[MARY]

Does anyone who is taking either anti-seizure meds or antidepressants have an occasional cocktail? I'm considering asking my Dr. for something for pain, but to be honest, I'm really not willing to give up any more of life than I already have. I know all the drug literature says not to take with alcohol, but I'd like to be able to go out to dinner and have a few glasses of wine. Anyone have any experience with this?

[MelodyL]

A few glasses of wine (with anti-seizure meds).

I wouldn't do it!!!

I just got this off of the internet.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...4002803AAEno2d

Just my opinion. But red wine, well I'm under the impression that it inflames neuropathy. So why take the chance.

And to mix booze with anti-seizure meds, well, why on earth would you want to even do that!!!

I think a wine spritzer would be much better than a whole glass of wine.

At least you get the feeling of having a drink in your hand.

This is just my opinion though.

I'd love to hear what the others have to say.

Melody

[Brian]

Hi, I use to be able to guaranty every time, that if i had a couple of beers then wait for about a half an hour, then my burning would flare up something terrible, the alcohol was just not worth putting up with the pn aggravation.

It was hard at first not to have an alcoholic drink when socializing, i drank diet coke instead, but i have got use to it, don't even miss it any more, i am sure there is plenty of non alcoholic wines around you can use instead and still have a good time.

My cousins son use to take anticonvulsants for epilepsy, he worked part time as a pub bouncer and after the pub had closed the workers use to have a few drinks together, after one of these sessions he came home and went to bed and when my cousin tried to wake him for up lunch the next day, he was dead, he was only 24 years old.

[mrsD]

and want to appear to be drinking (and NOT)

I have a plain tonic water. It is socially acceptable and works. Looks good with a Lime in it too!

Alcohol with drugs...can be a Russian Roulette thing.
Depending on the drug and the dosage.

Alcohol with PN "may" be minimized with thiamine or benfotiamine. But the presence of drugs is iffy.

I think some of the alcohol effects are the dilation of blood vessels, which then lead to MORE burning sensations. At higher doses and continued use, then the damage comes from the metabolic failures that deal with alcohol.

So there is not one reason..to be careful. Wine (REDs in particular) have high levels of polyphenols which also dilate blood vessels. This action is the reason they are heart positive, but for PN they increase burning sensations.

[shiney sue]

You don't want to do that,when they say 2 glasses of wine and beer is good for you,well not you. Mrsd I do that as well.
You don't want to drink with any meds the kind you are taking now are
for PN,you will go home your feet will itch,burn,well all I can tell you,
hasn't your Neuro asked you if you drink, for some people 1 or 2 can or
will cause pn or if diabetes is a problem please take care of yourself.
If you need a pain pill,ask but aclcohol no. I was a er truma nurse,look
it's terrible to tell a family member you lost a foot..Am I being mean,no
I care..I have had to be away tell us more about yourself.. Hugs Sue

[MelodyL]

I loved Mrs. D's answer about Tonic Water.

It will look like a drink especially with a glass of lime in it.

I don't drink, never have. It's not my thing and it never has been.

I used to work way back in the 60's when I was in my late teens and after work all of the girls would go out drinking. Only I didn't drink. So what did I drink?? Something called TAB at the time. It's was before they made diet soda.

It was horrible, so I just sat their nursing it for hours. Or I drank water.

I never could stand the smell or taste of liquor so when everybody was ordering HighBalls (whatever the heck that is), or Slow Gin Fizz'sl or Seven and Sevens (which I later found out was Seagrams Seven and Seven Up), well all my friends would be drinking these things all night long, and it was like they had wooden legs. I never saw anyone get drunk. I never understood that. Maybe it was the pretzels at the bar.

I guess it must be harder for guys who like their beer.

But next time I socialize, instead of ordering water, I'll get a tonic with a twist. I have no idea what that tastes like. Maybe I might even like it????

[mrsD]

is bitter...but rather refreshing when it is hot out. Because it is bitter, you don't guzzle it and you can keep that drink a LONG TIME! LOL

But regular tonic water has sugar in it. I think 70 cals thereabouts.
Not alot, but some.

When my husband was in Vietnam, he said they would get cases of TAB and
Fresca for free....even the local Vietnamese would NOT drink it! LOL
Couldn't give it away! LOL I think TAB was the first diet soda ever, tho.

I think it has been reformulated now.

Personally I like Coke Zero. But I don't drink sodas very often or much.
Coke Zero tastes like real Coke with Zero calories and much less aspartame.

When the weather heats up, I probably will have more soda.. I rotate with Diet Green tea.