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Keppra and depression

Wed, 06/10/2009 - 15:08

This 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 AKickInTheHead on Thu, 2009-11-26 - 18:48

Hi,

I've been on different anti-seizure meds for 32 years following a brain tumor at the age of 10. Minor seizures changed to major in '03 ending in a severe car wreck. Then came 2+ years of testing followed by surgery. Then a couple of disasters, bone infection, skin graft, plastic surgery repairs, 6 years of hell. Most of the last 6 years, Ive been on Tegr & Keppra. I visited a shrink for quite a while following the surgeries, and was prescribed Clonazepam for anxiety. If there was a difference, it was too minor to notice. A psychologist suggested I see about stopping the prescr after being on it for over a year and still feeling lousy. I tapered off it.  6 months later I had another grand mal, another wreck. Driving is over for an unknown length of time. Depression is at its highest than ever.

I'm finding it extremely difficult to keep asking for 'transportation favors' from everyone I know (13 months now) and although I'm against antidepressants, am thinking seriously about going back........

If only there was a way to base all anti-seizure meds (and anti-depr's) by one person's results. What I do know is that depression has taken away most will to live and the worst part is that [physically] I'm in excellent shape, scars from 7 brain surgeries aren't even visible....psychologically.....I'm a wreck. I wish I didn't hear the term "side effects".      

 Hang in there & good luck with your "journey". :)

...MK

Hi,

I've been on different anti-seizure meds for 32 years following a brain tumor at the age of 10. Minor seizures changed to major in '03 ending in a severe car wreck. Then came 2+ years of testing followed by surgery. Then a couple of disasters, bone infection, skin graft, plastic surgery repairs, 6 years of hell. Most of the last 6 years, Ive been on Tegr & Keppra. I visited a shrink for quite a while following the surgeries, and was prescribed Clonazepam for anxiety. If there was a difference, it was too minor to notice. A psychologist suggested I see about stopping the prescr after being on it for over a year and still feeling lousy. I tapered off it.  6 months later I had another grand mal, another wreck. Driving is over for an unknown length of time. Depression is at its highest than ever.

I'm finding it extremely difficult to keep asking for 'transportation favors' from everyone I know (13 months now) and although I'm against antidepressants, am thinking seriously about going back........

If only there was a way to base all anti-seizure meds (and anti-depr's) by one person's results. What I do know is that depression has taken away most will to live and the worst part is that [physically] I'm in excellent shape, scars from 7 brain surgeries aren't even visible....psychologically.....I'm a wreck. I wish I didn't hear the term "side effects".      

 Hang in there & good luck with your "journey". :)

...MK

Re: Keppra and depression

Submitted by livvyloo on Sat, 2013-10-12 - 17:53
I'm only 17 years old and i feel the same way you do. I don't know how to handle this anymore, its so hard to cope.

Re: Keppra and depression

Submitted by livvyloo on Sat, 2013-10-12 - 17:53
I'm only 17 years old and i feel the same way you do. I don't know how to handle this anymore, its so hard to cope.

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