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Real members of MyEpilepsyTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Affects of caffeine and sugar as getting older

A MyEpilepsyTeam Member asked a question 💭
Marrero, LA

Does anyone think or know if sugar and caffeine can start affecting you as you get older while dealing with epilepsy. All thoughts and opinions are welcome.

June 20
 · 
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Answer Summary

Members shared wide-ranging personal experiences about whether caffeine and sugar affect epilepsy as people age, with the general consensus... Read more

Members shared wide-ranging personal experiences about whether caffeine and sugar affect epilepsy as people age, with the general consensus being that it varies greatly from person to person. Several members noted that caffeine has been a clear seizure trigger for them, leading many to cut back or switch to decaf, herbal tea, or sparkling water, while others reported no noticeable effects even with multiple daily cups. A recurring theme was the importance of listening to your own body, consulting your neurologist, and making gradual lifestyle changes to find what works best for your individual situation.

A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

I was at my neurologist recently and he told me that caffeine can be a trigger for Epilepsy. I drink coffee abd iced tea, but doesn't seem to affect me.

June 28
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

It did on me as I got older, didn't help since I had high blood pressure. Now I take med. for it, I stopped drinking coffee w/ caffeine, don't use sugar instead I use honey, for tea or caffeine free coffee. Don't use salt much any longer but gluten free spices.

June 20
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

Caffeine free other than 6 grams of dark chocolate in my morning smoothie, which is very little. After a stroke and brain surgery to remove a brain tumor (ganglioglioma) I continued to have seizures and decided to quit all use of caffeine as it was a regular trigger that I could notice the difference once I stopped. However, as many have said, each person is different and as the brain ages I've heard different people say different things about caffeine and epilepsy.
Sugar is a completely different subject as most don't take in consideration that artificial verses natural 😜 or added sugar in calculating sugars. I'm 70 pounds liter than when I had surgery, and still occasionally have seizures, with little to no added sugar with zero caffeine while taking three seizure meds. Therefore, I'll let you decide?

Much kindness and love

June 20
MyEpilepsyTeam

Great question — and yes, both caffeine and sugar can become more of a concern over time when living with epilepsy. As the body ages, it can become more sensitive to stimulants like caffeine, which may lower your seizure threshold.

Here's what's worth knowing about caffeine:

- Energy drinks and high-caffeine beverages have Show Full Answer

Great question — and yes, both caffeine and sugar can become more of a concern over time when living with epilepsy. As the body ages, it can become more sensitive to stimulants like caffeine, which may lower your seizure threshold.

Here's what's worth knowing about caffeine:

- Energy drinks and high-caffeine beverages have been linked to triggering seizures, even in people with no prior seizure history
- The "crash" after caffeine wears off may actually be what raises seizure risk, not just the stimulant itself
- High caffeine intake may also interfere with how well some anti-seizure medications work
- Caffeine can cause dehydration, which is itself a known seizure trigger Sugar plays a role too. Drinks and foods high in sugar can cause energy spikes followed by crashes, which may increase seizure risk. Staying hydrated with water and choosing lower-sugar options can help keep things more stable.

One MyEpilepsyTeam member shared: "I don't touch energy drinks or anything with caffeine because they will create triggers which lead to seizures."

Safer alternatives include:

- Green tea in moderation
- Decaffeinated coffee, tea, or soda
- A balanced, protein-rich diet to maintain steady energy levels

It's always worth chatting with your neurologist about how your diet may be interacting with your current medications, especially as things change with age.

June 20
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

I used to drink a cup of coffee in the morning or a cappuccino at lunch (never the two on the same day). Then one day the person making it must not have known how to use the the machine and put 2 double expressos into it and I drank it not knowing that's what they did. I ended up in A&E that evening after having a seizure and so I went off coffee for about 15 years. I've only started back about a year ago taking a cup of coffee in the morning no cappuccinos. I've been alright since

July 22

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