DON'T PLAY WITH YOUR BRAIN
If you're going to abuse any of these drugs, you're in for some serious trouble with drug-related side effects. Your antiepilepsy medication is powerful stuff, and it can do uncool things to your head when you mess with these drugs:
- Nicotine damages lungs and blood vessels; leads to cancer; makes your heart beat faster; gives you indigestion and ulcers. Ask yourself what happens if you drop your cig during a seizure. You'll fire more than your brain.
- Caffeine raises blood pressure; makes you restless; gives you headaches.
- Heroin, taken in large amounts, causes oxygen deprivation, leading to seizures.
- Marijuana can provoke or suppress seizures. Constant use leads to memory loss, impaired judgement and emotional imbalance.
- Ecstasy's short-term effects include heart problems, exhaustion, dehydration, and feelings of dismay. Long-term use causes paranoia, tension, mental disability and seizures.
- Amphetamines (Speed), even in low doses, causes high blood pressure, appetite loss and abnormal breathing patterns that last for hours or days. High doses cause tremors, dizziness and coordination deficiencies.
- Cocaine/Crack causes anxiety, exhaustion, tremors, paranoia and blurred vision. An overdose can cause heart problems, seizures and death.
- Hallucinogens cause mood swings, tremors and difficulty sleeping. LSD may cause coordination problems, a faster heartbeat and seizures.
ALCOHOL
TOO MUCH alcohol seriously compromises your meds. It reduces the effectiveness of antiepileptic drugs and lowers your seizure threshold. MODERATION is the key.
Brain benders
- Too much drinking, less sleep and poor nutrition can trigger seizures.
- When drinking, your body has a higher resistance to medication.
- Withdrawal seizures may occur from 6 to 72 hours after your last drink.
- Drinking too much booze can increase seizure frequency.