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86 year old mother on Keppra
Sun, 01/24/2016 - 05:22Hello. My mum started on Keppra last week for possible seizures. She is so wiped out she can hardly move. Can anyone tell me if there is a time period in which side-effects may start to reduce or should I get the doctor to her to switch? Advice very welcome as know nothing about this. Many thanks.
Seizure medications are not
Submitted by just_joe on Sun, 2016-01-24 - 10:29
Seizure medications are not like aspirin where once taken it goes away after a few hours. Side effects can start within a few days but most of those go away after the body gets used to the medication. Keppra is becoming the go to medication and has fewer side effects. It takes 3-4 weeks for the therapeutic levels to get where the neurologist wants them. I switched to keppra years ago and it not only reduced the number of seizures I was having but it also shortened the time in those seizures. Give her at least a month to a month and a half to tell if the side effects go away. Her doctors need to know any and all medications she takes since some meds can counter others. That also includes over the counter medications. Listen to her doctors and ask questions. If her prescription says 2 times a day then those times should be 12 hours apart. I hope this helps and she gets seizure free. Joe