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RE: Keppra. I can't find the thread
Wed, 11/30/2005 - 00:27Topic: Medication Issues
I read a thread I was going to post on, didn't, and now can't find it. Anyway this person stated they had depression and they were on Keppra. On Keppra I get significant depression. It took me awhile to figure that out. I've had 4 trials on it. It takes me about 2-4 weeks for it to wear off. Others are reporting the same, but of course, not all others, a minority, still it can happen and is stated in the package insert.
I have taken other AEDs, as have others, that have had psychological effects so it can happen on other AEDs too. I felt like a maniac on phenobarbitol yet few do, as an example. Another one is Lamic-kill which was like a darn mind bomb. Of course with seizure disorder there are many reasons anyone can have depression. But I did want you to know my exeriences on Keppra. I just can't find your thread!
Gretchen
Comments
Re: RE: Keppra. I can't find the thread
Submitted by andy m on Tue, 2006-04-11 - 11:11
Hi Gretchen,
I've been on keppra(2000mg a day) for 3 years now, more or less since it came out in the U.K. I was already predisposed to depression as it was so there wasn't much change there apart from at first but i think that was partly down to the anxiety of using a virtually unknown med (it was still at the trial stage at this time) But once it started working in conjunction with my other meds (Epilim 2000mg a day and Clobazam 20mg a day) everything has been o.k. (touch wood). I know what you mean about other meds and i've tried loads over the years. Phenobarbitol, tegretol, carbamazapine and even valium to name but a few and all they did was give me very bad double vision and make the world feel like it was moving in slow motion. It's not just your meds we all need the right kind of back up from therapists to help us over the mental health issues that go hand in hand with Epilepsy. I found that the back up i received in this area was a massive help to me.
Hope some of this helps.
Re: RE: Keppra. I can't find the thread
Submitted by kwgreulich on Wed, 2005-11-30 - 11:15
Karl W. Greulich I was on Keppra for a short time and not yet up to a "therapeutic dosage" when it was like my 2 eyes didn't function right. There were 2 images just moving around at random and i could not even keep my balance. I have also had a very similar reaction to Dilantan which was given when i was first diagnosed with seizures in 1980. Currently i take 1,000 mg Primidone and 3,000 mg Depakote per day. It makes me very tired, but at least i can work. I have survived 3 brain surgeries and can still function fairly well. I hope you find something that makes things easier for you.