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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
Re: Keppra and depression
Submitted by samiB on Thu, 2009-06-18 - 01:14
HI, I started on Kepra about 12 months ago and I take a massive dose (3000mg) to try to control generalised absence seizures, which it doesn't. And since taking it I have felt awful in myself, becoming a monster to live with, irritable at the best of times and I have absolutely no motivation to do anything. The depression was awful. I have since been seeing a psycholgist for fortnightly sessions as I have been told by my doc that Keppra does not react well to anti-depressants, and I have been told that taking anti-depressants for long periods can worsen the problem anyway and wasn't keen to try it. So things have gotten better, I recently got married and life is looking up. I am going off the Keppra, and I believe what you are all saying!