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How Long to Feel the Side Effects of Keppra?

Thu, 07/24/2008 - 07:57
I have been on Keppra 48 hours and I was wondering how long it takes to feel the side effects? I have felt the drowsiness within hours of the first dose. I know the first month is supposed to be the worst. Can anyone tell me when I will feel the side effects at their worst? I have been on Dilantin and know what an idot I became on that drug. Since I have a technical job, I need my brain to function! It seems there are very few "success" stories related to Keppra, as everyone is talking about the side effects. Or perhaps that is simply the nature of fourms and drug reviews - you tend to have users with negative reviews more likely to post than users with little side effects. I am definitely worried about the mood swings and increased depression typically associated with Keppra, so I am hoping it will not hit me hard. I have never had a weight problem, so I am hoping Keppra will not affect me in that way either. I technically do not have epilepsy since I have only had one seizure. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. This is my first post! Don't mind my username - it is a guy from a Three Stooges episode ("Jip The People").

Comments

Re: How Long to Feel the Side Effects of Keppra?

Submitted by vabab on Tue, 2009-02-24 - 20:30
Hi, We are new to seizures and this site, so please bear with me. My 4 yr old daughter has had approx. 20 seizures (all grand or petit mal so far as I can tell!) in the past 3 weeks. She was started on Keppra the 1st day she had one. She was on Keppra before-from about 3 months old to about 2 1/2 yrs old, for the same type of seizure activity. She had about 12 seizures in a month and a half and then never had another one. That's why they took her off the Keppra. I was curious if anyone else had noticed side effects with their kids on Keppra. The only things I've noticed is a decreased appetite most days, then the other days she eats me out of house and home. Also, some mood swings..."hold me and snuggle me, I'm tired" to bouncing off the walls like a severely hyperactive child. She is taking 3ml in the AM and 3.5ml in the PM. We are still adjusting up. I'm trying to process all the info I'm getting about seizures, but doing this on a sleep deficit is kind of confusing. She has almost all of her seizures in the middle of the night, so I'm hardly sleeping. I feel like I'm just waiting for the next one, or I'm worried that I won't wake up while she's having one. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Re: How Long to Feel the Side Effects of Keppra?

Submitted by mamaben on Tue, 2011-10-04 - 21:57
My son has been on Keppra for about 4 weeks. He is only 11 months so it is very difficult for me to know exactly what he is going through. I have noticed that sometimes he seems a little off. Like he is calm and quiet. Other times he seems fuzzy and other times he is just all over the place. It sounds like normal baby behavior but I know it is more than that. I have noticed that being in the car makes him a little dizzy I can see it on his face and the way he looks out the window. I now play movies in the car and that seems to help him. He takes 3.0ml in the morning and 3.0ml in the evening. He has had a few absence seizures lasting less than 10 seconds. Sometimes I catch him staring but I can get his attention easily. But why is he staring? He does this about 5-7 times per day. He comes in and out of it without any warning or anything that will tell me it was a seizure. He has had real absence seizures where he does not respond and he does not move at all. His eyes are not rolling or blinking, there is no movement of any part of his body. He is just staring and breathing a little harder. They have lasted about 6-8 seconds and he is cranky immediately after. He want to go to sleep but he fights hard and stays awake. After a few minutes of being cranky he goes back to being normal. I think the only side effects that I can see right now is that he has a sleepy look on his face (not every day, but some days) and he gets dizzy in the car.

Re: How Long to Feel the Side Effects of Keppra?

Submitted by epileptic23 on Tue, 2009-09-29 - 07:23

First of all, i found this interesting, because you said you had only "one serizure," therefore, you decided that you do not technically have epilepsy. However, i myself, have only taken one "grande mal" seizure (convulsion), and i can fully tell you, and my doctor, that i have epilepsy.

Taking "seizures" does not necessarily mean your body needs to go into convulsions. there are absense seizures, where one can (this is what happens to me) find themselves staring blankly into space. The brain is not as "observant" and "attentive" as the normal brain. Memory seems to be a problem, as well. I am currently on Kepra, however i honestly see no effects on it, as i plan on telling my doctor. however, my dosage is very low, so just ask your doctor...

but, do any of these symptoms sound familiar? just remember, epilepsy DOES mean the "reoccurance" of seizures, however, "seizures" dont necessarily have to be grande mal. you could be taking absence seizures and not even realize it. check with your doctor!

First of all, i found this interesting, because you said you had only "one serizure," therefore, you decided that you do not technically have epilepsy. However, i myself, have only taken one "grande mal" seizure (convulsion), and i can fully tell you, and my doctor, that i have epilepsy.

Taking "seizures" does not necessarily mean your body needs to go into convulsions. there are absense seizures, where one can (this is what happens to me) find themselves staring blankly into space. The brain is not as "observant" and "attentive" as the normal brain. Memory seems to be a problem, as well. I am currently on Kepra, however i honestly see no effects on it, as i plan on telling my doctor. however, my dosage is very low, so just ask your doctor...

but, do any of these symptoms sound familiar? just remember, epilepsy DOES mean the "reoccurance" of seizures, however, "seizures" dont necessarily have to be grande mal. you could be taking absence seizures and not even realize it. check with your doctor!

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