To Drink or Not to Drink? That is the Question

It’s important you understand how your body reacts to alcohol (and how your meds might change that) and what your limits are. Your meds, or your seizures, might mean that your epilepsy team recommend you don’t drink at all, or very much. Instead of guessing what they might say, the best thing to do is ask them if you can drink. Remember they aren’t there to judge you if you want to drink and are there to help you to keep safe.

Drinking alcohol is still a personal choice and you may choose not to or are medically advised not to. But if you want to and its safe for you to do so, moderation is key to drinking alcohol for everyone, but especially, you guessed it, when you have epilepsy.

Alcohol can fuel a fun night out but it’s also a depressant. Remember, alcohol is a chemical drug. It can have negative effects on everyone. It dehydrates the body, it suppresses cognitive functions and makes you feel drunk. It can even cause seizures in people who don’t have epilepsy – particularly those who binge-drink large amounts of alcohol at one time or are dependent on alcohol. Why? Well when the alcohol wears off your brain tries to achieve its usual rhythm after being slowed down. Over-acceleration of brain activity causes seizures – which is obviously a concern if you have epilepsy.

You’re an adult so no-one can tell you how much or how little you should drink, although your epilepsy doctor is there to give advice! However, unless you’ve been advised not to drink at all,  when you have epilepsy it’s recommended you drink no more than 2 units* a day (this is the equivalent of one pint or a double spirit), and also factor in some alcohol-free days each week.

With everyone’s epilepsy being different, and the meds used to manage your epilepsy being different, it’s tough for us to answer that question, because everyone is unique. Mixing any meds with alcohol may cause side-effects or stop the drugs from working. The same applies to your anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). The best thing you can do is ask your epilepsy team, and check the guidance that comes with your meds (you know, that piece of paper that comes inside the box with every piece of medication you are prescribed – it’s got some pretty handy info on there if you take a few minutes to read it). We’re not saying don’t drink. We’re just saying be informed, be safe, be sensible.

If you’re taking ‘clobazam’ daily, or require buccal midazolam or diazepam regularly, you should really avoid alcohol. These medicines and alcohol make a dangerous mix and can suppress the breathing centre in the brain potentially slowing your breathing down to dangerous levels – especially during sleep. Chat to your epilepsy team and read the information supplied with your meds to see what rules apply to taking them and having a drink.

Alcohol can shut down functions in the brain if it’s consumed in large quantities and can affect memory. This is dangerous at the best of times but particularly if you’re on medication and can’t remember whether you took it on time or where you left it. Think about putting some strategies in place for making sure you remember if you’ve taken your meds. Set an alarm on your phone, ask a friend for help, even count the number of meds left in a pack to make sure you’ve taken the right amount.

Most hangovers are caused by dehydration. The older you get, the longer a hangover can last. Is there a cure? Kind of and it’s not ‘hair of the dog’ – it’s H2O. Drinking water before, after and during a night out keeps you hydrated. It’s even more important to drink water before you go to sleep, because hangovers can affect your sleep pattern. Let’s look at a simple sum:

• Hangovers = dehydration
• Hangovers = lack of sleep
• Dehydration + lack of sleep = seizures

It doesn’t take much to know what you have to do, does it?

One of the most dangerous things you can do is skip your meds. It doesn’t always feel convenient to take your meds on a night out but if you’re tempted to skip taking them because of an event or big night – don’t. Talk to your epilepsy team about your options and see if you could flex your timetable slightly so your meds can fit around what you planned. Just a little bit of thought and forward planning can help and leave you free to enjoy your plans without all the worry.

Eating’s not cheating. Skipping meals can lead to stress on the body which can lead to triggers for seizures, especially if there is alcohol involved. Don’t skip meals, look after your body, and it’ll look after you.

The most important thing to remember is a night-out should be on your terms and drinking should be your choice, whether you want to drink, how much you drink is down to you. Don’t give in to peer pressure or feel like you have to drink more than you want to. It’s your body and your choice. Do your research and know your limits.