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Keppra and Tiredness

Sun, 03/01/2020 - 12:07
Hello! A quick backstory: I am 20, was diagnosed with JME at 16, and have had 3 grand mal seizures in my life. I was on Keppra (500mg x2 daily) when I was 16. After 3 years seizure-free, I came off Keppra. However ever since I could remember I have been chronically tired (with or without the medication), just a general lack of energy for a teenager. Fast forward to today: I had a seizure in December after being on Ritalin for 3 weeks. I was prescribed Ritalin because of this insane tiredness, and I wanted to be energized and enjoy life again. After the seizure, I'm back on Keppra, this time 750mg x2 daily and was changed over to Adderall. It's been three months on Keppra (so side effects should have subsided) and I am still SO TIRED. Sometimes I even fall asleep on the Adderall! And this is after getting 10 hours of sleep! Is anyone else absurdly tired all the time? I'm not sure if it's the JME or the Keppra or maybe it's just me... but everything in life is so exhausting. Does anyone know how to not feel this way anymore? I know the Keppra may be contributing to it, but I was extremely tired even when I was off the Keppra. I miss having energy so much. I've tried eating healthy, exercising, sleeping a crazy amount, and nothing seems to work. I noticed this has really affected my motivation. Does anyone have any tips that helped them with this chronic tiredness? Thanks!

Comments

Hi,Thank you for posting and

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2020-03-02 - 06:06
Hi,Thank you for posting and we understand your concerns and frustrations. Treatment and how they body may react to taking certain medications varies for each individual. To learn more about Keppra and potential side effects, please visit: https://www.epilepsy.com/medications/levetiracetam There are a number of things that could be contributing to your chronic fatigue, so it’s important that you’re continuing to address your concerns with your doctors. Be open and honest with your healthcare team about how this impacting your health and daily life. If you have not already, you may want to consider getting more specialized care you’re your epilepsy at an epilepsy center. A comprehensive epilepsy center is a group of health care professionals who specialize in the diagnosis, care, and treatment of people with seizures and epilepsy. Usually led by an epileptologist,(epilepsy specialist), who can help explore all treatment options and help determine what may be contributing to your fatigue and individual treatment plan may be best for you.  https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/find-epilepsy-specialist/find-epilepsy-center Using a journal or a diary to track your seizures,moods, behaviors and triggers over time may help you to recognize and identify potential patterns, allowing you to modify your behavior or lifestyle appropriately.My Seizure Diary: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/epilepsy-foundation-my-seizure-diary ,can be used to organize your medical history, manage medications, side effects, personal experiences that may affect seizures and wellness, which can be shared with your healthcare team.Additionally, you may always contact our 24/7 Helpline, where trained information specialists are available to answer your questions, offer help, hope, support, guidance, and access to national and local resources. 1-800-332-1000, or contactus@efa.org. epilepsy.com/helpline    Or contact your local Epilepsy Foundation: https://www.epilepsy.com/affiliates , to find support groups, events and programs in your community.

Hi, I’m a licensed clinical

Submitted by Patriotrehab on Mon, 2020-03-02 - 19:04
Hi, I’m a licensed clinical social worker and a person with epilepsy. Based on the symptoms that you described, it may be helpful for you to be evaluated for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, mood disorders, or trauma, but also get a full lab work done to rule out any other medical causes than epilepsy or medication or lack of sleep like thyroid imbalances. I know I personally have felt tired nearly all the time since my diagnosis of epilepsy and that’s with lots of sleep, exercise, eating healthy and it doesn’t matter if I have medication or not...like you. But, I know that I was more tired when I was on Keppra, so I’m on different AEDs now. But, if Keppra controls your seizures it may be the right one for you. Lucky you that your doctor is willing to try stimulants with you, whereas I cannot find a doctor willing to do that with me yet. 

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