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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 sicily726 on Tue, 2009-09-01 - 18:04
thanks David. Tried to lower Keppra dose by 500 mg at night (I was taking 1500 mg XR in the am and 1500 mg XR in the pm) while adding Lamictal. During the first few days, I lost a degree of awareness, and got into a fender bender--the first fender bender since being put on Keppra. Turned red as a fire truck from the Lamictal. Stopped the Lamictal and went back to original 1500 mg in the am and 1500 mg in the pm of the Keppra XR. Got my level of awareness back, but also depression and angry outbursts from the Keppra. Gonna call the neuro again. I want to be weaned from Keppra but I don't want seizures and don't want other AEDs.
I feel total hopelessness and despair, and fear of seizures and fear of all AEDs.
thanks David. Tried to lower Keppra dose by 500 mg at night (I was taking 1500 mg XR in the am and 1500 mg XR in the pm) while adding Lamictal. During the first few days, I lost a degree of awareness, and got into a fender bender--the first fender bender since being put on Keppra. Turned red as a fire truck from the Lamictal. Stopped the Lamictal and went back to original 1500 mg in the am and 1500 mg in the pm of the Keppra XR. Got my level of awareness back, but also depression and angry outbursts from the Keppra. Gonna call the neuro again. I want to be weaned from Keppra but I don't want seizures and don't want other AEDs.
I feel total hopelessness and despair, and fear of seizures and fear of all AEDs.
Re: Keppra and depression
Submitted by david 59 on Tue, 2009-07-28 - 09:54
hi sicily....very sad to hear what you are goin thru. i feel like i can understand the frustration with keppra. i felt the same way for a while. i have tried antidepressants to counter the keppra....impossible to stop a drug by adding another drug...really it is just a stupid concept. neuros are just like regular people...they think they are just doin their job, not one of them seem to understand the responsibility of the medications they give to people,. my guy is trying to convince me that my depression is the CAUSE for my szs...not a side effect of keppra. just shows me that the doctors dont know very much about epilepsy,and how it effects your entire life. i dont know who i am anymore...lost my confidence with others,irritable all the time...for 3 years now.not very long,compared to many others...but this is not a contest ,is it? when you feel bad, you just feel bad...and need to talk. i hope you have someone.i hope you find some peace.let me know how it goes. best wishes..... david
hi sicily....very sad to hear what you are goin thru. i feel like i can understand the frustration with keppra. i felt the same way for a while. i have tried antidepressants to counter the keppra....impossible to stop a drug by adding another drug...really it is just a stupid concept. neuros are just like regular people...they think they are just doin their job, not one of them seem to understand the responsibility of the medications they give to people,. my guy is trying to convince me that my depression is the CAUSE for my szs...not a side effect of keppra. just shows me that the doctors dont know very much about epilepsy,and how it effects your entire life. i dont know who i am anymore...lost my confidence with others,irritable all the time...for 3 years now.not very long,compared to many others...but this is not a contest ,is it? when you feel bad, you just feel bad...and need to talk. i hope you have someone.i hope you find some peace.let me know how it goes. best wishes..... david