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Keppra and depression
Wed, 06/10/2009 - 15:08This 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 spagurleygirl on Mon, 2010-03-01 - 17:10
I am 30 years old and currently take Keppra. I've been on it for almost 3 years now. I have experienced much success with controlling my seizures on the dose I take. However, just recently (within the last 6 months) I have started to feel "different", like I'm not myself. I'm less motivated, more tired, easliy irritated, and lack the sunny disposition I once had. I thought at first it was just stress at work, but I can't seem to find myself. I've talked to both my physician and neurologist, and neither of them think it's depression or that it's from Keppra. I've also talked about it with friends and they think it could be mild depression. I can't say that I think about suicide, but I do have negative thoughts. I'm just a negative person now and not happy like I used to be. I'm thinking about taking St. John's Wort or continuing (and being more consistent) with taking 5-HTP. Both of these all natural products supposedly have an ingredient that promotes a positive mood. We'll see how that goes.
I'm new to epilepsy.com and look forward to reading more and learning more about the disease that has held me captive for over 22 years. Good luck and God Bless all.
I am 30 years old and currently take Keppra. I've been on it for almost 3 years now. I have experienced much success with controlling my seizures on the dose I take. However, just recently (within the last 6 months) I have started to feel "different", like I'm not myself. I'm less motivated, more tired, easliy irritated, and lack the sunny disposition I once had. I thought at first it was just stress at work, but I can't seem to find myself. I've talked to both my physician and neurologist, and neither of them think it's depression or that it's from Keppra. I've also talked about it with friends and they think it could be mild depression. I can't say that I think about suicide, but I do have negative thoughts. I'm just a negative person now and not happy like I used to be. I'm thinking about taking St. John's Wort or continuing (and being more consistent) with taking 5-HTP. Both of these all natural products supposedly have an ingredient that promotes a positive mood. We'll see how that goes.
I'm new to epilepsy.com and look forward to reading more and learning more about the disease that has held me captive for over 22 years. Good luck and God Bless all.
Re: Keppra and depression
Submitted by kittyk8 on Wed, 2010-02-17 - 19:10
Hi im 21 and started with epilepsy when i was 13. i started taking Keppra when i was 16 and not long after started on antidepressants. Lots went off around that time and i started with depression, so i don't know if it's linked to me starting the Keppra or what happened. Over the years its controlled my epilepsy really well. but my quality of life has gone down n down. ive never managed to hold onto a job or stay on a course, and my confidence has vanished, losing me most of my friends. i feel i have no motivation to do anything, not even the littlest things and can get really low. the epilepsy doctor said this COULD be due to keppra and it was upto me if i wanted to come off it and see if i improved. but i know that would risk my fits starting again. i wondered if anyone else thought it sounded like the keppra could be the problem? n if anyone had any advise for me :) i also hope this information is helpful to anyone else whos felt this way. antidepressants don't seem to have had much of an effect helping me and i wonder if this is due to keppra too?