Daily struggles and side effects

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I’ve always had a hard time with depression and it was always controllable or I could live a normal life and put it aside when needed. I got diagnosed with epilepsy 2 years ago after having a grand mal seizure at school out of nowhere. Since starting keppra I started experiencing my depression getting worse, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, lethargic constantly, lowered drive to do anything, and cloudiness to get through a work day. I have told my doctor about this and that it continues to be a problem. My doctor keeps saying that I’m just sensitive to the medication and I’ll adjust. Two years into this medication and it’s getting worse. When something minor happens my thoughts get all jumbled and I can’t function normally for sometimes days at a time. I know it’s not situational ether because I could be at home, with a glass of wine, cuddling with my dog, watching my favorite movie and I’d still feel like that’s to much for me to handle. I’m tired of feeling useless all the time. Is this my medication or does this just come with epilepsy?

Comments

Medication definitely can

Submitted by birdman on Thu, 2019-05-02 - 19:40

Medication definitely can easily add to the depression we tend to face. I'm going through that right now. My doctors put me on one more medication (Zonigran) while I wait for getting RNS system implanted and set up. But I have been feeling mildly depressed so I sent email notice to my doctor that while I'm not suicidal, depression is having its effects. He was quick to reply that it is normal for persons awaiting surgery to be anxious... Prescription encourages us to contact the doctor if feelings of depression come on but It's like they don't want to believe that there is any link.

Hi Ellen,Believe me, I know

Submitted by penpal59 on Thu, 2019-05-02 - 21:11

Hi Ellen,Believe me, I know what a nightmare it is to battle depression where you feel like life isn't worth living. I've been on Keppra for many years and also battled the side effects, although I've been on many other medications too and so I haven't really been able to pin point exactly what side effect has been directly related to which prescription drug.There are numerous drugs for Depression as I'm sure you know but combating both Epilepsy and Depression at the same time is very difficult. I used to see a Neuro Psychiatrist for 12 years and she worked in conjunction with a specialist Neurologist who I also saw at a crisis point when the side effects of my anti-depressants caused me to have a mild seizure and crash my car.At that time I was taking Abilify and prior to that Stelazine to combat my depression. However I was also taking Epilim for my Epilepsy and that had a horrible side effect of morbid obesity. I suffered this too and consequently gained a lot of weight which made my depression worse.So after the car crash, I came off Epilim and went onto Keppra and the main side effect I attribute to that drug is a term I heard mention on other Epilepsy sites known as "Keppra Rage." I had excessive outbursts of rage and in the workplace they were a real problem, but fortunately I worked with good people who were very understanding. Over time I managed to lose weight and spent a lot more time outdoors in the sunshine and the impact of the Vitamin D from the sun helped to improve my mood. I suggest you try it too and I think you should give up alcohol too. Sorry but, all alcoholic drinks are like poison for Epileptics. The reason is that they completely eliminate the effectiveness of anti-convulsants. So you could have a seizure at any moment in a really bad place. Epilepsy is a very unique condition for every person who is diagnosed with it so no two people will experience exactly the same type of challenges. However, there is a real issue for you in regards to the side effect your attributing to Keppra.I've read on a UK site that Keppra has a lot of negative side effects which many people can't overcome despite their best efforts and consequently they switch to a better alternative. Keppra is known as a first line treatment for Epilepsy and 50% of first line treatments fail. So, given the severity of the side effects this drug is having on you I think its time to switch medication.You say that this drug is so bad for you that "when something minor happens your thoughts get all jumbled up and you can't function normally for days." That is not a side effect which you should tolerate from any anti-convulsant. A grand mal seizure will knock you over for a day but if you take a good dose of an effective anti-convulsant immediately afterwards you should be back to work, as usual the next day.Treating epilepsy often involves a real cocktail of medication so you could find that at some point in time (with the addition of more drugs) that it might help you but I seriously doubt it a. A second line treatment for Epilepsy is an anti-convulsant known as Dilantin (or Phenytoin). Dilantin has been around for over 100 years. It is tried and true as one of only a handful of drugs proven effective in the treatment of grand mal seizures. It also has far fewer side effects and I've taken it for over 40 years and the minimal side effects I've had (including receeding gums) have been negligible.I also take Lamictal and this is also used in the treatment of Depression and it works for me. I take Vitamin B and Fish oil as well to improve my concentration and memory and the Fish Oil was highly recommended by my Neuro Psychiatrist about 18 years ago and I've been on it ever since.Be careful with the dose you are prescribed with Dilantin it will vary depending on your weight. The heavier you are the higher the dose. I took a high dose when I was overweight but when I halved my body weight after coming off Epilim my Dilantin levels got to a toxic level in my blood stream and I had several serious fainting spells. But a simple reduction in the dose to 160mg morning and night or 320mg daily stopped the fainting spells and life got back on track. I weigh around 60 kilos.I hope all this has been helpful. If you would like to get more advice about Epilepsy I suggest you visit the following website: forum.epilepsy.org.ukYou will be very welcome there and meet people like me who can sympathise with you during this tough time. There's always light at the end of the tunnel. So hang in there. All the best

