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Keppra side-effects

Thu, 09/01/2016 - 12:27
Hi there I was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2006. I had grand-mal seizures as well as juvenile myoclonic twitches. I went on Depakode, and had 8 more seizures. Then added Lamictal to the Depakode and was seizure-free for 9 years (although I still had the twitches). My doctor then switched the Depakode to Keppra because I was having bad side-effects from it, and she was worried that if I got pregnant the Depakode would harm the baby. (I had no plans on having a baby though). Last year, 4 months after the switch, I had a seizure in my sleep and woke up to that confused feeling, blood in my mouth and a killer headache. I was pretty tired for a few days (as normal). I had two blood tests over the next few months where I passed out and had pretty bad twitches (looked like a seizure but it wasn't a full-blown seizure), but the doctors say it's normal for anyone to pass out and twitch during blood-tests. It has never happened to me before though,- I only pass out when I get blood tests but never twitch. Anyway, the doctor upped my Keppra dose to 2500mg per day. Things were fine, I didn't feel any significant side-effects except for being tired and needing lots of sleep. Last Friday I was at a concert that had really intense strobe lights. The morning after I woke up, started twitching violently and felt it in my brain as well, it was like I was awake during the first 5 seconds of the seizure. It then proceeded to a grand-mal seizure and I woke up a minute later. My doctor upped my Keppra-dose to 3000mg per day. Every since that seizure, I have been nauseous, extremely tired and emotional- I've started crying very easily. I don't know if this is post-ictal state or the increase in Keppra.. But it's such a small increase which makes me doubt it. Has anyone experienced these side-effects on Keppra? I hear people get angry on Keppra but not sad. If you have experienced the same side-effects please tell me and also tell me the dose you're on and if there is anything you do to fix the nausea.. My doctor is in my home country and I'm studying abroad so getting answers isn't that easy at the moment. Hope I can get some input here. Thanks so much and have a lovely day :)

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