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Keppra Rage
Mon, 09/20/2010 - 20:31Comments
Re: Keppra Rage
Submitted by sgh0402 on Tue, 2011-02-08 - 10:48
Thanks for sharing your situation. I don't personally have epilepsy, but my fiance does and is on Keppra. I can only speak to what I have observed in him since he began the medicine a couple of years ago, I can't say how it makes you feel because I've never experienced it myself.
He began taking Keppra about 3 years ago for his seizures, before he had been on a number of different drugs but none effectively controlled the seizures like keppra did. Before the keppra, he would have seizures fairly often, but aside from the seizures, he was a happy, well-balanced guy-we rarely fought, he was generally in a good mood and had no trouble dealing with the everyday pressures of life. After starting keppra, I noticed him getting much more frustrated with things, losing his patience, getting moody etc. It got to the point where the smallest thing would (and still does) make him fly off the handle. For example, yesterday he came home and yelled at me because there were some hangers on the bed where he was trying to sit...funny part being that they were the hangers he had taken HIS clothes off of that morning and HE put on the bed...but this turned into how sick he is of this and that and of course it's my fault etc. Things like this are all to common in our house. They last a few minutes usually and then he's completely over it, sometimes like he doesn't even remember he's said something. He loses his temper over the simplest things and of course I'm the easy target because I'm the one who's there....you may think well maybe he's just an a**hole, but honestly, he never was mean, quick-tempered, or critical of me before the keppra, and even now he will say things when he's in a rage and after I'll ask him why he said a certain thing and he doesn't even remember half the time.
Luckily, I have an abundance of patience and am not a sensitive person (or else I would be in tears way all the time!). I don't believe in being in relationships where you are unhappy or being mistreated, but I really do know in my heart that it is the meds that make him this way...for further proof, he did switch to something else last year for a couple of months, not one time when he even say an unkind word to me..unfortunately he started having problems with his memory and feeling light-headed and things so he had to switch back to keppra (boo!!).
I don't know that any of that helps, and I certainly hope that I don't sound like a crazy person for putting myself through this situation...but I knew him before the meds and the mood swings and it's hard to blame somebody for what they say when they can't control their feelings. I think being honest about why you get angry and not trying to hide how your feeling is the best thing...for a while before he told me how the keppra made him feel I was upset all the time because I thought he hated me or something, but once I knew it was the medicine causing his outbursts it was much easier to deal with. I think talking about things helps in general, I'm not a fan of letting things go unsaid. I think the best thing you can do for you and your spouse is be open and let he/she know why it is your feeling or acting this way. I think what your going through is very normal because trust me, I've done my fair share of research on the subject! Hopefully this makes some sense and maybe helps instead of just sounding like I'm just rambling on about nonsense :) I hope things work out for you!
Thanks for sharing your situation. I don't personally have epilepsy, but my fiance does and is on Keppra. I can only speak to what I have observed in him since he began the medicine a couple of years ago, I can't say how it makes you feel because I've never experienced it myself.
He began taking Keppra about 3 years ago for his seizures, before he had been on a number of different drugs but none effectively controlled the seizures like keppra did. Before the keppra, he would have seizures fairly often, but aside from the seizures, he was a happy, well-balanced guy-we rarely fought, he was generally in a good mood and had no trouble dealing with the everyday pressures of life. After starting keppra, I noticed him getting much more frustrated with things, losing his patience, getting moody etc. It got to the point where the smallest thing would (and still does) make him fly off the handle. For example, yesterday he came home and yelled at me because there were some hangers on the bed where he was trying to sit...funny part being that they were the hangers he had taken HIS clothes off of that morning and HE put on the bed...but this turned into how sick he is of this and that and of course it's my fault etc. Things like this are all to common in our house. They last a few minutes usually and then he's completely over it, sometimes like he doesn't even remember he's said something. He loses his temper over the simplest things and of course I'm the easy target because I'm the one who's there....you may think well maybe he's just an a**hole, but honestly, he never was mean, quick-tempered, or critical of me before the keppra, and even now he will say things when he's in a rage and after I'll ask him why he said a certain thing and he doesn't even remember half the time.
Luckily, I have an abundance of patience and am not a sensitive person (or else I would be in tears way all the time!). I don't believe in being in relationships where you are unhappy or being mistreated, but I really do know in my heart that it is the meds that make him this way...for further proof, he did switch to something else last year for a couple of months, not one time when he even say an unkind word to me..unfortunately he started having problems with his memory and feeling light-headed and things so he had to switch back to keppra (boo!!).
I don't know that any of that helps, and I certainly hope that I don't sound like a crazy person for putting myself through this situation...but I knew him before the meds and the mood swings and it's hard to blame somebody for what they say when they can't control their feelings. I think being honest about why you get angry and not trying to hide how your feeling is the best thing...for a while before he told me how the keppra made him feel I was upset all the time because I thought he hated me or something, but once I knew it was the medicine causing his outbursts it was much easier to deal with. I think talking about things helps in general, I'm not a fan of letting things go unsaid. I think the best thing you can do for you and your spouse is be open and let he/she know why it is your feeling or acting this way. I think what your going through is very normal because trust me, I've done my fair share of research on the subject! Hopefully this makes some sense and maybe helps instead of just sounding like I'm just rambling on about nonsense :) I hope things work out for you!
