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On Keppra, Baby on the Way

Fri, 02/01/2008 - 19:06

Hi.  I am 23 years old and have been on 2000mg of Keppra a day for over three years.  I have also been seizure free ever since I started Keppra, and with no side effects.  I recently found out that I am pregnant with my first child.  I am ecstatic, but I can't help worrying about the unknown effects of Keppra on my baby.  My neuro is keeping me on the full dose for the duration of my pregnancy.  Other than taking extra good care of myself, does anyone have any advice?  Has anyone else gone through this that has a positive outcome?  A negative one?  I guess I am just searching for some sort of positive reinforcement to put my mind at ease a bit.  Thanks for reading.

Amy

Comments

Re: On Keppra, Baby on the Way

Submitted by CJ2 on Wed, 2008-03-26 - 00:26

I don't want to scare you, but I was told that Keppra was not good for pregnancy by my GYN. I was taking Keppra and became preganant and was switched to Phenobarbital. My GYN had told me in the beginning not to get pregnant while taking the Keppra because of the potential for birth defects. I was also worried and switched meds right away. I began taking the Phenobarb with a double dose of folic acid. I also experienced sezuires while pregnant.  My son just turned three. He has some speech delay, but no physical defects. I happened to have had a really good OB/GYN, but a not so great neurologist. My OB/GYN had me have numerous sonograms throughout my pregnancy with a specialist. I would highly recommend discussing your meds with your OB/GYN and ask that they speak with your neurologist to ensure that they are on the same page.

I don't want to scare you, but I was told that Keppra was not good for pregnancy by my GYN. I was taking Keppra and became preganant and was switched to Phenobarbital. My GYN had told me in the beginning not to get pregnant while taking the Keppra because of the potential for birth defects. I was also worried and switched meds right away. I began taking the Phenobarb with a double dose of folic acid. I also experienced sezuires while pregnant.  My son just turned three. He has some speech delay, but no physical defects. I happened to have had a really good OB/GYN, but a not so great neurologist. My OB/GYN had me have numerous sonograms throughout my pregnancy with a specialist. I would highly recommend discussing your meds with your OB/GYN and ask that they speak with your neurologist to ensure that they are on the same page.

Re: On Keppra, Baby on the Way

Submitted by ckbarr on Sat, 2008-04-05 - 18:02

 

 

  Check out the North American AED Pregnancy Registry.     It is really important to get registered and document the medication you are taking while pregnant. 

        Depakote and phenobarbitol have the highest incidence of birth defects.

 

 

 

  Check out the North American AED Pregnancy Registry.     It is really important to get registered and document the medication you are taking while pregnant. 

        Depakote and phenobarbitol have the highest incidence of birth defects.

 

Re: On Keppra, Baby on the Way

Submitted by CJ2 on Tue, 2008-04-15 - 12:30
I am glad that you posted that phenobarbitol is not all that great for pregnant women. I just posted last month how my doctors switched me from Keppra to phenobarbital during my pregnancy supposedly because it was going to be better. However, I just recently switched neurologists and found out just four days ago that probably wasn't the smartest thing to do.  My new neurologist was baffled at the idea of being switched off the Keppra. I am just as confused. My son is 3 and his speech is still delayed. He receives speech therapy, but doesn't really seem to work all that well.

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