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Keppra and depression

Wed, 06/10/2009 - 15:08

This 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 david 59 on Sun, 2010-02-14 - 16:53
david59   hi sicily, hope you are still on the line... i finally decided. i am dropping keppra, 250mg a week for next 2 weeks, while ive been on 1000mg of depakote for two weeks now. hope i can get some answers, feel better about the world.i am having headaches now, ...must just be from switching meds. i hope you have made progress...feel better....david 59

Re: Keppra and depression

Submitted by vigga60@hotmail.com on Wed, 2009-09-02 - 09:39

I think that if the medicine make trouble in our brain to think and to be active in life, and don´t even control the seizures, and also make depression, and many more problems, then it is not  good to be on medicine.   The brain must be able to create new cells, and if we do not use it (the brain) we loose it.  The doctors know it now, but for a long time they thought, that the brain made no new cells, if people had a seizure. 

I think that if the medicine make trouble in our brain to think and to be active in life, and don´t even control the seizures, and also make depression, and many more problems, then it is not  good to be on medicine.   The brain must be able to create new cells, and if we do not use it (the brain) we loose it.  The doctors know it now, but for a long time they thought, that the brain made no new cells, if people had a seizure. 

Re: Keppra and depression

Submitted by sicily726 on Mon, 2009-11-16 - 01:01
I  don't know what to do.   Keppra and  seizures and depression define my life.  Told the neuro about the depression, suicidal thoughts on Keppra.  I can't go on like  this anymore.  I'm sleeping 14 hours at a time or have insomnia.  I had  a terribly embarrassing seizure in front of my students Friday.  Held my feelings in until  getting into the car to head home.  Called the neuro's cell, telling her what happened.  She said I had a seizure, and should not drive, to pull the car over and  have someone else  take me home.  Must I give up what little work I do have (teaching 2 college classes one day per week)?  I want to die so I think I should go to the ER.  This is insane.  I can't go on like this anymore.  And I will not let them simply tell me, "go see a counselor,  good-bye" again.  Counselors can't stop drug-induced depression, only stopping the drug can and I'd prefer to do so in a controlled, medical environment.  We will see. Going to the ER now.

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