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Keppra

Sat, 08/19/2006 - 16:33
Hi there, Could anyone who has taken Keppra or just has an opinion on it please post it on the thread on my blog. I would like to hear your experiences good, bad or different side effects etc. The thread will explain why and thank you in advance to anyone who replies. Andy

Comments

Re: Keppra

Submitted by ritab2002 on Sun, 2006-08-20 - 00:15
Hi Andy, I have been on 2500mg of Keppra for about 1yr now I have CP TLE and had one Grand Mal,and, although Keppra has lessened the severity of the seizures it had not reduced the amount much at all. My initial experience was not good at all I was really nauseous, dizzy and disoriented. Also initial really bad emotional outbursts, really angry outbursts, depression(not typical for me) and even caused me to fear new places which I had never experienced before.These bad side effects other than constant crying did lessen. My neuro who is a specialist in E has recently added Dilantin(300mg) and plans to reduce or eliminate the Keppra once my blood serum levels are up to par(seizures although less now are still not eliminated). The amazing thing though for me is that within one week of adding Dilantin the really bad emotional side effects of the Keppra were practically nonexistant. My emotions felt like my own again. I am typically emotional and can cry or have much empathy at sad times but this had been ridiculous and once I got started it took a long time for me to stop. I am seeing the neuro soon and will discuss my options. I don't quite understand why this drug (Keppra) is a miracle to some and a real disaster to many others I have spoken to. Also, I understand that Dilantin can be disastrous for some and this worries me. Hope this info is of some use and I will be interested to see others experiences with Keppra as well.

Re: Re: Keppra

Submitted by andy m on Sat, 2006-08-26 - 03:44
Hi there Rita Thank you Rita and thank you to everyone who added their comments and thoughts on Keppra on the thread on my blog, and also to the people who mailed me. I'm also getting a lot of anecdotal evidence through chats etc and I'm collecting it all together slowly but surely. One of the main things I'm interested in is the length of time spent on Keppra before people either stopped taking it or found the initial side effects started to wear off, the reason for this is this seems to be one of peoples most common worries with any AED that initial transitional period from one med to another or starting on meds for the first time, I sometimes feel that unless there are severe side effects that often meds aren't given a sufficient trial period. The case in the UK with meds coming free via the NHS is that you seem less able to chop and change without good reason, or maybe that's just my experience. Anyway keep the comments coming and thank you again in advance. There was a thread about a week ago about keppra with a typo in the name and I posted on it but I can't for the life of me find it anywhere, can anyone help? Andy

Re: Re: Re: Keppra

Submitted by jamie crowell on Sun, 2006-12-10 - 20:31
hi andy i havben taking keppra fo about 1 month 500mg tablets i was fine at first but when the dr. raised it i was always getting dizzy about 45 minutes after i took it. Just recently i decided to take myself off it slowly i wil be calling my dr. tomorrow and letting him know the problems and why i decided to do this.I have not had periods of depression like other s have had but have had mood swings. There is also a side effect that many people have which is hair loss.

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