hello everyone. i have been concerned about my random weight gain and decided to google it. i found you guys and gals and just made an account. i have been on Carbatrol 1200mg daily and Keppra 1000mg daily for maybe a year now. I'm in the U.S. military so uncontrollable weight gain is no bueno. that and Epilepsy but let just take this one step at a time...has anyone found out anything about a medication to counteract the weight gain problem? diet and excersise isnt cutting it. thanks!

Hello everyone,

We found out my 8- yr old daughter developed cps epilepsy 3 months ago. She was a very sporty, active, under-weight typical kid (just like her twin sister).

We started Keppra and she's at 9mls 2x day. She was still having seizures several times a day - we have introduced trileptral and as soon as we get up to 5 mls a day we will begn weaning off the keppra. So today, it's 9mls keppra & 3mls trileptral.

She has gained 38 lbs since our hospital visit when we were told she was having seizures January 28. Tomorrow morning we go for lab work- because the neuro thinks this is thyroid related due to the meds. He says this type of weight gain is not a good sign and definitely too much to be labeled a side effect. I'll keep you posted on the results.

Mom of 4 girls

ive been on Keppra XR for a year now and I have just done a total 180 from my normal self. I have gained 40 pounds and keep gaining. and along with weight gain i have been through and am still going through extreme depression. i dont know how many times ive wanted to kill myself on this stuff and anymore i dont even want to get out of the bed. its like im drained and have nothing to look forward to in life. and ive had some major anger issues as well...ive became violent towards my husband and mean to everyone...i cant even stand myself because i am so moody. I HATE THIS!!! but my doctor tells me its the safest epilepsy med out there when youre thinking about pregnancy...but with this stuff i look preggy already, i just dont get the prize=/

Yes, I am active, but I gained 20lbs in 6 months. I am on Vimpat now, but women have a harder time losing weight than men... I am still working to lose the weight.

I seemed to be okay with weight on regular Keppra, but once I went on the Keppra XR, I quickly put on four pounds over one-and-a-half months and can't get it off. I plan to switch back to the regular Keppra because it is the first medication to stop my seizures (partial onset) after 18 years of trying! I have tried Tegretol, Dilantin, phenobarbitol, zonisamide, Topamax, and I can't remember the rest. Please note: ASPARTAME (aka Nutrasweet) CAN CAUSE SEIZURES AND WEIGHT GAIN. It is an excitotoxin (like MSG) which overstimulates brain cells to death. Also, when you consume ANY artificial sweetener, your body prepares for digestion of carbohydrates because of the sweetness. When it doesn't receive the carbs, you end up with cravings for carbs. I truly believe that the large quantities of diet soda I used to drink caused my epilepsy. You can read about aspartame and the nervous system in several articles by Dr. Russell Blaylock and many others.

Capeco, or anyone else for that matter, when you came off the Keppra did you have any side effects or a breakthrough? Because I really want to come off of it, but the Dr. is kinda scaring me out of it by saying it's likely that I will have a breakthrough and that i shouldn't drive... which is pretty important to get to work.

I was On keppra for year and I gain 30 lbs,  without trying... came off it..and the weight  just started coming off!

Hi, I have been on Keppra for about 1 1/2 years.  Tegretol and Dilantin gave me brain freeze, making it almost impossible to function in an office enviroment.  My doctor suggested Keppra, and to be honest, I'm a lot less 'dumb' than I was on the other meds.  I feel great, its just that I HAVE experienced keppra rage (plenty), and I am much more moody (I was perfect before).  However the biggest issue is the WEIGHT GAIN which the doctors and literature say doesnt exist.  I've put on 15 pounds, and thats by working hard not to put on weight.  I've been eating extremely healthy and work out a few times a week.  However, now I have to fight cravings which I didnt have before, and I just dont drop any weight, even with the regular exercise and healthy diet.  I am borderline hypothyroid, but my levels are ok so they wont increase my levothyroxine.  Yuck.  Seeing my doctor today, to discuss changing Rx.  However this will mean giving up my drivers license for another 3 months. 

I was on Keppra for a few months, but when I seized again and they upped my dose I gained 10 pounds...and the scale still climbs.

It's horribly depressing and I hate it, because I already have body image issues. The weight gain just makes it worse. Let me know if you find anything out.