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Last updated 16 Jul 2009, review date due 16 Jan 2010

Having epilepsy and taking anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t drink alcohol, but there are some facts to bear in mind.

  • AEDs can make you more sensitive to the effects of alcohol, so you might get drunk more quickly than if you don’t take AEDs. (This doesn’t mean you should stop taking your AEDs when you want to have a drink – this would put you at greater risk of seizures).
  • Alcohol can exaggerate some side-effects of AEDs. If your AEDs make you feel sleepy, dizzy or light-headed for example, alcohol might make this worse.
  • Drinking a lot can cause you to have ‘withdrawal seizures’. These could begin within seven to 72 hours of stopping drinking.
  • It’s important not to miss taking your AEDs. There’s more chance you’ll have a seizure from missing your AEDs than by having the odd drink.
  • More information about epilepsy and alcohol.

 

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We can provide references and information on the source material we use to write our epilepsy advice and information pages. Please contact our Epilepsy Helpline by email at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.

Comments

Do not binge drink. I work in the art world and actually find i do more business with a glass in my hand than without. It is probably a little bad for me but i keep my alchol intake as regular as possible. This was not spelled out to me initially by my consultant and my last two seizures i have now worked out now were caused by one of my birthday's and then 18 months later by my sister's birthday. I lost my driving license twice because of a night on the tiles. What happens for me is after a silly night i would feel find but (as above) 72 hours later you are in serious trouble. Now days i have a great balanced course of medication and this makes it things "stable". I do not recommend drinking but if you miscalculate and every have a silly night you must drink something the next day - it is the binge that will get you. I cannot say this enough it. Regardless of you feeling hungover the next evening get half a bottle of wine down you and at least a glass the next. Also 72 hours (and really immediately to be sure) later do not drive. If you do you are endangering yourself and other people. During this peroid if you are on balanced medication you will still feel and will have peroids of "light-headness" you basically are a drink driver but worse. Please, please bear this in mind because no-one told me.