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How Long to Feel the Side Effects of Keppra?

Thu, 07/24/2008 - 07:57
I have been on Keppra 48 hours and I was wondering how long it takes to feel the side effects? I have felt the drowsiness within hours of the first dose. I know the first month is supposed to be the worst. Can anyone tell me when I will feel the side effects at their worst? I have been on Dilantin and know what an idot I became on that drug. Since I have a technical job, I need my brain to function! It seems there are very few "success" stories related to Keppra, as everyone is talking about the side effects. Or perhaps that is simply the nature of fourms and drug reviews - you tend to have users with negative reviews more likely to post than users with little side effects. I am definitely worried about the mood swings and increased depression typically associated with Keppra, so I am hoping it will not hit me hard. I have never had a weight problem, so I am hoping Keppra will not affect me in that way either. I technically do not have epilepsy since I have only had one seizure. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. This is my first post! Don't mind my username - it is a guy from a Three Stooges episode ("Jip The People").

Comments

Re: How Long to Feel the Side Effects of Keppra?

Submitted by rsorrin on Thu, 2008-07-24 - 10:37
I didn't have a "weight problem" either and over 4 or 5 years I gained about 60 or 70 pounds. I don't remember any drowsiness. I remember the medication worked fairly well but I changed to Topomax and lost all of the weight, and then some. I was not aware of either the weight gain side effect of Keppra nor the weight loss effect of Topomax. I have vowed to always ask more questions in the future!

Re: How Long to Feel the Side Effects of Keppra?

Submitted by littlelulu on Fri, 2008-11-14 - 20:38

I've been on Keppra for a few months now and I'm still having seizures....I just had 2 this past week (grand mal) so my Neuro added Tegretol (the generic kind). So I'm currently on 3000mg of Keppra and 600mg of Tegretol. As for the side effects of the Keppra, I noticed them right away...dizziness, loss of appetite, moodiness, loss of balance, short term memory loss....and its gotten better the longer I've been on it but its still not totally gone. I also take B6 vitamin to help with the memory loss etc. so if I could recommend one thing its to get some B6 vitamins to take everyday with your seizure meds.As for the Tegretol I've only been on it 2 days but again I've noticed dizziness, my head feels foggy, loss of concentration and loss of balance at times...that's all so far. Hopefully those will be the only side effects but we'll see as time goes on. My Neuro recommended that I check into the epilepsy monitoring unit for 3-5 days so they can hook me up to the EEG machine and take me off my meds to enduce seizures and video tape them so they can better treat them. I was a bit leary of that at first but I will honestly do anything to get these under control and right now I dont feel that my seizures are fully under the control they should be. 

Has anyone been hooked up to the monitoring unit? if so what is it like and what do you do while your there? I'm from Boston MA so if there are any others from the Boston area I'd def be interested in exchanging stories etc. 

 Best of Luck to everyone!!

 

I've been on Keppra for a few months now and I'm still having seizures....I just had 2 this past week (grand mal) so my Neuro added Tegretol (the generic kind). So I'm currently on 3000mg of Keppra and 600mg of Tegretol. As for the side effects of the Keppra, I noticed them right away...dizziness, loss of appetite, moodiness, loss of balance, short term memory loss....and its gotten better the longer I've been on it but its still not totally gone. I also take B6 vitamin to help with the memory loss etc. so if I could recommend one thing its to get some B6 vitamins to take everyday with your seizure meds.As for the Tegretol I've only been on it 2 days but again I've noticed dizziness, my head feels foggy, loss of concentration and loss of balance at times...that's all so far. Hopefully those will be the only side effects but we'll see as time goes on. My Neuro recommended that I check into the epilepsy monitoring unit for 3-5 days so they can hook me up to the EEG machine and take me off my meds to enduce seizures and video tape them so they can better treat them. I was a bit leary of that at first but I will honestly do anything to get these under control and right now I dont feel that my seizures are fully under the control they should be. 

Has anyone been hooked up to the monitoring unit? if so what is it like and what do you do while your there? I'm from Boston MA so if there are any others from the Boston area I'd def be interested in exchanging stories etc. 

 Best of Luck to everyone!!

 

Re: How Long to Feel the Side Effects of Keppra?

Submitted by Birdie on Sat, 2008-11-15 - 00:34

I've been on Keppra now for 2 Months.  1,000 mg. twice daily.  I feel more shakey than before, and have the double vision which was also a side effect from the Lamictal.  Anyone else feel more shakey?  I also take Tegretol XR.  I've only had very small seizures, if you could call them that.  I feel the aura come and am able to talk myself out of having one.  Which is great.  Does a B6 vitamin really help the memory?  I could use it also.  I have to write things down all the time. 

Keep well everyone.  Later 

I've been on Keppra now for 2 Months.  1,000 mg. twice daily.  I feel more shakey than before, and have the double vision which was also a side effect from the Lamictal.  Anyone else feel more shakey?  I also take Tegretol XR.  I've only had very small seizures, if you could call them that.  I feel the aura come and am able to talk myself out of having one.  Which is great.  Does a B6 vitamin really help the memory?  I could use it also.  I have to write things down all the time. 

Keep well everyone.  Later 

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