Hi Ellen,Believe me, I know what a nightmare it is to battle depression where you feel like life isn't worth living. I've been on Keppra for many years and also battled the side effects, although I've been on many other medications too and so I haven't really been able to pin point exactly what side effect has been directly related to which prescription drug.There are numerous drugs for Depression as I'm sure you know but combating both Epilepsy and Depression at the same time is very difficult. I used to see a Neuro Psychiatrist for 12 years and she worked in conjunction with a specialist Neurologist who I also saw at a crisis point when the side effects of my anti-depressants caused me to have a mild seizure and crash my car.At that time I was taking Abilify and prior to that Stelazine to combat my depression. However I was also taking Epilim for my Epilepsy and that had a horrible side effect of morbid obesity. I suffered this too and consequently gained a lot of weight which made my depression worse.So after the car crash, I came off Epilim and went onto Keppra and the main side effect I attribute to that drug is a term I heard mention on other Epilepsy sites known as "Keppra Rage." I had excessive outbursts of rage and in the workplace they were a real problem, but fortunately I worked with good people who were very understanding. Over time I managed to lose weight and spent a lot more time outdoors in the sunshine and the impact of the Vitamin D from the sun helped to improve my mood. I suggest you try it too and I think you should give up alcohol too. Sorry but, all alcoholic drinks are like poison for Epileptics. The reason is that they completely eliminate the effectiveness of anti-convulsants. So you could have a seizure at any moment in a really bad place. Epilepsy is a very unique condition for every person who is diagnosed with it so no two people will experience exactly the same type of challenges. However, there is a real issue for you in regards to the side effect your attributing to Keppra.I've read on a UK site that Keppra has a lot of negative side effects which many people can't overcome despite their best efforts and consequently they switch to a better alternative. Keppra is known as a first line treatment for Epilepsy and 50% of first line treatments fail. So, given the severity of the side effects this drug is having on you I think its time to switch medication.You say that this drug is so bad for you that "when something minor happens your thoughts get all jumbled up and you can't function normally for days." That is not a side effect which you should tolerate from any anti-convulsant. A grand mal seizure will knock you over for a day but if you take a good dose of an effective anti-convulsant immediately afterwards you should be back to work, as usual the next day.Treating epilepsy often involves a real cocktail of medication so you could find that at some point in time (with the addition of more drugs) that it might help you but I seriously doubt it a. A second line treatment for Epilepsy is an anti-convulsant known as Dilantin (or Phenytoin). Dilantin has been around for over 100 years. It is tried and true as one of only a handful of drugs proven effective in the treatment of grand mal seizures. It also has far fewer side effects and I've taken it for over 40 years and the minimal side effects I've had (including receeding gums) have been negligible.I also take Lamictal and this is also used in the treatment of Depression and it works for me. I take Vitamin B and Fish oil as well to improve my concentration and memory and the Fish Oil was highly recommended by my Neuro Psychiatrist about 18 years ago and I've been on it ever since.Be careful with the dose you are prescribed with Dilantin it will vary depending on your weight. The heavier you are the higher the dose. I took a high dose when I was overweight but when I halved my body weight after coming off Epilim my Dilantin levels got to a toxic level in my blood stream and I had several serious fainting spells. But a simple reduction in the dose to 160mg morning and night or 320mg daily stopped the fainting spells and life got back on track. I weigh around 60 kilos.I hope all this has been helpful. If you would like to get more advice about Epilepsy I suggest you visit the following website: forum.epilepsy.org.ukYou will be very welcome there and meet people like me who can sympathise with you during this tough time. There's always light at the end of the tunnel. So hang in there. All the best

