Ceres07
11-03-2008, 11:34 AM
I have left temporal lobe epilepsy and am prescribed Keppra, I know 4 other epilepsy sufferers also prescribed Keppra and to one degree or another we are all experiencing "rage". Are there others in the same boat? Any suggestions?
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shakin stevens
11-03-2008, 03:26 PM
hi, i too suffered from a bad temper / rage at first but i seem to have just calmed right down now and back to normal. hope its of some help. ste
Ceres07
11-04-2008, 08:47 AM
Thanx 4 that Shakin, but I have been on Keppra some time, it was worse when I was on a higher dose but I`m still having problems. Guess the Kepprage won`t go till the Neuro takes me off it.
Kimwwe
11-08-2008, 01:12 AM
Hi, I had to off of Keppa because I have so much anxiety. Like on my couch in a ball shaking and horrified. It went away after the Keppra. I take Lamactil now.
dogmom
11-08-2008, 11:03 AM
I've been taking Keppra for almost a year now and noticed the "rage" when my dosage increased to 3,000 mgs. I take vitamin B-6 daily and that seems to help!
ajs_angel
11-14-2008, 04:57 AM
I too take Keppra. I'm 18 and take 250 mg. in the morning and 500 mg. in the afternoon. It does seem to affect my mood. When starting off, my neurologist put me on 1000 mg. a day and the mood swings and sickness were completely unbearable. I stayed in bed all day long.
yyyyytab
12-28-2008, 07:50 PM
Kimwwe,
My neurologist suggested I changed to the following 3 med (Lamictal, Zonegran, and Keppra). Does anyone have experience with the other two med (other than Keppra)? Currently, I am taking Dilantin and Phenobarbital.
1. What is your adjusting period (your body is finally okay with the change) from Keppra to Lamictal?
2. Do you experience any seizure "during" and "after" transition period?
3. Are there or do you experience any side effect from Lamictal? If yes, what are those.
Thanks in advance.
My neurologist suggested I changed to the following 3 med (Lamictal, Zonegran, and Keppra). Does anyone have experience with the other two med (other than Keppra)? Currently, I am taking Dilantin and Phenobarbital.
1. What is your adjusting period (your body is finally okay with the change) from Keppra to Lamictal?
2. Do you experience any seizure "during" and "after" transition period?
3. Are there or do you experience any side effect from Lamictal? If yes, what are those.
Thanks in advance.
Sherri5186
12-29-2008, 03:33 PM
I too am on Keppra,at one point I was on 3000mg. a day and I was
soooooo bad my family did not want to be around and it did not
help my seizures at all.I was then on 250mg. at night,no problem,
so of course my new doctor had to increase it to 250mg. day & night,
now with just the little amount of 250 mg. added in morning I see a
slight difference in my mood getting worse.I just as soon go off it entirely.
But,you know the doctors,they seem to think Keppra is a miracle drug,
not for me though!! I am afraid to wean myself off without the doctor
telling me to.
soooooo bad my family did not want to be around and it did not
help my seizures at all.I was then on 250mg. at night,no problem,
so of course my new doctor had to increase it to 250mg. day & night,
now with just the little amount of 250 mg. added in morning I see a
slight difference in my mood getting worse.I just as soon go off it entirely.
But,you know the doctors,they seem to think Keppra is a miracle drug,
not for me though!! I am afraid to wean myself off without the doctor
telling me to.
wdmoor
01-16-2009, 12:04 PM
Yes. Real deep, black, ugly anger. Rage.
My MD wanted to take me off Dilantin and prescribed Keppra. Within days I was ready to start swinging at people, and that's not my personality.
I'm back to Dilantin and happy.
My MD wanted to take me off Dilantin and prescribed Keppra. Within days I was ready to start swinging at people, and that's not my personality.
I'm back to Dilantin and happy.
