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Keppra and depression
Wed, 06/10/2009 - 15:08This 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
Re: Keppra and depression
Submitted by livvyloo on Sat, 2013-10-12 - 17:48
I'm 17 years old, i'm having a pretty rough time. I have JME, my seizures are caused my tiredness and stress. I was diagnosed around 3 years ago now. Over the last year i've had some difficulties with how i've been feeling, it got so bad that i had been taken into hospital. I'm now on 20 mg fluoxetine, i've dropped out of sixth form and nothing is getting any better. It was starting to progress but i'm struggling to carry on, i have no motivation to do anything, i just can't do it. I have tried and tried and i feel sick, I just know i'm not alright. I don't understand what is going on, i haven't had a seizure in over a year now but i am depressed. I have had counselling, seen psychiatrists, been to various consultants and doctors and i still continue to feel the way i do. I hadn't cut myself in over 2 months and i've started doing it again, i feel psychotic when i feel the way i do. My boyfriend tries to have a laugh with me and it makes me angry so i run to the bathroom, then i will come back in and laugh even though there isn't anything to laugh at. I get these terrible feelings when i'm having a bad day, and it feels as though i'm hurt as in heartbroken and it makes me so upset and i feel so lost. I've thought so many times about killing myself. I just don't understand this, the doctors and consultants say it isn't the medication but what else could it be? i was fine before i was on this, the epilepsy was horrid but i never ever once thought about cutting myself. I feel so angry at myself, i feel disgusted looking at myself. I feel as though i'm not good enough and that there is nothing left for me. I just feel physically sick, i don't want to feel like this anymore. I'm scared of telling my mum, she gets so worried about me and i don't want her to panic, she's already panicked enough as it is and it isn't fair on her. I just don't know what i'm meant to do, i have issues with seeing people now, for example seeing friends, i don't see anyone anymore, i can't handle it. I'm actually scared of what i could do to myself.