Will illegal drugs affect my epilepsy?
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Last updated 16 Jul 2009, review date due 16 Jan 2010
Many illegal drugs, including cocaine, speed, heroin and ecstasy, can trigger seizures, even if you don’t have a history of epilepsy. Cannabis (marijuana) may increase seizures in some people, but reduce seizures in other people.
Taking drugs can also lead to other problems which can trigger seizures, such as not getting enough sleep, and not eating properly.
More in this section:
- Introduction
- What is epilepsy?
- Living with epilepsy
- Treatment
- Visiting your doctor
- Sex and sexuality
- Becoming a father
- SUDEP
- Support
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.
Epilepsy advice and information A to Z
- What is epilepsy?
- Children
- Depression
- Disability Discrimination Act (UK)
- Driving
- Education
- Employment
- Entitlements for people with epilepsy in England
- Entitlements for people with epilepsy in Wales
- Epilepsy and caring for children: a comprehensive guide
- Epilepsy and learning disabilities
- Epilepsy in later life
- Epilepsy information for prisons
- Getting a diagnosis
- Identity jewellery
- Inheritance
- Living with dificult to control epilepsy
- Me and my dad
- Memory
- Men and Epilepsy
- Mobile phones and epilepsy
- Osteoporosis, osteomalacia and epilepsy
- Photosensitive epilepsy
- Safety
- Seizures
- Sports and leisure
- Stress and epilepsy
- Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)
- Swine flu and epilepsy
- Syndromes
- Travel abroad
- Treatment
- Women and epilepsy
- Young people and epilepsy
- Epilepsy Action and the Information Standard
- The Epilepsies: You, Epilepsy and the NICE Guideline
- Epilepsy Action Information Reviewers (EAIRs)
- Technical editing/writing and copyright
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Epilepsy Helpline
- UK freephone 0808 800 5050
- International +44 113 210 8850
- Email: helpline@epilepsy.org.uk
- Txt msg: 07797 805 390 info