ColoradoGuy41
01-19-2009, 08:36 PM
Thanks for that update on Keppra. I've been on Keppra for 7 years now. This might explain my outbursts that I experience from time to time. I have wondered if that might be the cause. I'm on Lamictol too, but unfortunately my doctor said these are the only drugs for right now anyway, that will keep my seizures somewhat under control.
SentenceDoing
01-22-2009, 11:14 AM
It was only recently that I tied my increasing heightened emotions to the Keppra. In the past year or so, I get crazy mood swings where I just cry at EVERYTHING. It's really embarrassing when it happens around other people, because it's over the stupidest things. Like one time I had a doctor's appointment at a new place, and I didn't know where to go, and then I got embarrassed when I went to ask the front desk and started stuttering, so I started crying.
And it kept getting worse. Any time I feel the littlest bit of emotion, the waterworks start, and I feel so stupid. Even things that are happy but that aren't usually worthy of crying over, make me cry. I do get a bit of rage once in a while, but most of the time crying over the littlest things. And I finally realized this all started slowly increasing since my neuro increased my Keppra dosage from 2750 mg/day to 3000 mg/day a year or more ago. I'm really looking forward to coming off the Keppra, which my neuro gave the approval yesterday for me to try.
Another Keppra side effect for me is weight gain. I've gained almost 50 lbs since I started Keppra about 5 years ago.
And it kept getting worse. Any time I feel the littlest bit of emotion, the waterworks start, and I feel so stupid. Even things that are happy but that aren't usually worthy of crying over, make me cry. I do get a bit of rage once in a while, but most of the time crying over the littlest things. And I finally realized this all started slowly increasing since my neuro increased my Keppra dosage from 2750 mg/day to 3000 mg/day a year or more ago. I'm really looking forward to coming off the Keppra, which my neuro gave the approval yesterday for me to try.
Another Keppra side effect for me is weight gain. I've gained almost 50 lbs since I started Keppra about 5 years ago.
030free
01-23-2009, 02:52 AM
Hi everyone, I been on Keppra max dose (3000mg/day) for 7 or so yrs and I never noticed any mood sings, rage, or gain weight, instead I lose faster, and I cant gain although I try. I guess this would depend on the person.
laura
laura
Melissa180
01-29-2009, 01:36 PM
I have recently been put on Keppra, I am in the process of weening off of Topamax and have exprerienced what you are describing. I was already experiencing depression when just on the topamax but when the Keppra was added I became a mess. It was instant. Within a few days to a week I was mad all the time and depressed. I have talked to my neurologist about the issue, she told me that it is a side affect of the Keppra but as an added bonus 40% of people who have Epilepsy experience depression symptoms. But I do feel like the Keppra is taking over.
magdolene
02-14-2009, 06:57 PM
I was placed on Keppra in 2007 after about a decade of Dilantin. I never had the level of control over my seizures that Dilantin provided me, but my doc insisted it was a better option...as many doctors seem to come from the perspective of "the newer the better."
In 2008 I had a VNS (vagal nerve stimulator) placed to hopefully make up where the Keppra left off. I still had many breakthrough seizures. After my last series of seizures, in which I was taken to the ER and had to recieve Ativan to make them stop, my doc increased the Keppra to the maximum dose. Within two weeks I was experiencing extreme anxiety, rage.. then depression (including crying spells).
After I alienated my family and nearly lost my job, I demanded my doctor place me back on Dilantin. As I have been going through the process of eliminating the Keppra from my system I have been able to see what it has done to my personality through the 18 months I took it. My 10 year old daughter actually said to me, "It's nice to have you back, mom."
I just wanted to say that the entries on the message boards were of the utmost help in causing me to realize that I was suffering from this medication. Thanks to all from the bottom of my heart!:
In 2008 I had a VNS (vagal nerve stimulator) placed to hopefully make up where the Keppra left off. I still had many breakthrough seizures. After my last series of seizures, in which I was taken to the ER and had to recieve Ativan to make them stop, my doc increased the Keppra to the maximum dose. Within two weeks I was experiencing extreme anxiety, rage.. then depression (including crying spells).
