What does epilepsy have to do with alcohol consumption?

Why do they ask you if you have epilepsy when they pull you over for DUI? What happens if you DO have epilepsy, and you take medicine for this disorder. Also, does taking a anti-narcolepsy drug have any effect on driving?

Epilepsy and alcohol consumption affects if the medication you're taking for epilepsy will work.

I don't know why coppers ask your 1st question,but you CAN get a license to drive if you haven't had any seizures in 2 years and they are controlled by medicine.

The only effect taking a anti-narcolepsy drug has on your driving or on you to be exact is it may make you sleepy.

alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness of your epilepsy meds. not to mention, for many epileptics, having three+ drinks may increase your risk of having a seizure, even if you have no meds in your system at all.

they ask when pulling you over because they want to ensure your motor function hasn't been affected by a physical impairment like epilepsy. people getting ready to go into a seizure or coming out of one may act a bit like a drunk person, with poor motor control & a diminished state of mental awareness.

if you take meds for epilepsy (like phenobarb, keppra or primidone), then they should (theoretically) work to limit both the severity & number of seizures your body goes thru. some of these drugs interact very very badly with alcohol and drinking while on them can cause issues like an increased sedation effect.

drugs for narcolepsy keep you awake, they certainly DON'T make you more tired and put you to sleep. (this disorder is one where people have a hard time dealing with excessive daytime sleepiness & possible sleep attacks.) the only affect it has on us is to keep us more awake and alert, much like drinking an espresso might. however, unless you have a neurological disorder, the main meds used for it (like provigil, which isn't a stimulant by the way) will either not work on you to have any affect at all or will have a bad effect due to the side effects of it.

Epilepsy totally shuts off all control of certain nerves, which severely impairs driving abilities. that's why DUI starts as a possible seizure. get it? SEIZEure? Nerves SEIZE?

If you do have epilepsy, you still get into trouble for driving without medical aid keeping the seizure away. so don't use that excuse.

all drugs effect driving, because all drugs have a side effect of diarrhea at the minimum. don't risk it.

They ask you this because some medications like KEPPRA gives you a drowsy effect. On the bottle it says that may cause drowsyness and use care when operating heavy machinery. I take medication for this disorder and I am used to it so I do not get drowsy but time to time I do. I have no idea with the anti-narcolepsy drug.

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures meaning you could at sometimes have no control over your body and it forces you at sometimes to move the wheel handle without your actual consent.

Amy, I suggest you do some research on the subject of epilepsy, and I am sure you will find your answer. And an anti narcolepsy drug is a stimulant you do the deductions. If you are out straight on speed what effect do you think it would have on your driving?