Re: Keppra Rage
Submitted by MsSienna70 on Sat, 2011-02-12 - 00:26
I have Simple Partial seizures and Tonic Clonic seizures, am 40 and have been an Epileptic since June of 2010 and take Topamax, Keppra and just recently started taking Klonopin, to try to prevent my high stress seizures before they happen, not to take every day...The one thing no one's talking about is the AMOUNT of Keppra they're taking...I take 1500 mgs a day, 750 in the morning and 750 at night and I'm still having issues with seizures but I'm also having issues in my household, along with my triggers...Stress with a stepdaughter (15) who's playing 2 families against each other, her lies, she has put her hands on me and is very disrespectful...She's one way with me and different when her dad's around and a husband who's been taking her side 98% of the time...That's just part of my world...lol....I have noticed that I have memory issues, I get over sensitive and can get angry but with not much support here, I don't know if it's me, my meds or what it is...I haven't had any rage except when there was a severe issue and I felt it was justified and later my husband came and apologized but it might have been the meds...I know the Keppra helps but I also know my doctor's going to want to increase the dose when I tell him the seizures aren't decreasing so it would be helpful if people would discuss the dosage they're taking when they post a thread like this...
And if I missed the dosages, sorry...
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!
Sienna!
I have Simple Partial seizures and Tonic Clonic seizures, am 40 and have been an Epileptic since June of 2010 and take Topamax, Keppra and just recently started taking Klonopin, to try to prevent my high stress seizures before they happen, not to take every day...The one thing no one's talking about is the AMOUNT of Keppra they're taking...I take 1500 mgs a day, 750 in the morning and 750 at night and I'm still having issues with seizures but I'm also having issues in my household, along with my triggers...Stress with a stepdaughter (15) who's playing 2 families against each other, her lies, she has put her hands on me and is very disrespectful...She's one way with me and different when her dad's around and a husband who's been taking her side 98% of the time...That's just part of my world...lol....I have noticed that I have memory issues, I get over sensitive and can get angry but with not much support here, I don't know if it's me, my meds or what it is...I haven't had any rage except when there was a severe issue and I felt it was justified and later my husband came and apologized but it might have been the meds...I know the Keppra helps but I also know my doctor's going to want to increase the dose when I tell him the seizures aren't decreasing so it would be helpful if people would discuss the dosage they're taking when they post a thread like this...
And if I missed the dosages, sorry...
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!
Sienna!
Re: Keppra Rage
Submitted by BNC on Tue, 2011-02-08 - 10:13
Hi
I don't know if anyone can help or give me any advice, but my situation is as follows:
I was diagnosed with cortical dysplacia of the temporal lobe in 2009. My symptoms were all kinds of seizures, ie simple partial, complex partial and tonic clonic.
I have been having a number of difficulties with the condition not being controlled and finding the right medication for me. I am currently taking Keppra and Lamictal and my condition is under control more than it was before.
My husband says he has seen a real difference in my behaviour since going on Keppra, although I'm not sure of the timings in my mood and changing my meds. What I am very aware of is the amount of time I need sleep for (averaging 13 hours a day), and vertigo, meaning I'm also having to be in bed a lot.
I am prone to spells of feeling down, more so at the moment, but I've had a really difficult 18 months, with a huge amount of stress, so think that this is very relevant. I also have massive rages at times, not often, but I'll be frank in that I'm drinking more than I was, which I'm well aware won't be helping and I will stop. I've been prone to outbursts in the past, but not very often and really don't think it's that often now. I tend to be off or sensitive when my husband gets frustrated with me, when I can't remember things or get confused. He says I'm more sensitive lately. Tjis leads to angry outbursts if we don't patch things up. I don't blame him, as my condition (and medication?) really is affecting those around me too.
Don't get me wrong, he's a massive support to me and very caring and we love each other very much.
He has been reading up on the side effects of Keppra and is now convinced that's the reason for how I am currently. To give some context to my life and the stresses however, some of what I have been through over the recent months are:
- Obviously the illness.
- Change of job and having bullies for managers, ie not taking into account my condition, the medication and the effects they have on my work. I've been told that I am not capable of doing my job with my manager banging his hand on the desk when we have such discussions. He's had me sobbing when he tells me how much pressure the team is under, putting the onous on me to get my act together. I've been signed off work for many weeks now, so I don't think this helps in that I have little day to day interaction with people.
- Massive loss of memory and difficulties in processing info as well as I would before. I feel so much slower. The consultant assured me that this is common with my type of epilepsy, particularly after not being controlled yet. Cognitively, it increases to take its toll progressively.