After I alienated my family and nearly lost my job, I demanded my doctor place me back on Dilantin. As I have been going through the process of eliminating the Keppra from my system I have been able to see what it has done to my personality through the 18 months I took it. My 10 year old daughter actually said to me, "It's nice to have you back, mom."
I just wanted to say that the entries on the message boards were of the utmost help in causing me to realize that I was suffering from this medication. Thanks to all from the bottom of my heart!:
vicinric
02-15-2009, 04:19 PM
at 2000 mg/day I had horrible anxiety/rage/seizure-like side effects. Neuro cut me back to 1000mg. Alot better but still some side effects(staring, disoriented). Now I am at 500mg/day and feel ALOT better.
yyyyytab
02-15-2009, 10:01 PM
Magdolene,
I am glad that you feel better now. However, there is a tradeoff with using Dilantin for an extended period of time. The possible problem of cerebellar atrophy.
I am glad that you feel better now. However, there is a tradeoff with using Dilantin for an extended period of time. The possible problem of cerebellar atrophy.
magdolene
02-16-2009, 09:09 AM
Certainly....there are side effects. What many may not realize is that the side effects from extended use of the newer medications just flat out aren't known. So who is to say what type of damage our bodies may sustain from these new drugs. Just a thought. :)
heyloe
02-26-2009, 10:57 AM
I'm new to this board and this thread caught my interest...
I have been on meds for almost 20 years(tegretol, topamax now keppra) and this might finally be a med that works for me...
I am on 2000 mg of keppra daily since Sept. '08 and I haven't had too many side effects, but I am rather tired some days and on others I can not sleep. I have also become lazy(I used to walk about 7-8 km daily-now I rarely go out) and have gained weight due to this. I've started really pushing myself to get outside more and I'm feeling better because of it.
Aside from these few side effects, it's not too bad, as I have only had 2 grand mal seizures since beginning keppra and only maybe 6-7 partials since then as well. Oh, another effect I find amusing is that I feel like I've been given a truth serum. I tend to express my true feeling when people are rude/nasty etc. and let them know how I feel towards their behaviour where as before keppra I would just let it go(I've always been pretty mellow and tolerant of people) so this is VERY out of the ordinary for me.
I have been on meds for almost 20 years(tegretol, topamax now keppra) and this might finally be a med that works for me...
I am on 2000 mg of keppra daily since Sept. '08 and I haven't had too many side effects, but I am rather tired some days and on others I can not sleep. I have also become lazy(I used to walk about 7-8 km daily-now I rarely go out) and have gained weight due to this. I've started really pushing myself to get outside more and I'm feeling better because of it.
Aside from these few side effects, it's not too bad, as I have only had 2 grand mal seizures since beginning keppra and only maybe 6-7 partials since then as well. Oh, another effect I find amusing is that I feel like I've been given a truth serum. I tend to express my true feeling when people are rude/nasty etc. and let them know how I feel towards their behaviour where as before keppra I would just let it go(I've always been pretty mellow and tolerant of people) so this is VERY out of the ordinary for me.
change me
02-27-2009, 08:31 AM
Hi, does anyone have Low White Cell Count as a side effect to AED's, I am taking Keppra and Lamotrigine, and sometimes Clobazam.
ColoradoGuy41
02-28-2009, 04:42 PM
I'm experiencing some of those same side effects with Keppra heyloe , so I'm starting the switch back to Felbatol which I was on along with Lamictal until spring of 2007.I Hoped it (Keppra) would control my complex partial seizures better but the Keppra didn't. So I'm gonna stay with Felbatol along with Lamictal for now, and wait for a new drug to come out which I hope is soon. I too get tired during the day more so then before.
