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Keppra side effects

Sun, 11/07/2010 - 22:28

My 13 year old duaghter was diagnosed with Benign epilepsy in 2008 and not put on medication.  After getting a second opinion a year later she was diagnosed with complex-partial and built up to 3,250mg of Keppra every day.  She went through a lot of bad moodswings and anger for about a month and then it seemed to even out but after being on it for almost a year I have noticed that her side affects have increased and she is a very different person now with being much more withdrawn, tired, gained weight, depressed, moody, becoming angry in an instant and remaining angry for hours.  She used to be very happy, always apologizing quickly and had more energy.  She has also forgotten important events from the last 2-3 years which her Dr. says is from the seizures she had but I think it is a medication side effect.  She has also been having back aches almost every day.  Does anyone else have that who is on Keppra?  She never had more than 4 seizures a month and 95% were at night during her sleep.  They were all tonic-clonic seizures. 

I would really appreciate some input - PLEASE!!

Comments

Re: Keppra side effects

Submitted by momof3boysinnebraska on Sun, 2010-11-07 - 22:57

Hello, I saw your post and wanted to comment on it.

 I was increased on my Keppra by my dr in september because of a seizure that happened earlier in the year and the headaches I was having. Three weeks into the increase,  (I was on 3000mgs of Keppra, and then raised it to 4000mgs a day) I started having headaches, which then over more time, lead to KILLING headaches. These headaches were like non Ive never experienced before. I also noticed I was so tired all the time. Me being a stay at home mom of three little boys, it was something that I just couldnt handle. Almost a month after the increase, I had two break through seizures. On November first, I went back to the 3000mgs of keppra each day and I noticed a huge difference in everything. Before, I had really bad mood swings and would get angry like in a second! I still have that, just not as bad. My dr switched me from the Keppra to Keppra XR. He says its suppose to make the side effects much easier on a person who cant handle the side effects that well. Ive been on the Keppra XR since November fourth. I assume it will take a good month or so to see any huge differences, but I can exactly where youre coming from when it comes to the anger problems, and being on edge with things.

If anything, you can always ask the dr about Keppra XR. It wouldnt hurt to try. It might make things easier. Im on two difference seizure medications, Keppra XR and Carbotrol ER. I have complex partial seizures. I even found out its cheaper for us to get the Keppra XR over the Keppa. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Hello, I saw your post and wanted to comment on it.

 I was increased on my Keppra by my dr in september because of a seizure that happened earlier in the year and the headaches I was having. Three weeks into the increase,  (I was on 3000mgs of Keppra, and then raised it to 4000mgs a day) I started having headaches, which then over more time, lead to KILLING headaches. These headaches were like non Ive never experienced before. I also noticed I was so tired all the time. Me being a stay at home mom of three little boys, it was something that I just couldnt handle. Almost a month after the increase, I had two break through seizures. On November first, I went back to the 3000mgs of keppra each day and I noticed a huge difference in everything. Before, I had really bad mood swings and would get angry like in a second! I still have that, just not as bad. My dr switched me from the Keppra to Keppra XR. He says its suppose to make the side effects much easier on a person who cant handle the side effects that well. Ive been on the Keppra XR since November fourth. I assume it will take a good month or so to see any huge differences, but I can exactly where youre coming from when it comes to the anger problems, and being on edge with things.

If anything, you can always ask the dr about Keppra XR. It wouldnt hurt to try. It might make things easier. Im on two difference seizure medications, Keppra XR and Carbotrol ER. I have complex partial seizures. I even found out its cheaper for us to get the Keppra XR over the Keppa. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Re: Keppra side effects

Submitted by momof3boysinnebraska on Mon, 2010-11-08 - 18:25

I forgot to add the Vitamin B6 in my first response. My dr told me to take that. along with some Calcium and Vitamin D. Im on Carbotrol, and with being on that, it can affect my bone marrow, and weaken it.

But I do suggest to try getting some Vitamin B6, I was told that will help with the side effects.

I forgot to add the Vitamin B6 in my first response. My dr told me to take that. along with some Calcium and Vitamin D. Im on Carbotrol, and with being on that, it can affect my bone marrow, and weaken it.

But I do suggest to try getting some Vitamin B6, I was told that will help with the side effects.

Re: Keppra side effects

Submitted by Nixie79 on Mon, 2010-11-08 - 02:30

Hi there

I am also on Keppra but on a much lower dose than your daughter. I am on 1000mg morning & night but I also take Lamictal with it. I found that when I went on the Keppra, I was more irritable, tired, my weight has been up and down & my memory isn't as good as it was & having 2 kids fulltime and 2 extra every 2nd week, it makes it hard to focus on the things that matter the most. I do feel for your daughter as I know what it is like to go through all of this stuff. Just keep on at the neurologist to swap her tablets as much as she may feel like a guinea pig at times but it will work out in the end. I wouldn't want to see her end up with the situation I have at this stage and that is not being properly treated as a child so now I am a difficult & interesting case as my neurologist puts it and he doesn't seem to be able to get the right tablet for me. We are running out of options apparently so keep on at them to help her find the right tablets for her. 

Hi there

I am also on Keppra but on a much lower dose than your daughter. I am on 1000mg morning & night but I also take Lamictal with it. I found that when I went on the Keppra, I was more irritable, tired, my weight has been up and down & my memory isn't as good as it was & having 2 kids fulltime and 2 extra every 2nd week, it makes it hard to focus on the things that matter the most. I do feel for your daughter as I know what it is like to go through all of this stuff. Just keep on at the neurologist to swap her tablets as much as she may feel like a guinea pig at times but it will work out in the end. I wouldn't want to see her end up with the situation I have at this stage and that is not being properly treated as a child so now I am a difficult & interesting case as my neurologist puts it and he doesn't seem to be able to get the right tablet for me. We are running out of options apparently so keep on at them to help her find the right tablets for her. 

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