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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 cmunley86 on Wed, 2010-02-17 - 21:51
I have noticed that I've felt more anxious and agitated since i've been on it. I've been on it for 6 months though. I was perscribed ativan, 1mg as needed. Maybe that will help?

Re: Keppra and depression

Submitted by Jack8309 on Tue, 2010-11-09 - 18:17

Hi everyone!

I was looking over this site for a completely different answer and came upon this thread and decided to sign up and share my experience with Keppra. I do not have E but I had suffered a brain abscess back in 2008 when i was 24 and keppra was given to me as a standard procedure while my brain recovered for 6-8 months. I was moody and down so we all thought it was because of the situation but once i was weaned off i was coming back to my old self. 2 month of being clear of the keppra, i suffered a full blown seizure. They put me back on it and of course I was back to being depresed and irritable and getting upset easily. I hated it I didnt want to do anything I missed my friends but at the same time I didnt want to do anything Id go to the neurologist and she'd ask me a question about a touchy subject and I'd burst into tears. I just sstarted being on the generic form of the keppra to save money of course everyone's happy right? well my dr says she found out her other patients r going 'over the deep end" so she wanted me off i didnt like being on the keppa anyways i tried lamitrol but i still had foca/simple seizures like once a week in my left hand or on my face it made me crazy we increased the dose so much it gave me headaches.. decided to do a 3 day test took away my medicine told me to stay up for 12 hours twice just at the end of the 2nd end of 12th hour a seizure hit so they decided to prescribe me topamax.. so far so good.. knock on wood. most of all i'm slowly getting my life back!!

for those who are on keppra and drepressed YES IT IS NORMAL AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE KEPPRA.. please be proactive in your healthcare and ask questions and ask  if there r other things you can take and whatnot for your seizures.. and get your life back!! :)

Jessica

Hi everyone!

I was looking over this site for a completely different answer and came upon this thread and decided to sign up and share my experience with Keppra. I do not have E but I had suffered a brain abscess back in 2008 when i was 24 and keppra was given to me as a standard procedure while my brain recovered for 6-8 months. I was moody and down so we all thought it was because of the situation but once i was weaned off i was coming back to my old self. 2 month of being clear of the keppra, i suffered a full blown seizure. They put me back on it and of course I was back to being depresed and irritable and getting upset easily. I hated it I didnt want to do anything I missed my friends but at the same time I didnt want to do anything Id go to the neurologist and she'd ask me a question about a touchy subject and I'd burst into tears. I just sstarted being on the generic form of the keppra to save money of course everyone's happy right? well my dr says she found out her other patients r going 'over the deep end" so she wanted me off i didnt like being on the keppa anyways i tried lamitrol but i still had foca/simple seizures like once a week in my left hand or on my face it made me crazy we increased the dose so much it gave me headaches.. decided to do a 3 day test took away my medicine told me to stay up for 12 hours twice just at the end of the 2nd end of 12th hour a seizure hit so they decided to prescribe me topamax.. so far so good.. knock on wood. most of all i'm slowly getting my life back!!

for those who are on keppra and drepressed YES IT IS NORMAL AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE KEPPRA.. please be proactive in your healthcare and ask questions and ask  if there r other things you can take and whatnot for your seizures.. and get your life back!! :)

Jessica

Re: Keppra and depression

Submitted by brenda1234 on Sun, 2011-01-02 - 20:31
hi everyone i am 19 years old and have JME as well. i have been on keppra for two years and seriously depressed for about the last sixth months in which now i am on prozac. i previously was on lamictal and depakote before keppra and am in the process of switching to topomax because the depression with keppra is just too bad. i was wondering if anyone had any problems with topomax?

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