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Keppra and depression
Wed, 06/10/2009 - 15:08This topic may already be addressed on this site. If it is, I apologize. I'm new to epilepsy.com, and have a quick question regarding keppra and antidepressants.
I'm a 23 year old female and have been medicated for epilepsy for about 5 years. I've been taking keppra for about 2 1/2 years and it has worked wonders for me. I suffered from nocturnal grand mal seizures and have only had 2 since I began taking keppra. Since taking keppra I have felt emotionally stunted. Life is bland, and I have no motivation to do or accomplish much of anything. The longer I'm on the drug, the more I realize that I'm truly missing out on being my "old" self. I don't want to stop taking keppra because it really has controlled my seizures. I talked to my neuro about the depression and she offered to refer me to someone for depression/medication/etc. I'm wondering if anyone who takes keppra is also on an antidepressant? Which one? Has it helped? Etc. Thanks so much.
-jenny
Comments
Re: Keppra and depression
Submitted by rachgamboa on Fri, 2009-06-12 - 09:10
I can so relate to what everybody has said about Keppra. It mostly makes me drowsy though. I have noticed the anger and I do take Lexapro to control the depression.
What does the B vitamin do? Does it replace something that the Keppra takes away? I took Depakote for about ten years and the doctors told me to take folic acid. Will a vitamin that supplies everything be just as good? I will have to ask my doctor about that. I know I brought it up once and then he started asking me if I had planned on getting pregnant? I did not really get to ask him all of my questions. I will have to write it down so I do not forget next time. Are all the vitamins at Wal Mart just junk?
Good Luck to everybody!
I can so relate to what everybody has said about Keppra. It mostly makes me drowsy though. I have noticed the anger and I do take Lexapro to control the depression.
What does the B vitamin do? Does it replace something that the Keppra takes away? I took Depakote for about ten years and the doctors told me to take folic acid. Will a vitamin that supplies everything be just as good? I will have to ask my doctor about that. I know I brought it up once and then he started asking me if I had planned on getting pregnant? I did not really get to ask him all of my questions. I will have to write it down so I do not forget next time. Are all the vitamins at Wal Mart just junk?
Good Luck to everybody!
Re: Keppra and depression
Submitted by wyboemail on Thu, 2009-06-18 - 08:51
There are so many chemicals added to the non natural foods that it is hard to tell how ones body or mind will react to them. It is best to use all natural foods, drinks and vitamins as much as possible. We know for a fact that my son 's tics get much worse when he consumes anything with artificial colors. Red dye 40 is the worst it seems. We have tried to cut out as much high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners like aspartame. It is hard since almost all our foods contain these things since it is cheaper to use fake instead of real in the good ole USA. Mexico uses a lot of natural things in there foods and drinks. Go and figure.
Good luck but we do know the vitamin B helps my son.
Curt
There are so many chemicals added to the non natural foods that it is hard to tell how ones body or mind will react to them. It is best to use all natural foods, drinks and vitamins as much as possible. We know for a fact that my son 's tics get much worse when he consumes anything with artificial colors. Red dye 40 is the worst it seems. We have tried to cut out as much high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners like aspartame. It is hard since almost all our foods contain these things since it is cheaper to use fake instead of real in the good ole USA. Mexico uses a lot of natural things in there foods and drinks. Go and figure.
Good luck but we do know the vitamin B helps my son.
Curt
Re: Keppra and depression
Submitted by wyboemail on Wed, 2009-06-10 - 16:22
Jenny,
Sorry to hear about the depression along with the "E". My 10 year old son also suffered from nocturnal seizures and was put on Keppra in March of 2007. He had side effects that would cause him to fly off the handle and throw stuff at his sisters and just be an unhappy little boy. We started him on a vitamin B vitamin called B-100 that we get at Trader Joes. It has done wonders!! If you do not have a Trader Joes near you try and an find any whole foods store or someplace that sells NATURAL vitamins since the junk you buy at places like Wal Mart is just that, junk!
Please email me if you have any questions. curtis.wybourn@us.qbe.com
Curt
Jenny,
Sorry to hear about the depression along with the "E". My 10 year old son also suffered from nocturnal seizures and was put on Keppra in March of 2007. He had side effects that would cause him to fly off the handle and throw stuff at his sisters and just be an unhappy little boy. We started him on a vitamin B vitamin called B-100 that we get at Trader Joes. It has done wonders!! If you do not have a Trader Joes near you try and an find any whole foods store or someplace that sells NATURAL vitamins since the junk you buy at places like Wal Mart is just that, junk!
Please email me if you have any questions. curtis.wybourn@us.qbe.com
Curt