Epilepsy Forum - Seizures caused by alcohol consumption

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Q: Seizures caused by alcohol consumption

asked by: Jbonome on January 7th, 2009

New User

I'm a healthy 24 year old male who started having generalized tonic clonic seizures in college. I've had 3 seizures total and all 3 occured the morning after a night of drinking. The amount of alcohol I consumed varied in all three instances. One time I was up real late drinking pretty much all day at a good friends college graduation party and the other two times I had maybe 5 or 6 beers in the course of 6 hours or so. In all three cases I awoke the next morning and used the bathroom, so I was up and about. When I returned to bed or to the tv to watch some tv I began to seize. The alcohol is clearly the variable and I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar or has any alternative treatments? I'm currently on Keppra to prevent the seizures and have take Depakote in the past but I'd rather not be on medication for the rest of my life if possible. Any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated.

Replies(7)

accentz

replied on January 25th, 2009

New User

Don't drink...

Hi, I have had epilepsy since age 14 and now I am 28. I understand you may want to have a good time and drink, but if you have one beer or just one margarita my neuro said it would be fine once in a while. If you can't have just one, then don't drink. Looks like that is why you are having the seizures. Take care.

dale78

replied on May 15th, 2009

New User

seizures

Hi, I'm a 30 yr old male, and I've had 3 seizures in a 16 months period. In all 3 cases
they occured in the morning after an excessive
amount of alcohol.

drinker

replied on June 27th, 2009

New User

epilepsy and drinking alcohol

hey, im 22 and have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. it started about 6 months after i started partying hard in college, since then i was basically in denial that it had anything to do with partying even though each of my 4 seizures was right after a night of heavy drinking. If i have anything more than 6 or 7 drinks the next morning i have little "jerks" which are like brain hiccups and they are almost as frightening as a full seizure. Even though I am on a huge amouont of kepra and lamictal they still occur randomly. If you can help it dont drink, although i feel like a hippocrite for advising this because i am having trouble stopping the drinking. I plan to seek help for alcoholism very soon. I truly wish you the best of luck, this is the first time i've spoken to ANYONE about this.

jfoster57

replied on July 27th, 2009

New User

Alcohol, a sedative, has many anticonvulsant properties. This causes an increase in likelihood of seizure activity upon withdrawal.

I drank for about 5 years despite the fact that I was beginning to have complex partial seizures (really scary space-out seizures). I am almost positive that if I had never touched the bottle, my condition would not be anywhere near as extreme or debilitating as it is now.

stubborn

replied on October 2nd, 2009

New User

good luck tryin to figure out why you seize the morning after

hey jbonome,im 40 and i had my 1st seizure at 18 - after a night of drinking. have had about 12 now. was a weekend binge drinker for years even with the risk of seizure the next morning. had every test known to man and they found nothing wrong with me. It doesnt happen every time, but the risk is there. I know this is gonna sound ridiculous, but even after i lost my license(seizure behind the wheel) i still drink socially.my doctor cleared me for driving (because he couldnt find anything wrong wth me) but i actually had to promise that i would not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous in any way the next day after drinking the night before. and that is what i adhere to. dont know why it can or does happen,but it has never happened unless i was drinking the night before. good luck.

m_s_harrington

replied on October 3rd, 2009

New User

Im on Keppra .. was seizure free for 5 yrs (bar when i forgot meals/tablets/had 2 real boozy nights) my situation is the exact same as the guy who posted the initial post. If i drink heavy (5/6 pints) then maybe drink the next night (even a little) then that night I (may)/ will fit in my sleep Sad

This has just recommenced happening this yr ... as if the Keppra is no longer solving the issues? Problem is I like a drink but now the ballpark has moved I have no idea where my limits are ... Currently trying to find out and if I cant maybe i quit the booze Sad

Seeing as tho Epilepsy just turned up at 29 ... would be great if it just went Smile

jpauldasilva

replied on October 14th, 2009

New User

Hello jbonome,

I have had six seizure/collapses since my early twenties, I am now forty three. One my my seizures did involve alcohol. All the others did not. The experience's are all the same. See my post "Am I suffering from epilepsy" I'm curious as to whether others are having the same experience. I have no medical insurance to see a Neurologist about this. I am hoping others might relate to what is happening to me and share some insight as to what is going on. Best of luck to you.

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