Energy drinks

[KezzaCM16]

hi, my daughter 16 at the time, was diagnosed with epilepsy in October last year having had 2 seizures (that we know of) within a couple of hours of each other, she had been in bed all week with what seemed like flu, headache, nausea, pains in her legs, light headed, then when she got up that morning she was just so out of it the whole day and can’t remember anything about it even to this day so she doesn’t know what the trigger was unless it’s been the flu. Fast forward to this day and she is on Lamptrigine, she just wants to live a normal life and I feel she doesn’t take it serious enough as she’s been buying these monster drinks, not every day but maybe 2 or 3 times weekly, she claims they have the opposite effect than giving her energy they make her tired. My question is, should she be avoiding these altogether, could they trigger a seizure as having the opposite effect as she says, doesn’t sit well with me at all.

Tia

[what24]

Sorry, my knowledge of energy drinks is limited. Having said that, as an active individual (Nb. Routinely cycling a 150+ miles a week, using a gym 2-5 times a week), have always noticed that obtaining carbohydrates from low GI sources I.e. Wholemeal foods, fruit, beans. peas, provides a much steadier feeling of energy. Can be tempting to eat loads of sugar packed foods, but rather like a sugar packed energy drink, know that high GI foods have an overall negative effect on energy levels. Though would be worth verifying via a Dr, that no more critical issues exist in relation to the processing of sugars with your daughter I.e. diabetes

[what24 in reply to what24]

Would presume that diabetes' type issues, would be worth knowing about for anyone experiencing seizures

[Anonite]

Hi, Monster and enery drinks like red bull etc were definitely highlighted to my son as something that should be avoided. That being said like your daughter he does drink the odd energy drink. I think like everything else they are a possible seizure trigger. Our epilepsy nurse said the likes of Lucozade sport are fine as they don’t have massively high levels of caffeine like Monster so I just buy these and have them in the house hoping he’ll opt for these instead.

[GillyA]

Hi Tia, I can only imagine how worrying this must be for you and that you want to do the best you can for your daughter.

I’m afraid some people (me included) never seem to have a trigger for their seizures, they just happen….. it’s also entirely possible they won’t fin an underlying cause.

It’s not clear from your post how frequent your daughter’s seizures are and how much of an impact they are having on her life.

At 16 or more she’ll be making many of her own decisions and it’s important you don’t try to over manage things for her. So on something like this, yes, try a substitute, but don’t let it become a source of contention. If they are a trigger she’ll make a decision, if they aren’t then she’s doing something she wants, and will probably grow out of wanting them anyway. I’m a lot older than your daughter, but a big part of my self determination and management of the impact on my life of my epilepsy has been making my own decisions, leading a normal life, including working and living in different countries, holidays on my own, etc.

I’m fortunate, my epilepsy is well controlled, but not perfectly, I’ve had some very difficult seizures, including ending up in hospital in Nigeria with severe concussion (not fun). But my decision has always been to carry on and, like your daughter wants, to be normal. I know for many others reading this the same option may not be available. But looking back, I wouldn’t have had the life I had without making a set of decisions which caution would have stopped me from doing.

I hope this doesn’t come across as a lecture, and I know my parents worried about me, I also know that I made the decisions that worked for me.

I do hope your daughter finds the right meds and stabilises and that you both get through this.