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drowsinessworse with Keppra

Sun, 03/30/2008 - 23:51

Hi everyone- I am new to this forum and I hope somebody can give me some insight. I have been on dilantin for 26 years and now my new neurologist is having me switch to Keppra. I am still waiting for the results of my bone density scan. My biggest problem is the drowsiness and I haven't even started my full dose yet. I can barely make it through the day without caffeine in my system. I started drinking coffee the same year I started on dilantin because I couldn't stay awake in school. It didn't help that my first class of the day was physics!  Anyways, I have to drink twice as much coffee in order to function normally and I want to know if anyone has had side effects that persisted after going off there original medicine? Any advice in combating drowsiness while on AED? Thanks, nancy

Comments

Re: drowsinessworse with Keppra

Submitted by pgd on Sat, 2011-05-21 - 13:14
Any advice in combating drowsiness while on AED? Thanks... - No, no advice. Limited comments. Words like drowsiness - alertness - can be difficult to define medically (my view). It's my understanding that what you report about Dilantin - that Dilantin often has more of a neutral impact on drowsiness vs some other medicines - has been reported before by others. Regarding drowsiness - alertness - two medicines which are known to temporarily reduce drowsiness and increase a kind of alertness in some users are caffeine and Provigil. The concept of drowsiness - fatigue - need for a higher energy level - often comes up in discussions about brain injuries, sports concussions, some of the epilepsies, even some of the ADHDs but it can be difficult to find discussions which provide remedies to the need for more endurance/stamina. Sometimes the Krebs citric acid cycle is mentioned but bottomline, the two medicines - caffeine and Provigil - regularly are mentioned although neither medicine works for everyone.

Re: drowsinessworse with Keppra

Submitted by Garrbled Up on Thu, 2011-05-26 - 21:35

I've been on Keppra for a few weeks now. The drowsyness I find is worse after becoming mentally exausted. The only thing I do to combat the drowsyness (other than watching my stress levels and trying to give myself a break between tasks) is Tae Kwan Do. It helps so much with my mood swings and drowsyness. It tires out my muscles but leaves me felling alert and happy and energized. WAY BETTER THAN A GYM!!

Try it, there's no way it wont help a little 

I've been on Keppra for a few weeks now. The drowsyness I find is worse after becoming mentally exausted. The only thing I do to combat the drowsyness (other than watching my stress levels and trying to give myself a break between tasks) is Tae Kwan Do. It helps so much with my mood swings and drowsyness. It tires out my muscles but leaves me felling alert and happy and energized. WAY BETTER THAN A GYM!!

Try it, there's no way it wont help a little 

Re: drowsinessworse with Keppra

Submitted by ellebelle77 on Fri, 2011-11-25 - 07:05
I second that !!! I do Kyokushin Kai 3 times a week and it has honestly been my saving grace, It really combats the Kepprage and keeps me awake at work during the day. I love my martial arts even more now.

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