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Recently diagnosed, serious issues with Keppra

Mon, 12/08/2014 - 10:57

Ok here's my story. Back in April, I had an "episode" at work (not a grand mal seizure, just intense deja vu with serious disorientation following). My mom's an epileptic so she told me to go see a neuro who performed an MRI and hooked me up to a 72-hour ambulatory EEG. MRI came back normal, A-EEG came back showing seizures when I'm drowsy (saw it when I was falling asleep). He prescribed me 500mg of Keppra per day. While the Keppra worked wonders in eliminating episodes, it changed my personality so much to where I was anxious, irritable, depressed, and it almost destroyed my relationships with just about everyone I knew along with giving me suicidal thoughts. I talked to my doctor about wanting to discontinue it, and he gave me instruction on weening off of it. I was completely off of it for about 2 weeks (and feeling WONDERFUL, mind you) when I had another episode, much worse than the last. I started taking the Keppra again in a fear that it was getting worse and did some research on other solutions. I read online that some people take vitamin B6 to offset the irritability and it works wonders. I asked my doctor about that, and he doesn't recommend it (not sure why, I asked through the person on the phone).

Does anyone have ANY insight or suggestions on this? Do I get a second opinion? It's a vitamin, I didn't expect it to be an issue! I really don't want to take an anti-depressant (I hate taking medications as it is) so I'm looking for something a little more natural. I also don't really know what other types of medications are out there, and the thought of switching scares me because I at least know how I react to the Keppra.

I'll also add in that my fiance and I will be trying to get pregnant next fall (after the wedding). I'm already ridiculously nervous about taking the Keppra then, let alone having to take anything else to supplement.

Any and all insight would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

Comments

Keppra has many posts from

Submitted by just_joe on Tue, 2014-12-09 - 10:53
Keppra has many posts from people that state it didn't work for them. There are also posts calling it KEP RAGE. Side effects do happen to 5-8% of the people taking the medication. You need to be talking to your neurologist about this issue and tell him what you posted. I say that because there and many medications out there that can control your seizures. As for wanting a baby then by all means discuss this issue because once taken off a medication there are still levels in your system for 6 weeks deopending on the medication. Which is why the neurologists generally want you to contathem after 1-2 months

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