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Self weaning off of keppra 500mg

Tue, 03/07/2017 - 10:18
I am writing as a scared and concerned wife. My husband is on keppra 500mg, 2 pills twice daily. He is NOT epileptic. And has had several tests to confirm that however is was put on the medication bc he was having alchohol withdrawal seizures including two tonic clinic seizures. It's been a year and a half since then and he has been seizure free. But he has changed drastically. He is very depressed, he sleeps all the time when he is not working, he's so emotional and sad and crying often, he is angry - more than angry, he is cruel and verbally abusive, he blacks out and doesn't remember the monster that he was. Recently I was so scared for him I went behind his back and called his doctor to tell him of his behavior. He went in to see the doctor and also found out he had keppra toxicity, he blood level was 59. He told the doctor about his depression and anger and I feel the doctor took it too lightly. He dropped a pill for him at night time but didn't talk about long term goals. Unfortunately wasn't there and my husband wasn't assertive enough to tell him he wants to get off these meds. So as of now he is dropping one of his night time pills. My husband wants to self wean off keppra entirely. He u derstands it will me a long process and won't happen over night. I tried to compromise with him and tell him I'll find a new dr for him, I even found a holistic neurologist who will help him wean off but he wants to do it on his own bc he doesn't trust doctors anymore. He's been to 4 neurologist and honestly none of them are helpful meaning that they don't listen to his wants and needs. We fought this past weekend bc I'm just so scared something bad or tragic will happen to him if he self weans. We have a toddler and JUST found out we are expecting and it has been so stressful. I guess I'm asking anyone out there if you have successfully or unsuccessfully weaned off of keppra On Your Own, if there were adverse effects, how did it go. My husband as of now is not introducing any new medicine, his goal is to be keppra free. He is supposed to go back to his neurologist in three months but who know if he will go. If anyone has any advice, life experience, anything, I'd be truly grateful. I need to get my husband back. He says he feels like a hostage in his own body and would actually prefer seizures over being who he is now. He used to be so kind. He deserves to have better quality life than this. It's breaking my heart and breaking down our marriage. It's devastating.

Comments

I was out on keppra in Jan

Submitted by Mickeysmind on Mon, 2020-06-08 - 15:15
I was out on keppra in Jan after my first seizure.  I tried to reduce it twice to 250 twice a day. Once in February on advice of neurologist.  Had another seizure 5 days later and sick in bed all 5 days.  Then again three weeks ago.  Had a seizure within one week. Had been. Sick a whole week.  Now I'm scared to try and stop again. It's controlling and ruining my life.  Ihate it! Wish I had a way to wean off it and start to live again.  

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