sleep study done at the same time as an EEG. This will show both your doctor and you many things about diagnosing your E if you have have had problems sleeping for many years.
I have found through searches that I have done that there are actually some people whose E has been caused by their sleep problems. When this was found out, the correct equipment was prescribed for them and the number of seizures they had was reduced and in some cases totally stopped. :clap:
I had a sleep study done many years ago and was put on a CPAP machine for Sleep Apnea. I found that any problems I had previously had when sleeping were stopped. When I started using the CPAP machine I fell asleep easier, didn't wake up during the night and felt SOOOOO much better the next day every day. Using a CPAP is something that can take care of a lot of problems a person may have as a result of sleeping poorly. Sleep Apnea is something that few people ever think about and as a result they have problems sleeping for many, many years until someone tells them about the problems Sleep Apnea can cause. onder:

acshuman

 

[Nakamova]

Hey ws, welcome to CWE!

Anti-seizure meds like Dilantin work best when you take them consistently, not just on an "as-needed" basis. You need to have consistent levels in the bloodstream. If you are taking them on and off it can have negative effects on the brain, even triggering seizures.

As far as alcohol goes: Occasional alcohol use can increase your blood levels of Dilantin, which can increase side effects. But daily alcohol use can decrease your blood levels of Dilantin, which can increase your risk of seizures. Either way, it's a good idea to drink very rarely or not at all so that the Dilantin to be at consistent levels in your blood/brain and do its job.

 

[Frink]

Hi WS,
Welcome to CWE.
Drinking and E do not go together. Dilantin is not a PRN type of medication, it must be taken regularly to reach therapeutic blood levels.

I do drink occasionally, I have about 1 or 2 six packs per year.