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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 punky91 on Tue, 2013-08-27 - 23:08

Dear Karries,

My daughter is 21 now, but when she was 16, a pretty major depression hit her.  All of a sudden, she couldn't get out of bed in the morning for school..She also had some anxiety attacks.  She missed a lot of school. She had been on tegretol prior to keppra, for several years, but it was wearing off, she started having seizures.   I thought the depression was caused by the keppra and told the doctor that.  He said he didn't think so, and advised she see a counselor.  After seeing several doctors, and getting nowhere, we switched to an epilepsy specialist, took her off the keppra and the depression lifted.  But I remember the extreme fatigue she had and thought you would want to know about this.  Now Christina is on lamictal and onfi. Onfi has also caused depression, fatigue, intrusive thoughts and some other issues.  We're going to take her off the onfi, but again, it has taken quite some time to get the dr to see that this medicine is no good for her.   I say go with your gut feeling.  Its mostly trial and error and the doctors just seem to think a solution is to add more drugs.  Christina is on Lexapro,(anti depressant) but think she will be able to drop that, once the onfi is stopped.  Godd luck to you , it can all be very trying, I know.

Dear Karries,

My daughter is 21 now, but when she was 16, a pretty major depression hit her.  All of a sudden, she couldn't get out of bed in the morning for school..She also had some anxiety attacks.  She missed a lot of school. She had been on tegretol prior to keppra, for several years, but it was wearing off, she started having seizures.   I thought the depression was caused by the keppra and told the doctor that.  He said he didn't think so, and advised she see a counselor.  After seeing several doctors, and getting nowhere, we switched to an epilepsy specialist, took her off the keppra and the depression lifted.  But I remember the extreme fatigue she had and thought you would want to know about this.  Now Christina is on lamictal and onfi. Onfi has also caused depression, fatigue, intrusive thoughts and some other issues.  We're going to take her off the onfi, but again, it has taken quite some time to get the dr to see that this medicine is no good for her.   I say go with your gut feeling.  Its mostly trial and error and the doctors just seem to think a solution is to add more drugs.  Christina is on Lexapro,(anti depressant) but think she will be able to drop that, once the onfi is stopped.  Godd luck to you , it can all be very trying, I know.

Re: Tired: Seizures vs. Medication vs. Depression

Submitted by sroebuck117 on Fri, 2010-10-01 - 14:22

Yes, I've been on all three of those meds one time or another. Keppra did absolutely nothing for my seizures but mine are non epileptic.

But, I can offer some advice on anti depressant meds. I've tried Celexa, Lexapro, Welbutrin, and Cymbalta. So far, cymbalta has done wonders for me. It has the least amount of side effects in my opinion. I was on the Lexapro for almost 2 years and it just stopped working for me. It no longer helped with the depression and it seemed like all they were doing is upping the dosage. Finding the right drug for depression can make the depression worse and it is very frustrating. Trial and error is the only way, even though I know that sucks. Hang in there, and I truly wish you the best. Let me know if there is anything I can do.

Yes, I've been on all three of those meds one time or another. Keppra did absolutely nothing for my seizures but mine are non epileptic.

But, I can offer some advice on anti depressant meds. I've tried Celexa, Lexapro, Welbutrin, and Cymbalta. So far, cymbalta has done wonders for me. It has the least amount of side effects in my opinion. I was on the Lexapro for almost 2 years and it just stopped working for me. It no longer helped with the depression and it seemed like all they were doing is upping the dosage. Finding the right drug for depression can make the depression worse and it is very frustrating. Trial and error is the only way, even though I know that sucks. Hang in there, and I truly wish you the best. Let me know if there is anything I can do.

Re: Tired: Seizures vs. Medication vs. Depression

Submitted by maron on Fri, 2010-10-01 - 15:46
i am going throug the same thing i always say im tired of being tired ,ihave atonic seizures and simple partial seizures ,am on depakene 500 once aday along with apetryl 0,5mg at night also iam taking no deprine for depression iam just like you always tired and exhausted and always want to sleep but the defference is i have two children and they  need  all the attintion and energy so iam always in fight with fatigue and pain .god bless you

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