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On Keppra, Baby on the Way
Fri, 02/01/2008 - 19:06Hi. 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 jstone on Wed, 2009-03-04 - 12:59
Hi Amy I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant. Four weeks ago I had 5-6 grand mals followed by continuous silent seizures for 10-12 hrs. In the hospital they put me on Dylantin and 3000mg of Keppra. I'm currently only taking the 3000mg of Keppra a day. So far I haven't had any more seizures and my baby is doing wonderful!! My doctors have re-assured me that Keppra is a type of medication, that if needed, can be given to infants. A dilemma you never want to come across is the risks of taking your child early in pregnancy or medicating the problem while pregnant with your child. The greater risks to me would be falling while seizing and pregnant. When put in the position, and being supported by the doctors, I feel that the best choice is being made. Listen to your piers, doctors, and HEART. I'll pray for you and your baby. Has anyone experienced there newborn having any withdraws from the medication?
Take Care!
Jstone
Hi Amy I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant. Four weeks ago I had 5-6 grand mals followed by continuous silent seizures for 10-12 hrs. In the hospital they put me on Dylantin and 3000mg of Keppra. I'm currently only taking the 3000mg of Keppra a day. So far I haven't had any more seizures and my baby is doing wonderful!! My doctors have re-assured me that Keppra is a type of medication, that if needed, can be given to infants. A dilemma you never want to come across is the risks of taking your child early in pregnancy or medicating the problem while pregnant with your child. The greater risks to me would be falling while seizing and pregnant. When put in the position, and being supported by the doctors, I feel that the best choice is being made. Listen to your piers, doctors, and HEART. I'll pray for you and your baby. Has anyone experienced there newborn having any withdraws from the medication?
Take Care!
Jstone
Re: On Keppra, Baby on the Way
Submitted by clmom2be on Wed, 2009-03-18 - 22:43
My name is Connie. I just had my first grand mal seizure in early january 2009. It was so violent that I dislocated both shoulders and broke my right humerous all due to the convulsions. I just found out that I am 5 wks pregnant today and I am currently taking a very low dose of Keppra (only 1000 mg every day). I was curious since you have had trouble with frequent grand mals, could you ever sense that you were going to have a seizure before it happened? And if so what alerted you? And also were yours as violent? I am so afraid of having another seizure while pregnant because it has only been 2 months since my first seizure. I would love to know if there are any warning signs so i can try to prepare myself a little and at least keep from falling and hurting the baby or injuring myself again. Thanks.
Re: On Keppra, Baby on the Way
Submitted by alfieri on Sun, 2008-08-24 - 07:35
HI Amy,
I had a baby boy last year whilst on Lamictal. I suffered a grand mal seizure in the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy and the doctors took the action of inducing my baby. I used to have on going petit mal seizures up until I was introduced to Keppra 4 months ago. I am now on both lamictal and keppra, and, fingers crossed, I have had no seizures, grand or petit at all! I am planning my second baby now and have been advised to stay on both tablets. from the comments below, it sounds like there is a lot of confidence about keppra whilst preganant. I believe that whilst i am not suffering with seizures whilst on this medication, i am safe and ultimatly so is my baby.
good luck!
tina.
ps. my first baby was born perfectly healthy - shaken, but not stirred ... ha ha
HI Amy,
I had a baby boy last year whilst on Lamictal. I suffered a grand mal seizure in the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy and the doctors took the action of inducing my baby. I used to have on going petit mal seizures up until I was introduced to Keppra 4 months ago. I am now on both lamictal and keppra, and, fingers crossed, I have had no seizures, grand or petit at all! I am planning my second baby now and have been advised to stay on both tablets. from the comments below, it sounds like there is a lot of confidence about keppra whilst preganant. I believe that whilst i am not suffering with seizures whilst on this medication, i am safe and ultimatly so is my baby.
good luck!
tina.
ps. my first baby was born perfectly healthy - shaken, but not stirred ... ha ha