Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

keppra vs. topamax

Sun, 12/23/2007 - 15:06
i'm a 28 year old woman diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy when i was 16 - and have been on depakote since. my doctor has, of course, always told me that i should let him know when i'm thinking about getting pregnant. well, it's now within a couple of years of wanting to get pregnant...so i decided to switch over to lamictal. in the last couple of months, i've been ramping up lamictal and decreasing depakote. lamictal and i did not agree so well. so, my doctor has suggested to look at keppra vs topamax -- any thoughts???

Comments

Re: re:keppra vs. topamax

Submitted by kymmykins on Sat, 2008-04-26 - 19:40

hi there.  I came across your blog and we have a lot in common.  I have JME as well, and was diagnosed at the same age as you.  I am now 28 and from my experience as of the last 2 years i would like to tell you that keppra was handling in my system great for the first 2 months.  Then i decided to go on the birth control pill and i have not been the same ever since.  Not to say it will be your experience but if any of this can help you to avoid what i have been going through for the last 2 years i will save you the greif.  Everyday i experience numbness in my feet, sometimes my hands, i get horrible eye strain everyday, my muscles get very tense, and i experience aura's in the back of my head everyday. And there is a strong correlation with my aura's when i am around my hormonal cycle.

 If i knew then what i know now i would not have done that.  But i was told it would be safe.  So now i am in the beginning of getting off keppra and starting topamax as even the lamictal/keppra combo was brutal for me.  But then again i was taking keppra all along thinking it would get better with time.  I hope this little bit helps.  I have heard that keppra is good to have children on though.

Goodluck!

Kym

hi there.  I came across your blog and we have a lot in common.  I have JME as well, and was diagnosed at the same age as you.  I am now 28 and from my experience as of the last 2 years i would like to tell you that keppra was handling in my system great for the first 2 months.  Then i decided to go on the birth control pill and i have not been the same ever since.  Not to say it will be your experience but if any of this can help you to avoid what i have been going through for the last 2 years i will save you the greif.  Everyday i experience numbness in my feet, sometimes my hands, i get horrible eye strain everyday, my muscles get very tense, and i experience aura's in the back of my head everyday. And there is a strong correlation with my aura's when i am around my hormonal cycle.

 If i knew then what i know now i would not have done that.  But i was told it would be safe.  So now i am in the beginning of getting off keppra and starting topamax as even the lamictal/keppra combo was brutal for me.  But then again i was taking keppra all along thinking it would get better with time.  I hope this little bit helps.  I have heard that keppra is good to have children on though.

Goodluck!

Kym

Re: keppra vs. topamax

Submitted by cougardfw on Sun, 2008-02-10 - 14:15
Keppra is a ....Good med. to be put on Dont try Topamax cuz its a appetite sup. and u know it wil make u lose wait..

Re: keppra vs. topamax

Submitted by hahunter on Tue, 2008-02-19 - 16:17
I'm 25, I was diagnosed with temporal lobe Epilepsy last year.  My first doctor put me on Keppra and I had a reaction to it, my heart skipped all the time it started skipping every 30 seconds I was rushed to the emergency room.  So my next doctor put me on Topamax,  I have been fine ever since no siezures or anything.  Now another friend of mine she was put on Topamax due to Migraines I don't know how many miligrams, and she did lose about 30 lbs.  or so, 30 lbs she didn't have to lose.   I didn't lose any wieght, I didn't lose one lb.  So it's only an appetite suppressant to some people.  Different drugs will affect different people in different ways.

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.