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Lamictal vs. Keppra
Mon, 06/21/2010 - 09:11I am 25 I have simple-partial, complex-partial, and tonic-clonic seizures. I was put on Depakote, but that didn't work. So I was switched to Keppra XR, but it gave me suicidal thoughts and severe depression. Now I'm titrating Lamictal XR into my system while I'm weaning off the Keppra, and at this point, I don't know which one is causing the current side effects.
The tremors, extreme weakness and fatigue, shortness of breath, insomnia, and loss of apetite are some of the expected side effects. What worries me is the fact that I keep forgetting things, as if they were completely erased from my memory! And then there are times when I feel that I'm just going to collapse and pass out..but I hear that's normal too.
I guess I have two questions; Is the memeory loss normal, and is there a point where one says 'enough with the medications!' ?
Comments
Re: Lamictal vs. Keppra
Submitted by Temur on Sun, 2012-09-30 - 20:30
Re: Lamictal vs. Keppra
Submitted by Revelation 21.4 on Tue, 2012-10-02 - 17:50
In my experience lamictal had big anti-depressant effects. It was impossible for me to feel depressed on this drug. It also gave me a lot of energy and made me much more talkative. The negative was I had hyper-vigulance, heart palpitations at times, but worst of all insomnia. I could not sleep on this drug whatsoever. I ended up having the most seizures combined that I ever had at any other point in my life and on other meds. I believe it was pro-convulsant in my case. Hopefully you don't get the insomnia, if you don't your probably ok. One of the most important things for us is sleep!
Keppra on the other hand gave me extreme agitation and insomnia. This is by far the worst drug I've ever been on for pychiatric effects. I'am currently getting off it and being put on clobazam (ONFI) because I've been on soo many drugs and can't ever deal with the side effects. Depakote and zonegran was best for my seizures but zonegran made me suicidal and very depressed. Depakote gave me terrible stomach issues, gained 15lbs in a year while working out! and major depression also. My diagnoses was JME because seizures began around puberty but I never get the myoclonic jerks so who knows. I guess I just have Generalized.
BTW nearly every AED is gonna cause memory problems. They really slow down your concentration too.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" - Rev 21:4
In my experience lamictal had big anti-depressant effects. It was impossible for me to feel depressed on this drug. It also gave me a lot of energy and made me much more talkative. The negative was I had hyper-vigulance, heart palpitations at times, but worst of all insomnia. I could not sleep on this drug whatsoever. I ended up having the most seizures combined that I ever had at any other point in my life and on other meds. I believe it was pro-convulsant in my case. Hopefully you don't get the insomnia, if you don't your probably ok. One of the most important things for us is sleep!
Keppra on the other hand gave me extreme agitation and insomnia. This is by far the worst drug I've ever been on for pychiatric effects. I'am currently getting off it and being put on clobazam (ONFI) because I've been on soo many drugs and can't ever deal with the side effects. Depakote and zonegran was best for my seizures but zonegran made me suicidal and very depressed. Depakote gave me terrible stomach issues, gained 15lbs in a year while working out! and major depression also. My diagnoses was JME because seizures began around puberty but I never get the myoclonic jerks so who knows. I guess I just have Generalized.
BTW nearly every AED is gonna cause memory problems. They really slow down your concentration too.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" - Rev 21:4
Re: Lamictal vs. Keppra
Submitted by tcameron on Thu, 2011-03-24 - 23:47
I've never taken Keppra, but I've heard a lot of nightmares about it. I am currently taking Lamictal. Not XR; just regular Lamictal. If you're not having the rash, Lamictal is safe. About memory: they ALL cause loss of memory. Some people are affected more than others. Each brain is differentt. I take 4 AEDs, so we don't know which one(s) causes more memory loss. My doctor claims it's an individual situation with every person. No one can be positive which drug causes more memory loss than the other.
As for how much is too much: Again, it's an individual situation. If you've gone over a month after completely stopping an AED, but still feel the side effects, call your neurologist. Some drugs will have the same side effects. I hope you find Lamictal XR better. Keep a list of dates and times of all AED changes. Bring this to your neurologist each time you see her.
I've never taken Keppra, but I've heard a lot of nightmares about it. I am currently taking Lamictal. Not XR; just regular Lamictal. If you're not having the rash, Lamictal is safe. About memory: they ALL cause loss of memory. Some people are affected more than others. Each brain is differentt. I take 4 AEDs, so we don't know which one(s) causes more memory loss. My doctor claims it's an individual situation with every person. No one can be positive which drug causes more memory loss than the other.
As for how much is too much: Again, it's an individual situation. If you've gone over a month after completely stopping an AED, but still feel the side effects, call your neurologist. Some drugs will have the same side effects. I hope you find Lamictal XR better. Keep a list of dates and times of all AED changes. Bring this to your neurologist each time you see her.