- My aunt was diagnosed with cancer just before Christmas and is deteriorating quickly as there's nothing that can be done for her. She's so poorly and the family is devastated.
- I had to put my dog to sleep over new year, which for those of you who have pets will understand how cut up I am. I woke up to her having a seizure News Year's day in the morning. By the following afternoon we had to let her go. I also lost my cat last year too.
- Issues with my sister, who bless her has her own issues, but this tends to lead to her attention seeking at the expence of my place in the family, friends etc. For example she talks over me and is quite a drama queen. She's even compared my condition to her food allergy in terms of the attention and concern we get. She is great though in so many other ways.
- Last year I had to evict a tenant who wasn't paying his rent. He was dealing drugs and causing anti-social behavoir problems at the property, which it seems the neighbours hold me responsible for and blame me. The law being as it is protects such scum and it cost me thousands of pounds to deal with and stress for about seven months.
- Our wedding was last year which was magical. It did however come with some issues, with people taking over, being bossy and in one case completely vindictive as she wanted her daughter to be flower girl.
- I've lost my driving license due to my illness, so I've lost my independence altogther.
I'm normally a positive person, have dealt well I thought with issues in the past, but do feel at the moment very fed up and down. Is this the Keppra? Should I come off it? Like I say, my husband is convinced that's it, but I can't help but feel that so much else in my life can't be disregarded.
Thanks for reading this ramble, but just know where to go with it all...
Many thanks
Hi
I don't know if anyone can help or give me any advice, but my situation is as follows:
I was diagnosed with cortical dysplacia of the temporal lobe in 2009. My symptoms were all kinds of seizures, ie simple partial, complex partial and tonic clonic.
I have been having a number of difficulties with the condition not being controlled and finding the right medication for me. I am currently taking Keppra and Lamictal and my condition is under control more than it was before.
My husband says he has seen a real difference in my behaviour since going on Keppra, although I'm not sure of the timings in my mood and changing my meds. What I am very aware of is the amount of time I need sleep for (averaging 13 hours a day), and vertigo, meaning I'm also having to be in bed a lot.
I am prone to spells of feeling down, more so at the moment, but I've had a really difficult 18 months, with a huge amount of stress, so think that this is very relevant. I also have massive rages at times, not often, but I'll be frank in that I'm drinking more than I was, which I'm well aware won't be helping and I will stop. I've been prone to outbursts in the past, but not very often and really don't think it's that often now. I tend to be off or sensitive when my husband gets frustrated with me, when I can't remember things or get confused. He says I'm more sensitive lately. Tjis leads to angry outbursts if we don't patch things up. I don't blame him, as my condition (and medication?) really is affecting those around me too.
Don't get me wrong, he's a massive support to me and very caring and we love each other very much.
He has been reading up on the side effects of Keppra and is now convinced that's the reason for how I am currently. To give some context to my life and the stresses however, some of what I have been through over the recent months are:
- Obviously the illness.
- Change of job and having bullies for managers, ie not taking into account my condition, the medication and the effects they have on my work. I've been told that I am not capable of doing my job with my manager banging his hand on the desk when we have such discussions. He's had me sobbing when he tells me how much pressure the team is under, putting the onous on me to get my act together. I've been signed off work for many weeks now, so I don't think this helps in that I have little day to day interaction with people.
- Massive loss of memory and difficulties in processing info as well as I would before. I feel so much slower. The consultant assured me that this is common with my type of epilepsy, particularly after not being controlled yet. Cognitively, it increases to take its toll progressively.
- My aunt was diagnosed with cancer just before Christmas and is deteriorating quickly as there's nothing that can be done for her. She's so poorly and the family is devastated.
- I had to put my dog to sleep over new year, which for those of you who have pets will understand how cut up I am. I woke up to her having a seizure News Year's day in the morning. By the following afternoon we had to let her go. I also lost my cat last year too.
- Issues with my sister, who bless her has her own issues, but this tends to lead to her attention seeking at the expence of my place in the family, friends etc. For example she talks over me and is quite a drama queen. She's even compared my condition to her food allergy in terms of the attention and concern we get. She is great though in so many other ways.
- Last year I had to evict a tenant who wasn't paying his rent. He was dealing drugs and causing anti-social behavoir problems at the property, which it seems the neighbours hold me responsible for and blame me. The law being as it is protects such scum and it cost me thousands of pounds to deal with and stress for about seven months.
- Our wedding was last year which was magical. It did however come with some issues, with people taking over, being bossy and in one case completely vindictive as she wanted her daughter to be flower girl.
- I've lost my driving license due to my illness, so I've lost my independence altogther.
I'm normally a positive person, have dealt well I thought with issues in the past, but do feel at the moment very fed up and down. Is this the Keppra? Should I come off it? Like I say, my husband is convinced that's it, but I can't help but feel that so much else in my life can't be disregarded.
Thanks for reading this ramble, but just know where to go with it all...
Many thanks