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A MyEpilepsyTeam Subscriber asked a question πŸ’­

I only had 2 Seizures last year

August 7
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Energy Drink Consumption and What Not To Take With Keppra Read Article...
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

I gave up energy drinks a long time ago way before I even started looking in to what I have the way I did three years ago. The reason being a few times I had one and I would get a fast heart rate and had to sit down and wait it out. This was only from one 250 ml can as well witch I very rarely had.

August 7
MyEpilepsyTeam

It's worth asking: could that daily Monster energy drink be playing a role in those seizures?

Energy drinks contain very high levels of caffeine β€” much more than a regular coffee β€” along with other ingredients like taurine, guarana, and sweeteners. Research has shown that energy drinks can trigger seizures, even in people Show Full Answer

It's worth asking: could that daily Monster energy drink be playing a role in those seizures?

Energy drinks contain very high levels of caffeine β€” much more than a regular coffee β€” along with other ingredients like taurine, guarana, and sweeteners. Research has shown that energy drinks can trigger seizures, even in people who have never had one before. A MyEpilepsyTeam member shared that drinking energy drinks like Monster led to increased seizure activity and a hospital stay, partly due to dehydration β€” which is itself a known seizure trigger.

There are a few specific concerns worth knowing about:

- Caffeine crash: The energy "crash" after the drink wears off may raise seizure risk more than the caffeine itself
- Dehydration: Energy drinks can dehydrate you, which can trigger seizures
- Medication interference: High caffeine doses may reduce how well anti-seizure medications work
- Sleep disruption: Energy drinks can cause insomnia, and poor sleep is strongly linked to seizures Two seizures in a year is still two seizures, and it's worth having an honest conversation with a doctor about whether that daily Monster could be a contributing factor.

Safer alternatives include green tea in moderation, decaf coffee, or decaf sodas β€” options that won't put seizure control at risk.

August 7

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