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On Keppra, Baby on the Way
Fri, 02/01/2008 - 19:06Hi. I am 23 years old and have been on 2000mg of Keppra a day for over three years. I have also been seizure free ever since I started Keppra, and with no side effects. I recently found out that I am pregnant with my first child. I am ecstatic, but I can't help worrying about the unknown effects of Keppra on my baby. My neuro is keeping me on the full dose for the duration of my pregnancy. Other than taking extra good care of myself, does anyone have any advice? Has anyone else gone through this that has a positive outcome? A negative one? I guess I am just searching for some sort of positive reinforcement to put my mind at ease a bit. Thanks for reading.
Amy
Comments
Re: On Keppra, Baby on the Way
Submitted by clkasner on Tue, 2009-06-02 - 16:46
I'm a new poster here. I am 35 years old and have been having seizures since high-school, but rarely - only when tired/stressed and around menses. I was on tegretol for a while, then had no insurance and spent many years without being on anything.
Then, I suspected I might be pregnant, and went to a neurologist who wanted to put me on depakote. i have heard bad things about this drug and pregnancies, and so asked for a second opinion. he refered me to an epileptologist who put me on keppra - a total of 1500 mg a day. i was part of the study, and was monitored monthly for levels, as well as by my obgyn and a specialist in fetal-maternal medicine. As i had just started on Keppra, I did have some side effects - no hallucinations, but rage and tears - mostly i just figured it was pregnancy hormones. As is now standard with anti-convulsants, they did a fetal echo and all the other tests and all was well.
Son is now 2 years old - was 9 lbs. 15 oz and 23 inches long - no complications (he was a c-section). I also breastfed, and he is a bright, chatty, active two year old boy. Most of the phases (like not wanting to sleep) i chalk up to being two rather than any medication issues. I stopped breastfeeding full time at 6 months as went back to work full-time, but continued to suplement until he was 9 mos when he weaned himself.
I am now 18 weeks pregnant with second child. have had one seizure in 3 years, right after I stopped breastfeeding - probably a hormonal thing. did not have any while pregnant and none while breastfeeding. Have not had any during this pregnancy. feel fine, tired, but have a 2 year old which is to be expected.
for those inquiring on the safety, be willing to ask for a second opinion. and, if possible go to a specialist rather than a neurologist. get involved in your own care; ask questions, and be willing to be watched and examined more than a 25 year old without a medical history. take the folic acid - while it's not known if keppra has the same effect, it doesn't hurt, and it's good for the baby. don't stop eating, as you risk anemia, which makes you more suceptible to a seizure. get sleep, and all the other things good pregnant women do. While the breastfeeding is a choice you'll have to make, for me the benefits to my child far outweighed the slight risk (studies confirm only trace amounts in breastmilk). My son had no withdrawl issues, and no noteable behaviour issues. He just wanted real food.
Don't let worry get the best of you - do genetic testing if it will make you more comfortable, and consider CVS or an amnio if you want some definitive answers prior to carrying to term. These are not without risk, but worry, pregnancy, meds, and epilepsy do not make good bedfellows either. We just had a triple screen, and our results came back as the risk rate of a 20 year-old with no health problems. Fetal echo next month, which son Eli also had with excellent score. I also had gestational diabetes. and now, I am officially of advanced maternal age. I am still on 1500 mg of keppra, and plan on breastfeeding.
That's my story - hope it helps.
I'm a new poster here. I am 35 years old and have been having seizures since high-school, but rarely - only when tired/stressed and around menses. I was on tegretol for a while, then had no insurance and spent many years without being on anything.
Then, I suspected I might be pregnant, and went to a neurologist who wanted to put me on depakote. i have heard bad things about this drug and pregnancies, and so asked for a second opinion. he refered me to an epileptologist who put me on keppra - a total of 1500 mg a day. i was part of the study, and was monitored monthly for levels, as well as by my obgyn and a specialist in fetal-maternal medicine. As i had just started on Keppra, I did have some side effects - no hallucinations, but rage and tears - mostly i just figured it was pregnancy hormones. As is now standard with anti-convulsants, they did a fetal echo and all the other tests and all was well.
Son is now 2 years old - was 9 lbs. 15 oz and 23 inches long - no complications (he was a c-section). I also breastfed, and he is a bright, chatty, active two year old boy. Most of the phases (like not wanting to sleep) i chalk up to being two rather than any medication issues. I stopped breastfeeding full time at 6 months as went back to work full-time, but continued to suplement until he was 9 mos when he weaned himself.