heyloe
03-12-2009, 01:40 AM
I am now thinking of asking my neurologist to switch me back to topamax, but I'm still unsure if I really want to. I have now started having CPS while taking keppra but I only need one drug. On topamax I had metabolic acidosis and needed the sodium bicarb for my kidney function and also had CPS but I think I felt better on topamax. The strange thing is that I'm not quite sure which I felt better/worse on but I knew what to expect before switching meds this past September. I guess I'll have to decide soon, I see my neuro the end of the month...
dolejaly
03-13-2009, 06:25 PM
I have a child that is multiply severally disabled that was caused from SBS(shaken baby syndrom) when he was a infant from a caregiver. Since then(17 yrs ago) my son has dealt w/ seizures on a daily basis and no luck w/ any seizure meds, but about a year ago he was started on Keppra, now up until about 4 months ago his attitude wasn't the greatest but now he has become very violent to my staff as well as himself and causing harm. He is unable to speak to tell me of what his medications are making him feel, he is presently on Keppra, tegretol and topomax. I am wondering if several months later could the Keppra be causing all this outburst of anger. He went from a child that loved to give hugs to a child that makes freddy kruger look like a saint in just the past 4 months. I need some help on knowing what these medication can make you feel like. He never has had any releife of being seizure free, he has 50+ a day.
magdolene
03-14-2009, 12:58 PM
Dolejaly-
I was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 21. I have been through a few medication changes.
From my experience, I can tell you that Keppra caused my mood to drastically change. I became more easily irritated, depressed and my energy level dropped..to mention a few. I had to come off the Keppra and return to Dilantin. Being free of the Keppra I feel like a new person.
Anticonvulsants react differently in each person, but reports have shown that Keppra does instigate rage in many. If this is a big problem and the Keppra isn't even managing the seizures contact the neuro and ask for a change.
It is very unfortunate when the person being treated cannot communicate with those trying to treat him. You are left to rely on what you observe. Don't discount your observations.
I had a VNS (vagal nerve stimulator) implanted a year ago and work with a young man who has one as well. He is non-verbal and my staff relies on observational cues that indicate aura. It may be an option to help decrease the number of seizures your son has. It isn't a cure...and doesn't work for some, but it has been helpful to us.
I wish you strength. -M
I was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 21. I have been through a few medication changes.
From my experience, I can tell you that Keppra caused my mood to drastically change. I became more easily irritated, depressed and my energy level dropped..to mention a few. I had to come off the Keppra and return to Dilantin. Being free of the Keppra I feel like a new person.
Anticonvulsants react differently in each person, but reports have shown that Keppra does instigate rage in many. If this is a big problem and the Keppra isn't even managing the seizures contact the neuro and ask for a change.
It is very unfortunate when the person being treated cannot communicate with those trying to treat him. You are left to rely on what you observe. Don't discount your observations.
I had a VNS (vagal nerve stimulator) implanted a year ago and work with a young man who has one as well. He is non-verbal and my staff relies on observational cues that indicate aura. It may be an option to help decrease the number of seizures your son has. It isn't a cure...and doesn't work for some, but it has been helpful to us.