Hi Ellen,Believe me, I know what a nightmare it is to battle depression where you feel like life isn't worth living. I've been on Keppra for many years and also battled the side effects, although I've been on many other medications too and so I haven't really been able to pin point exactly what side effect has been directly related to which prescription drug.There are numerous drugs for Depression as I'm sure you know but combating both Epilepsy and Depression at the same time is very difficult. I used to see a Neuro Psychiatrist for 12 years and she worked in conjunction with a specialist Neurologist who I also saw at a crisis point when the side effects of my anti-depressants caused me to have a mild seizure and crash my car.At that time I was taking Abilify and prior to that Stelazine to combat my depression. However I was also taking Epilim for my Epilepsy and that had a horrible side effect of morbid obesity. I suffered this too and consequently gained a lot of weight which made my depression worse.So after the car crash, I came off Epilim and went onto Keppra and the main side effect I attribute to that drug is a term I heard mention on other Epilepsy sites known as "Keppra Rage." I had excessive outbursts of rage and in the workplace they were a real problem, but fortunately I worked with good people who were very understanding. Over time I managed to lose weight and spent a lot more time outdoors in the sunshine and the impact of the Vitamin D from the sun helped to improve my mood. I suggest you try it too and I think you should give up alcohol too. Sorry but, all alcoholic drinks are like poison for Epileptics. The reason is that they completely eliminate the effectiveness of anti-convulsants. So you could have a seizure at any moment in a really bad place. Epilepsy is a very unique condition for every person who is diagnosed with it so no two people will experience exactly the same type of challenges. However, there is a real issue for you in regards to the side effect your attributing to Keppra.I've read on a UK site that Keppra has a lot of negative side effects which many people can't overcome despite their best efforts and consequently they switch to a better alternative. Keppra is known as a first line treatment for Epilepsy and 50% of first line treatments fail. So, given the severity of the side effects this drug is having on you I think its time to switch medication.You say that this drug is so bad for you that "when something minor happens your thoughts get all jumbled up and you can't function normally for days." That is not a side effect which you should tolerate from any anti-convulsant. A grand mal seizure will knock you over for a day but if you take a good dose of an effective anti-convulsant immediately afterwards you should be back to work, as usual the next day.Treating epilepsy often involves a real cocktail of medication so you could find that at some point in time (with the addition of more drugs) that it might help you but I seriously doubt it a. A second line treatment for Epilepsy is an anti-convulsant known as Dilantin (or Phenytoin). Dilantin has been around for over 100 years. It is tried and true as one of only a handful of drugs proven effective in the treatment of grand mal seizures. It also has far fewer side effects and I've taken it for over 40 years and the minimal side effects I've had (including receeding gums) have been negligible.I also take Lamictal and this is also used in the treatment of Depression and it works for me. I take Vitamin B and Fish oil as well to improve my concentration and memory and the Fish Oil was highly recommended by my Neuro Psychiatrist about 18 years ago and I've been on it ever since.Be careful with the dose you are prescribed with Dilantin it will vary depending on your weight. The heavier you are the higher the dose. I took a high dose when I was overweight but when I halved my body weight after coming off Epilim my Dilantin levels got to a toxic level in my blood stream and I had several serious fainting spells. But a simple reduction in the dose to 160mg morning and night or 320mg daily stopped the fainting spells and life got back on track. I weigh around 60 kilos.I hope all this has been helpful. If you would like to get more advice about Epilepsy I suggest you visit the following website: forum.epilepsy.org.ukYou will be very welcome there and meet people like me who can sympathise with you during this tough time. There's always light at the end of the tunnel. So hang in there. All the best

Hi ellenf94, Thank you for

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2019-05-03 - 13:49

Hi ellenf94, Thank you for sharing your experience. It is common for those living with epilepsy to experience feelings of depression and anxiety. It is important to recognize that epilepsy is more than just seizures, you overall well-being and emotional health is just as important, https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/healthy-living/emotional-healthWe encourage you to continue to communicate what you’re feeling and any new symptoms to your doctor. My Seizure Diary is a great tool for tracking seizures and other symptoms you may be experiencing, which may be helpful when communicating with your doctors, https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/epilepsy-foundation-my-seizure-diary .If you ever need to speak with someone immediately, we encourage you to please reach out to our 24/7 toll-free helpline: 1-800-332-1000, https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/247-helpline or by calling the national suicide prevention lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.It’s important to remember that you are not alone, and we do offer support groups that can help you connect with others who may have similar experiences https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/our-programs .