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Keppra to Topamax
Mon, 04/17/2006 - 16:24Topic: Medication Issues
Hi there
The meds I was taking are 1000 mg Tegretol, 20 mg Clobazam, 3000 mg Keppra. At present though, I have reduced keppra down to 1750 mg and introduced 125 mg Topamax over a matter of 8 weeks. I have one more changeover of med to do to reach 1500 mg keppra and 150 mg Topamax, but I am finding the switch of these two meds really stressful. Then I only found out a few days ago when I phoned up my Epilepsy Nurse and asked her what do I do with the extra 1500 mg of keppra that's left over with no Topamax to introduce. She said just continue withdrawing the Keppra every two weeks and phone them up should any problems arise. So I thought great, I am 1500 mg overdosed with keppra and no wonder I am having temper tantrums, crying, hardly eating, feeling depressed. I don't know if with recently been told that I am a candidate for surgery is adding the stress to me with all the worries and anxieties associated with surgery plus being unable to talk to my family regarding the surgery until a couple of days ago.
I hate taking keppra. I have taken it over 2 1/2 years now and in the end it made me be angry for no reason, sleep for over 15 hours a day, lazy, feel hungry all the time especially soon after taking my dose of meds at night. I thought something is not right here so I went to tell my Epilepsy Nurse to take me of it.
Everyones experiences with keppra or Topamax is welcomed. Thanks in advance.
Teri
Teri
Comments
Re: Re: Keppra to Topamax
Submitted by pinkangel_82 on Sat, 2006-04-22 - 14:49
Hi natalya
Thank you for your reply.
I am sorry to hear your changeover of meds from Depakote ER to Keppra had caused a seizure for you in 5 years. I can understand it must have been a big blow for you at the time. What I can't understand is why did your GP would want to take you off Depakote ER, if it was working so brilliantly for you?? When I was put on keppra and my Neurologist only increased my dose by 250 mg every two weeks. Your 1000 mg seems to high! I can also understand by you saying that you feel terrified because I am too as in two weeks time I will just be withdrawing keppra and not introducing anymore topamax. I just found out a couple of days ago that I am 1500 mg overdosed with keppra which will take me another 2 months to completely withdraw. I was not happy when I found out!!
My changeover of meds is doing well with controlling my seizures so far which is only 2 months, but the side effects are horrendous. It makes me feel very depressed, hostile from everyone, crying, hardly eating, the nerves in my stomach are playing up too. I just feel I want to run away from everyone. My Neurosurgeon disspirited me yesterday because I haven't had a seizure during the switch yet, but have felt auras over the last couple of days. I have written a blog about it so if you are interested just have a read.
Keep in touch and take care
Teri
Re: Re: Re: Keppra to Topamax
Submitted by natalya on Wed, 2006-04-26 - 13:25
Teri,
We decided to switch my medication from Depakote ER to Keppra because my youngest son was born with Fetal Valproate Syndrome(syndrome caused by depakote). I took it throughout the whole pregnancy without knowing what damage it can cause to my baby. When I came to my neurologist at that time(now I have the different doctor) I was only 6 weeks pregnant and he told me to stay on it. After raising my concern about birth defects he told me the only side effects it can cause:spina bifida, cleft lip and palate and we will be able to detect it on detailed ultrasound. I had the ultrasound done and I've been told that my baby is healthy. But there is whole lot more what the medication can do to a developing baby!!! Now I know it-all antiseizure medications are teratogens! But unfortunately, I had to learn all of this after my son was born with some problems. He didn't have spina bifida, cleft lip or palate but he got the other aspects of the syndrome!
Now we want to have another child and that's why we needed to switch the medication. But Keppra and Lamictal is not working for me and we decided to be medication free during the next pregnancy-that's my final decision. We decided to wait till spring next year with the pregnancy. Right now I am battling the idea to get back on Depakote for the year-it works for my grand mals but I hate it with the passion!!!!
1000 mg of Keppra was the original plan of my doctor since I was always on the monotherapy. It took me some time to get to the final destination of Keppra from Depakote but I still had a seizure. That's why he increased my dosage to 2000mg immediately and I didn't have any more seizures but my life became a hell! No short-term memory, nervousness, anger, mood changes....
I know how you feel:((! I am the same here! I think I'll start changing the medication back to Depakote during this week or early next week!
I hope you wont get any seizures!!!!!!! Two months seems promising!!
Take care,
Natalya.
Re: Keppra to Topamax
Submitted by natalya on Fri, 2006-04-21 - 21:28
Hi, Terri! I took Depakote ER for years to control my seizures but two months ago my doctor switched me to Keppra. At first he put me on 1000 mg a day and on the fourth day without Depakote I had a grand mal, first in 5 years. My doc increased the dosage to 2000mg a day. Since then, I didn't have seizures but my mood is something else! I am depressed, ANGRY all the time, yelling, crying, sleepy, dizzy...I tried to switch to Lamictal and had to stop the switch on week 5-it gave me strong BITTER taste on any food! Now I am looking into a possibility to switch back to Depakote again-I am terrified! I hate taking Keppra too, since it affects my mood a lot but Depakote is not a good choice too! I feel your pain! How is Topamax working? Best wishes, Natalya.