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Tired: Seizures vs. Medication vs. Depression

Wed, 05/26/2010 - 15:02

I'm currently taking Keppra 500mg twice daily for epilepsy and am also on Lexapro 20mg at bedtime for depression.  I am literally exhausted and unmotivated all day, every day.  I'm so fatigued, I just want to sleep constantly.  The Lexapro does not seem to be helping the depression issues.  And being on the Keppra has only made me feel more tired and unmotivated.

My primary had put me on Wellbutrin which caused me to have a grand mal seizure (I have absence seizures typically).  Now I have to be on Keppra to prevent another grand mal seizure so that I can get my driver's license back.  Meanwhile, I'm off the Wellbutrin and have switched primary care physicians.  My new primary care doc has me on a low dose of Lexapro.

I'm just so tired of being tired all of the time.  My doc insists my bloodwork is normal.  My neurologist insists the Keppra is the right drug.  My husband's patience is wearing thin with seeing his wife sleep all of the time and sit on the couch all day long.

Has anyone else dealt with anti-depressant and anti-convulsant med therapy?

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Re: Tired: Seizures vs. Medication vs. Depression

Submitted by emva01 on Wed, 2010-05-26 - 16:43

Hi there-

 I have been on dilantin for 12 years and also take a small dose of lexapro(5mg).. I take it in the morning and agree with you, it makes me very sleepy too...  I take it for anxiety and it controls it at such a small dose, so I dont want to stop taking it!  Do you get any exercise at all?  I feel that helps me.  What about taking the lexapro in the morning?  How long have you been on the lexapro?  I didnt notice any changes until 4 weeks or so..

Hi there-

 I have been on dilantin for 12 years and also take a small dose of lexapro(5mg).. I take it in the morning and agree with you, it makes me very sleepy too...  I take it for anxiety and it controls it at such a small dose, so I dont want to stop taking it!  Do you get any exercise at all?  I feel that helps me.  What about taking the lexapro in the morning?  How long have you been on the lexapro?  I didnt notice any changes until 4 weeks or so..

Re: Tired: Seizures vs. Medication vs. Depression

Submitted by karries on Wed, 2010-05-26 - 16:53
I don't currently exercise.  I'm so tired, I literally feel like it's a chore to get up off the couch most days.

Re: Tired: Seizures vs. Medication vs. Depression

Submitted by mw_hope on Tue, 2010-06-08 - 14:13

 "I'm just so tired of being tired all of the time.  My doc insists my bloodwork is normal.  My neurologist insists the Keppra is the right drug.  My husband's patience is wearing thin with seeing his wife sleep all of the time and sit on the couch all day long"......same here. I'm taking keppra (XR, 750mg, 2 a day)and they said the same thing to me. We are also on the same dose of Lexapro and there have been times that I didn't take it because it didn't seem to make a difference- but I was very wrong. Now I don't miss a does.  I have been on several anti-depressants/anti-anxiety drugs and Lexapro has been best for my mind. I do wish it worked better though.    I have a question for you- Do you have memory problems. Severe problems? I do. I have about 15 or more "shivver seizures" a day....can't think of what neuro called them along with absence. I know that is part of making me tired almost all day; and they seiz. caused memory to go horrible because they are so frequent...but I think some of one of those meds is also contributing to these problems.  The tiredness is one thing that is awfull, but my memory is embarassing and depressing. In a way I hope you say you have memory problems too because since we take the same meds it could be one of those causing extra memory problems.  Hope I helped you and maybe you can help me. Good luck

 

 "I'm just so tired of being tired all of the time.  My doc insists my bloodwork is normal.  My neurologist insists the Keppra is the right drug.  My husband's patience is wearing thin with seeing his wife sleep all of the time and sit on the couch all day long"......same here. I'm taking keppra (XR, 750mg, 2 a day)and they said the same thing to me. We are also on the same dose of Lexapro and there have been times that I didn't take it because it didn't seem to make a difference- but I was very wrong. Now I don't miss a does.  I have been on several anti-depressants/anti-anxiety drugs and Lexapro has been best for my mind. I do wish it worked better though.    I have a question for you- Do you have memory problems. Severe problems? I do. I have about 15 or more "shivver seizures" a day....can't think of what neuro called them along with absence. I know that is part of making me tired almost all day; and they seiz. caused memory to go horrible because they are so frequent...but I think some of one of those meds is also contributing to these problems.  The tiredness is one thing that is awfull, but my memory is embarassing and depressing. In a way I hope you say you have memory problems too because since we take the same meds it could be one of those causing extra memory problems.  Hope I helped you and maybe you can help me. Good luck

 

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