I wish you strength. -M
Amber Jewell
03-17-2009, 09:20 PM
I was on Keppra for a little while and had to get off; when I first was put on it my seizures skyrocketed! I also was angry, sad and wanted to be alone at all times. I hated it when anyone tried to touch me and I could not stand to be around my husband. It was very easy for me to be set off. I had to be weaned off of it and have a felt a lot better since. If you're gonna be on it or whatever, track your mood and # of seizures
dolejaly
03-18-2009, 11:09 AM
magdolene,
Thank you for your response, I was beginning to worry that no one would be able to help. I took my son to his neurologist a week ago and requested the VNS unit to be shut down for 2 weeks on a trial period to see if it made a difference. My son has had the VNS since November 2006 and still had daily seizures of 50+. Uncertain if the VNS was at least shortening the time of the seizures or type of seizure I requested a shut down period. So far in the past week the seizure as far as type, duration or reaction are the same with the unit on or off. The only difference I seen after having it shut down is he is more vocal at sounds from a low pitch to a high pitch where he wasn't really making any sounds at all, which made me feel good to hear and see him want to make sounds again. His eating also increased. Beings we could not do 2 things at once I wanted to wait 2 weeks and ask for the Keppra to be removed and see if that makes a difference w/ his behavior at all. His seizures are so bad that he can not get a full nights sleep they wake him up and just take a toll on his body. He has become so self abusive now whether this was done during a seizure or just a behavioral issue I woke Saturday morning at 6:45 a.m to my son full of blood, he had gashed his eye open. I don't know if he beat himself so bad that he gashed it or during a seizure he locked up and done it w/ a fingernail. This happened in the middle of the night beings his seizures are really bad when he is trying to sleep. But, the moods he has been going through doesn't always pertain to abuse towards the staff he also abuses himself. I know the tegretol after so long that the body becomes immune to it so I don't know what to do. I can't take away 2 meds at one time, but the DR did mention lamictal as a new seizure med to try, now the research I done on that one is about as bad as what I am hearing about Keppra. He was on dilantin years ago and his gums started to over grow his teeth. He has been on so many medication none of which controlled his seizures, but I have never seen the attitude he has now on any of the other medication. I am at a loss as to what to try next. But, his mood swings now are so unreal that one minute he is smiling and the next he is trying to hit himself or others, then he will be tired,then hyper, its like a roller coaster ride. I was hoping the VNS would have worked but obviously it didn't make a difference. One bit of information I was told that the VNS is more for a epileptic seizure that is a ongoing medical problem w/ out other issues such as ones that are caused from a brain injury, such as a closed head injury as with what happened to my son.
again I thank you for your information I really appreciate any input at this time on suggestion..........
Thank you for your response, I was beginning to worry that no one would be able to help. I took my son to his neurologist a week ago and requested the VNS unit to be shut down for 2 weeks on a trial period to see if it made a difference. My son has had the VNS since November 2006 and still had daily seizures of 50+. Uncertain if the VNS was at least shortening the time of the seizures or type of seizure I requested a shut down period. So far in the past week the seizure as far as type, duration or reaction are the same with the unit on or off. The only difference I seen after having it shut down is he is more vocal at sounds from a low pitch to a high pitch where he wasn't really making any sounds at all, which made me feel good to hear and see him want to make sounds again. His eating also increased. Beings we could not do 2 things at once I wanted to wait 2 weeks and ask for the Keppra to be removed and see if that makes a difference w/ his behavior at all. His seizures are so bad that he can not get a full nights sleep they wake him up and just take a toll on his body. He has become so self abusive now whether this was done during a seizure or just a behavioral issue I woke Saturday morning at 6:45 a.m to my son full of blood, he had gashed his eye open. I don't know if he beat himself so bad that he gashed it or during a seizure he locked up and done it w/ a fingernail. This happened in the middle of the night beings his seizures are really bad when he is trying to sleep. But, the moods he has been going through doesn't always pertain to abuse towards the staff he also abuses himself. I know the tegretol after so long that the body becomes immune to it so I don't know what to do. I can't take away 2 meds at one time, but the DR did mention lamictal as a new seizure med to try, now the research I done on that one is about as bad as what I am hearing about Keppra. He was on dilantin years ago and his gums started to over grow his teeth. He has been on so many medication none of which controlled his seizures, but I have never seen the attitude he has now on any of the other medication. I am at a loss as to what to try next. But, his mood swings now are so unreal that one minute he is smiling and the next he is trying to hit himself or others, then he will be tired,then hyper, its like a roller coaster ride. I was hoping the VNS would have worked but obviously it didn't make a difference. One bit of information I was told that the VNS is more for a epileptic seizure that is a ongoing medical problem w/ out other issues such as ones that are caused from a brain injury, such as a closed head injury as with what happened to my son.
again I thank you for your information I really appreciate any input at this time on suggestion..........