I am now 18 weeks pregnant with second child. have had one seizure in 3 years, right after I stopped breastfeeding - probably a hormonal thing. did not have any while pregnant and none while breastfeeding. Have not had any during this pregnancy. feel fine, tired, but have a 2 year old which is to be expected.
for those inquiring on the safety, be willing to ask for a second opinion. and, if possible go to a specialist rather than a neurologist. get involved in your own care; ask questions, and be willing to be watched and examined more than a 25 year old without a medical history. take the folic acid - while it's not known if keppra has the same effect, it doesn't hurt, and it's good for the baby. don't stop eating, as you risk anemia, which makes you more suceptible to a seizure. get sleep, and all the other things good pregnant women do. While the breastfeeding is a choice you'll have to make, for me the benefits to my child far outweighed the slight risk (studies confirm only trace amounts in breastmilk). My son had no withdrawl issues, and no noteable behaviour issues. He just wanted real food.
Don't let worry get the best of you - do genetic testing if it will make you more comfortable, and consider CVS or an amnio if you want some definitive answers prior to carrying to term. These are not without risk, but worry, pregnancy, meds, and epilepsy do not make good bedfellows either. We just had a triple screen, and our results came back as the risk rate of a 20 year-old with no health problems. Fetal echo next month, which son Eli also had with excellent score. I also had gestational diabetes. and now, I am officially of advanced maternal age. I am still on 1500 mg of keppra, and plan on breastfeeding.
That's my story - hope it helps.
Re: On Keppra, Baby on the Way
Submitted by mizcantu1 on Sat, 2009-07-04 - 00:49
Hi, Im 22 and I am almost 5 months pregnant, I dont take keppra but when I read what you wrote it reminded me of how scared I was. Im on lamictal and have been for a while. In the begining I was really nervous and afraid of what was going to happen to my baby. Well I researched it and this was one site I found and there are so many positive stories on here! I honestly dont think I seen one negative one. After reading these stories it really helped put my mind at ease. After finding out the information and learning the facts I wasnt as scared, my doctor also assures me that everything is going great and is going to be fine. I know with alot of siezure meds everything is just theory and not a proven fact. Dont get me wrong, there are meds out there that are harmful but there are also ones that are safer for you while pregnant. If I was you I would research it and speak with your nuero. But I wouldnt stress about it, take good care of yourself and do what them docs say and you will be fine.
Hi, Im 22 and I am almost 5 months pregnant, I dont take keppra but when I read what you wrote it reminded me of how scared I was. Im on lamictal and have been for a while. In the begining I was really nervous and afraid of what was going to happen to my baby. Well I researched it and this was one site I found and there are so many positive stories on here! I honestly dont think I seen one negative one. After reading these stories it really helped put my mind at ease. After finding out the information and learning the facts I wasnt as scared, my doctor also assures me that everything is going great and is going to be fine. I know with alot of siezure meds everything is just theory and not a proven fact. Dont get me wrong, there are meds out there that are harmful but there are also ones that are safer for you while pregnant. If I was you I would research it and speak with your nuero. But I wouldnt stress about it, take good care of yourself and do what them docs say and you will be fine.
Re: On Keppra, Baby on the Way
Submitted by Tanzanite on Mon, 2009-05-25 - 20:26
Hello
The feed back sounds positive for keppra so I hope everything goes really well for you.
I came on here because I can't feel my coil and am on keppra and was concerned I could've become pregnant.
But it seems I've had a little period. I should've felt relieved but don't. I have already had a child born with some birth defects and avoided pregnancy since, as was scared of the consquences. I had a termination once already so don't want to do so again. I've gone from worried to feeling very disappointed.
I still have to get the coil sorted out so I guess I've been given a second chance to prepare myself first. I see my nero in June.
Hello
The feed back sounds positive for keppra so I hope everything goes really well for you.
I came on here because I can't feel my coil and am on keppra and was concerned I could've become pregnant.
But it seems I've had a little period. I should've felt relieved but don't. I have already had a child born with some birth defects and avoided pregnancy since, as was scared of the consquences. I had a termination once already so don't want to do so again. I've gone from worried to feeling very disappointed.
I still have to get the coil sorted out so I guess I've been given a second chance to prepare myself first. I see my nero in June.