Does ANYONE like being on Keppra?

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Okay, so I know no one really likes being on any medication, but I am just wondering, does anyone LIKE Keppra? I hate Keppra. I hate the way it makes me feel. I'm always tired and grouchy and fidgety. I can't see straight most of the time and my already short-fuse is way way shorter. Has anyone been on Keppra and NOT had bad side effects? Because for the number of people, it seems like most people I've talked to DON'T like it.

Comments

Re: Does ANYONE like being on Keppra?

Submitted by cb_33 on Thu, 2008-11-27 - 03:43

Hate it! Controls the seizures but the side effects aren't worth it!

I hate all anti seizure

Submitted by Jennicka871 on Tue, 2018-11-20 - 03:27

I hate all anti seizure medicine . been on varyents for over 16 years .Have recently chosen cannibus vap pen to treat seizures.I have clonic tonic seizures. Keppra also made me very congested and have chronic flu symptoms, would have to purchase theraflu almost every two months . only have a seizure when I'm congested in one side and can't breathe adequately. Since cannibus vape pen im more calm and less angry and agitated. Don't eat as often and not sleeping all day , only sleep long hrs if im tired from work or stressed.

I have been on Keppra for

Submitted by GenEpAdult on Wed, 2019-03-27 - 18:28

I have been on Keppra for almost 3 months now, to treat the grand mal seizures that I just started having in my sleep. Here's my experience:It does seem to stop my seizures. Which is great. Grand mal seizures, and their after-effects (confusion, memory issues, etc) are no picnic.The first 30 days side effects of Keppra were brutal. Suicidal thoughts, aggression, panic attacks, bad headaches, fatigue, confusion, waking from sleep gasping for breath, insomnia. Life did not feel worth living, and I wanted off the medication immediately. I ended up on short-term disability because I couldn't function on it, but wasn't allowed to stop it. The worst of those side effects passed after the first 45 days. Part of that was learning that I need to take the exact same amount of Keppra at exactly the same time every day, in order to minimize side effects. This means no cutting pills in half (can't be accurate enough), and two alarms to remind me to take my dose at the exact right time every day. I started at 500 mg twice a day, and have been upped to 1000 mg twice a day. I also recommend increasing the dosage slowly (750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 2000) to reduce side effects. I still feel some anxiety and fatigue on Keppra, but waaaaayyyyy less than initially. I think it's manageable, and I'm hoping that after another month or two being on a steady dose (I've only been on my full dose for 1 1/2 weeks now) the anxiety and fatigue will disappear.They tried starting me on lamotrigine after the terrible first month of Keppra, and even 25 mg made me feel much better (it also helped with the anxiety from Keppra, which I still had to take until I was weaned onto the full dose of lamotrigine). Unfortunately I developed the severe allergic reaction to lamotrigine and had to be taken off of it immediately (warning: stopping lamotrigine cold turkey caused two grand mals in the same evening). However continuing to take lamotrigine would give me a lethal allergic reaction, so that was not an option.The big benefit to Keppra is that it seems to be much easier on the body/kidneys over the long term, which is one reason the doctors like it so much. Essentially - it's safer... except for the possible increased risk of suicide in some (not all) patients. So know that it can be a great drug, but it's not for everyone, and make sure you have good support for that first month in case you do feel super anxious/suicidal and need someone to talk you down and support you getting off of it.Good luck!

I have been on Keppra for almost 3 months now, to treat the grand mal seizures that I just started having in my sleep.  Here's my experience:It does seem to stop my seizures.  Which is great.  Grand mal seizures, and their after-effects (confusion, memory issues, etc) are no picnic.The first 30 days side effects of Keppra were brutal.  Suicidal thoughts, aggression, panic attacks, bad headaches, fatigue, confusion, waking from sleep gasping for breath, insomnia.  Life did not feel worth living, and I wanted off the medication immediately.  I ended up on short-term disability because I couldn't function on it, but wasn't allowed to stop it.  The worst of those side effects passed after the first 45 days.  Part of that was learning that I need  to take the exact same amount of Keppra at exactly the same time every day, in order to minimize side effects.  This means no cutting pills in half (can't be accurate enough), and two alarms to remind me to take my dose at the exact right time every day.  I started at 500 mg twice a day, and have been upped to 1000 mg twice a day.  I also recommend increasing the dosage slowly (750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 2000) to reduce side effects.  I still feel some anxiety and fatigue on Keppra, but waaaaayyyyy less than initially.  I think it's manageable, and I'm hoping that after another month or two being on a steady dose (I've only been on my full dose for 1 1/2 weeks now) the anxiety and fatigue will disappear.They tried starting me on lamotrigine after the terrible first month of Keppra, and even 25 mg made me feel much better (it also helped with the anxiety from Keppra, which I still had to take until I was weaned onto the full dose of lamotrigine).  Unfortunately I developed the severe allergic reaction to lamotrigine and had to be taken off of it immediately (warning: stopping lamotrigine cold turkey caused two grand mals in the same evening).  However continuing to take lamotrigine would give me a lethal allergic reaction, so that was not an option.The big benefit to Keppra is that it seems to be much easier on the body/kidneys over the long term, which is one reason the doctors like it so much.  Essentially - it's safer... except for the possible increased risk of suicide in some (not all) patients.  So know that it can be a great drug, but it's not for everyone, and make sure you have good support for that first month in case you do feel super anxious/suicidal and need someone to talk you down and support you getting off of it.Good luck!

I have been on Keppra for almost 3 months now, to treat the grand mal seizures that I just started having in my sleep. Here's my experience:It does seem to stop my seizures. Which is great. Grand mal seizures, and their after-effects (confusion, memory issues, etc) are no picnic.The first 30 days side effects of Keppra were brutal. Suicidal thoughts, aggression, panic attacks, bad headaches, fatigue, confusion, waking from sleep gasping for breath, insomnia. Life did not feel worth living, and I wanted off the medication immediately. I ended up on short-term disability because I couldn't function on it, but wasn't allowed to stop it. The worst of those side effects passed after the first 45 days. Part of that was learning that I need to take the exact same amount of Keppra at exactly the same time every day, in order to minimize side effects. This means no cutting pills in half (can't be accurate enough), and two alarms to remind me to take my dose at the exact right time every day. I started at 500 mg twice a day, and have been upped to 1000 mg twice a day. I also recommend increasing the dosage slowly (750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 2000) to reduce side effects. I still feel some anxiety and fatigue on Keppra, but waaaaayyyyy less than initially. I think it's manageable, and I'm hoping that after another month or two being on a steady dose (I've only been on my full dose for 1 1/2 weeks now) the anxiety and fatigue will disappear.They tried starting me on lamotrigine after the terrible first month of Keppra, and even 25 mg made me feel much better (it also helped with the anxiety from Keppra, which I still had to take until I was weaned onto the full dose of lamotrigine). Unfortunately I developed the severe allergic reaction to lamotrigine and had to be taken off of it immediately (warning: stopping lamotrigine cold turkey caused two grand mals in the same evening). However continuing to take lamotrigine would give me a lethal allergic reaction, so that was not an option.The big benefit to Keppra is that it seems to be much easier on the body/kidneys over the long term, which is one reason the doctors like it so much. Essentially - it's safer... except for the possible increased risk of suicide in some (not all) patients. So know that it can be a great drug, but it's not for everyone, and make sure you have good support for that first month in case you do feel super anxious/suicidal and need someone to talk you down and support you getting off of it.Good luck!