Hi. Someone posted here a year? ago that it tastes awful(beer), now that
we're taking pills for this.  I had an occasional glass of white wine (1 in
4 months) when I was just on Tegretol (1995).
  I heard that Dilantin and Tegretol are both prone to conflicts with
alcohol.  Tegretol (for one) has a non-linear footprint? --> 1 drink is like
~1, 2 are like 3+, 3 like 5. A cheap drunk, but I don't need the risk.  I
awoke in Emerg. enough times before I was controlled.  I don't want to do
that again.   I can do without the Chivas (Scotch),  if it'll keep me out of
there.   My opinion.  G./

I have been taking dilantin for about 19 years. I have an AVM and if you
don't know what that is put avm into your browser and it will explain it.
anyway I do not drink. I use to like to get a beer buzz. Maybe two to three
times I have had a beer and one time two beers and I didn't like the feeling
of it. I am so happy I don't drink anymore

There are few points I'd like to make about drinks including any alcohol:

a) I only drank a little even before I developed epilepsy and that's
advisable for everyone.

b) There are quite a few drinks with little or no alcohol (including a
lager which I occasionally buy in cans). If more and more customers ask
for such in pubs, bars, restaurants etc then more and more of them are
likely to provide them.

c) little enough of alcoholic drinks may be safe - my G.P. said so.

Cheers,

Chris L.

Hello,

I have been a binge drinker since the age of 15. I did not drink every
weekend or on every occassion but when I stared drinking with some friends,
I did not stop drinking. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was born but
with some good medication, I was seizure free in a minute. When I was going
to high school I again suffered from epilepsy and again I had to take my
medication. I was seizure free without medication at the age of 15 (or
something; I cannot remember exactly).

Now I am 30 years old -almost 31, and since I stopped medication at the age
of 15, I started binge drinking with my friends in the weekends or on
Saturday nights. I have been doing that since and in 2004, I suffered from
my first tonic clonic seizure which was not nice to experience as we all can
imagine. I used to have absence epilepsy which was not such a big deal
though annoying. This time it was different.

Anyways, I am on medication again and I am seizure free which is good. I am
now adult enough to understand the seriousness of epilepsy and since that
event, I never started drinking again while I go out with the same friends.
They all know about my event and when we go out, someone always asks me if I
am sure that I do not want to drink and I always tell them the same answer
using the same patient and polite way of answering questions that have been
asked before: "Yes, I do not drink anymore. Actually, I will never drink
anymore". The answer then is: "Oh okay, but when you are off medication,
then you can drink, can't you? Then there is no risk anymore?" I then give
the same answer: "Sorry, but that would not make a difference".

With the medication I use (Depakote aka Depakine aks Depakene), you can take
one or two beverages. However, you will get the immediate side effects of
getting drunk after these two drinks. When my doctor suggests trying to get
me off the medication again, then these immediate side effects will go away
and I would have to take more beverages to get the same effect. However, I
actually am completely done with booze, drinking, etc. I messed up by
starting the binge drinking. I learned my lesson. I now refuse to take the
risk and I refuse to take one or two drinks. It is not hard for me; it is
not hard for my friends as they accept me for who I am. If your friends do
not accept you for not drinking or something, then find yourself some better
friends (I know this sentence may trigger some reactions...it is just my
personal opinion and I do not want to offend anyone nor your friends).

Good luck....I have been there, it must be quite hard and frustrating. Best
to all of you.

Cheers,

Marco

I (supposedly) can't drink alchohol because of my meds, too.  However, I try
the usual substitutes like the "virgin margarita" instead of the regular,
alchohol-containing margaritas, or the "virgin pina colada" instead of the
regular, alchohol-containing pina colada, etc. and I'm happy enough with
that.  However, I was never really a big alchohol drinker.
When I did try an alchoholic beverage, I tried it with a meal, and I knew
that the alchohol would be absorbed more slowly into my body.  I also only
consumed one beverage.  I also figured that because I weigh 200 lbs, my BAC
would be negligible with just one drink, especially if I consumed it slowly.