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Switching to Keppra - your experiences??

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 19:48
Hello fellow Epi's ..... I'm here seeking stories, experiences, and advice. When I was 16 I started getting myoclonic jerks. This brought me to the Doc, and I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I'm on 1000mg Depakote p/day & Tranxene too (take as needed). These have been kinda working for me, however, I'm turning 27 this month... After being on Tranxene for the past 10 years I've built up quite a tolerance. 1-2 used to do the trick (stop myoclonic sensations and generalized seizures) , now, I'm up to 8-10 a day!!! and suffering more than ever! Recently, I had 3 seizures pretty close together... in fact, one was only yesterday. I'm also constantly tired and I have been suffering problems in keeping erections. I've decided it's time for a change - I'm looking into Keppra , and I was wondering if you guy's could help me with any advice, stories, experiences, etc.... Thanks in advance!! - E.T. "When going through hell.... Keep on going!!" - Winston Churchill

Comments

Re: Switching to Keppra - your experiences??

Submitted by song on Sat, 2013-09-07 - 02:08

hi , yes ,you can switch medicine, must according to doctor advice, i dont know how to switch, but i can help you , i know a epilepsy professor , I can ask him. first I need to know your type of epilepsy ,and your recent medicine .

or you want consult him directly ,,

I am very happy to help you ,

Please let me know

Song

hi , yes ,you can switch medicine, must according to doctor advice, i dont know how to switch, but i can help you , i know a epilepsy professor , I can ask him. first I need to know your type of epilepsy ,and your recent medicine .

or you want consult him directly ,,

I am very happy to help you ,

Please let me know

Song

Re: Switching to Keppra - your experiences??

Submitted by ruralex on Wed, 2013-09-11 - 16:21
My adult son's neuro want to switch him to Keppra.  He's only been on phenytoin (Dilantin) for a month and things are going well.  They don't know why he had seizures, everything is clear, and they are suspecting PNS.  Why does the doctor want to change meds so quickly?  He told my son that phenytoin can cause liver damage, gum issues, etc.  but Keppra has it's own issues.  Any suggestions?

Re: Switching to Keppra - your experiences??

Submitted by just_joe on Fri, 2013-10-18 - 20:45

I suggest you try keppra the reason is below 

Dilantin was a good medication and it worked very good for me. But after taking it for 30 years I got toxic on it.

As for gum issues they are right. Considering it makes the gums fluctuate. They rise and fall which can and do keep stuff under them which causes tooth decay. Which ended up causing me to have partials made to my front lower teeth. Once I was taken off completely my gums receeded all the way back and my teeth were falling out you could see the roots to my teeth and I ended up having to have dentures made. As for seizures it controlled them well

Keppra is a better medication than dilantin. Dilantin is more of a downer and it works by calming the entire brain down and people are kinda drugged up when they are taking it. As for keppra and it's issue. All medications have side effects. Even the over the counter medications have them.

I have been taking keppra for about 10 years now. It is controlling my seizures well and not only that it has reduced the length of time in the seizure as well as the time to focus (get back to normal). I have and would recomend keppra is I am talking to people who are wanting information. As for people who will only take name brand. I could not afford the name brand but I also didn't want to come off a medicine that has done many thngs that have helped me. Doc's assistant has always been name brand only. Doc wanted to find out if the generic was as good since he had several patients on it and he also knew the cost. He wrote teh RX but I was to write down anything that was different or unusual in a diary. Yup those things I used when I was on a drug stude. Needless to say the generic worked fine and I have been on it for about 5 years now.

I hope this helps

Joe

I suggest you try keppra the reason is below 

Dilantin was a good medication and it worked very good for me. But after taking it for 30 years I got toxic on it.

As for gum issues they are right. Considering it makes the gums fluctuate. They rise and fall which can and do keep stuff under them which causes tooth decay. Which ended up causing me to have partials made to my front lower teeth. Once I was taken off completely my gums receeded all the way back and my teeth were falling out you could see the roots to my teeth and I ended up having to have dentures made. As for seizures it controlled them well

Keppra is a better medication than dilantin. Dilantin is more of a downer and it works by calming the entire brain down and people are kinda drugged up when they are taking it. As for keppra and it's issue. All medications have side effects. Even the over the counter medications have them.

I have been taking keppra for about 10 years now. It is controlling my seizures well and not only that it has reduced the length of time in the seizure as well as the time to focus (get back to normal). I have and would recomend keppra is I am talking to people who are wanting information. As for people who will only take name brand. I could not afford the name brand but I also didn't want to come off a medicine that has done many thngs that have helped me. Doc's assistant has always been name brand only. Doc wanted to find out if the generic was as good since he had several patients on it and he also knew the cost. He wrote teh RX but I was to write down anything that was different or unusual in a diary. Yup those things I used when I was on a drug stude. Needless to say the generic worked fine and I have been on it for about 5 years now.

I hope this helps

Joe

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