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Does All This Medicine Actually Help?

Thu, 12/14/2006 - 08:37
My partner has recently been told she has epilepsy and been given Keppra. She takes the drug twice a day (9am and 9pm) - 500mg each time. The thing is that she is suffering more with this drug than she was before. Before, she felt dizzy and felt she would fall down at any given minute as her head felt heavy. Ever since the doc has given her this drug, she feels real tired (like sleeping 12 hours a day which she never does), she feels moody and does not want to leave the house. I think she is also getting depressed and she keeps saying that she does not know what is happening to her (the SE's of the drug is not what she is usually like). I am wondering if the doc has given us some dodgy advice. It was a neurologist that told her to take them. We are living in London and both of us are struggling to cope with this. can anyone recommend anything/other neurologist? Has anyone felt like my partner is feeling? She has been taking the drugs for about 3 weeks now. Any help would be so greatly appreciated. All the best, Amit

Comments

Re: Does All This Medicine Actually Help?

Submitted by dundee on Thu, 2006-12-14 - 09:26
her body may need time to ajust to the medication.most who have epilepsy do see neurologists,most specialize in e.make sure shes taking it on a timely basis and the side effects may go.im told to take mine twice a day so i take them 12 hours apart from each other,who knows?maybe shes got too much in her system if shes not on a timeclock with the meds. one big step is taking notes.i always keep a five subject notebook in my livingroom so when seizures occur i can write everything down that folks tell me about,seems hard but after time youll see its worth the effort to see just whats happening and you can tell her neurologist everything even if your bugging the neuro.i never hesitate to call the neuro ten times a day when seizures happen.the more you call and help them make work on your time,the more paperwork they have and things may ease when you have all that paperwork by youre side and in the neuros office.ide make a list of questions out of the notes and call very often so i know somebody is working there.think about it,make sure the neurologist knows who she is and wont stop calling till controlled.even stopping by the neuros office often enough will have them wanting you off their backs and will work harder to get her controlled.read a few books and make a hobby out of all the research,let her do it so she will get to know herself since i bet her lifes changed dramatically since the diagnosis.let her life find epilepsy in herself through her research.with less stress seizures may stop with meds.

Re: Does All This Medicine Actually Help?

Submitted by scorpio on Thu, 2006-12-14 - 14:22
The Charing Cross Hospital has a large neurology department. I have been there a number of times over the past fifteen years. Have a look at their website - strictly the Hammersmith and Fulham NHST - http://www.hhntconsultants.com/ . I was seen most recently by a Dr Shakir, who I think is a senior consultant there, but there are at least a dozen others. Chris

Re: Does All This Medicine Actually Help?

Submitted by colina on Thu, 2006-12-14 - 14:59
Hi Amit. I started taking Keppra a year ago and it has turned out quite well for me. I experienced side effects for a while in the beginning but they subsided with time. In the first few weeks and with increases I was nauseas, restless, had a hard time sleeping and had some uncontroled rage. After a few weeks and to date all of these effects have disapated. The question my epiletologist always asks is have I been drepressed or had suicidal thoughts? Touch wood this has not happened to me. I believe all of us react differently to meds. Sometimes we, the patients, don't realize to what extent as it is a gradual process. I therefore would encourage you to keep an eye out for out of character changes in your partner. Side effects should always be pointed out to the doc and a phone call made if they do not stop within a few weeks. May be a good thing to call now. I'm always happy to hear when a partner, friend or family member is being observant of changes in their loved ones. All too often I found myself saying it's just the side effects. My new doc said that is unacceptable and changed the med that was causing me to feel as though I was in a drug induced stupor. Thing is though that med seems to work well for others here. It is all trial and error. Please let her know she is not alone in this. Smiles and best wishes.

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