Keppra...Experienced Taker Needed - Epilepsy Message Board

heather06 · 04-11-2006, 03:07 PM

Hey-

I have tried so many different medications for seizures in under a year, its amazing to even me that im stable. I've went from Lamictal, to Depakote, and now I take 400 MG to Zonegran and 3000 MG of Keppra together. When i first started taking the Keppra, the first two weeks, even my friends couldn't stand to be around me. I was mean, voilent, and aggressive towards people I would normally be nice and polite with. I noticed even, but i couldn't help with this change, and thought over time the side effect would change (first two weeks was only 1000 mg a day) Weeks 3 and 4 were a living hell for me. I continued to sleep constantly (really hard for a college kid that works at a drug store too!) i would go to sleep at like 10 pm and wake up at 10 am and manage to take a couple hour nap in between on my days off. my near perfect normal blood pressure was starting to rise to 130/115 with a pulse of 130 standing still, but then too i thought my body would adjust and things would soon be fine. Weeks 5-6 when i went up to my max dose, i noticed a turn around with my sleep patterns and i began not sleeping hardly ever. What i was once worried about when i increased the dose, i soon realized i needed to be worried about the opposite. I had bad thoughts and soon the feeling of being trapped inside of my own body and not being able to get out was a feeling i knew wasnt right. I contacted my doctor right about and he added 25 mg of zoloft with it (im 19 and on zoloft, not common,for my age. i know this from working at a pharmacy and being a pharmacy major) but he said i was suffering but depression, the number one side affect of the drug. Being trapped in my body sounds different then depression but i don't know...I've never been classified as depressed before either??? I lived 8 hours from my neuro, but he told me to go get my AED levels checked and when i did, they were 62, way to high, (Im a very petite person) but once again, he has yet to change my medication dosage, so as it stands, im still taking 3000 mg keppra (2000 in morning, 1000 at night) and 200 mg Zonegran in morning, 200 mg of Zonegran at night. Isnt that a high doseage of seizure medicine for someone that only weighs 120??? can someone help me out or have a similar situation or relation to Keppra???

Travis from MN · 04-11-2006, 05:16 PM

62 is WAY too high. 20-45 is is the range for Keppra.

I came back at 63.7; then 6 months later 58.3 on 3000mg/day. After the second test (no sideFX) verified I still had too much in my system, but was under control for seizures; we decided to lower my dose by 375 AM, keeping PM the same (this JUST happened).

The symptoms you explained are called KeppRAGE. Often outbursts of emotions when on Keppra. I never had this, so I can't explain it other that the generic symptom. Anger outbursts, sometimes uncontrolled crying have been mentioned. Unsure of positive emotions. Usually it's negative emotions.

In the PAST when I was on 4000/day I had problems with Keppra causing mild depression and felt unsafe alone. This was remedied by the ER instructing me to drop back to 3000 after about 6-8 weeks of this ordeal.

I don't know if it is Keppra, or the rate you were put on it. It is very possible you cannot tollerate this high of a dose. An in depth Dr would not have done the pedal to the floor method that most like to do with Keppra (ramp up to 3000 using the 500's!). Only if the patient complains will they know something is wrong.

--Travis

tulipgirl80 · 04-13-2006, 07:19 PM

I sympathize! I am "med hopping" right now and recently was on Keppra - it was AWFUL!!!! I started at 500mg, then gradually increased up to 1500 mg. I felt like I was going out of my mind! Crying in the middle of the day for no reason. I thought I was becoming clinically depressed, but was hoping that it was due to the Keppra. I did NOT want to start an anti-depressant (I hate the idea of taking more meds just to treat the side effects of other meds!) It affected my job performance. My poor boyfriend was going out of his mind - I would lash out at him for no reason. I've heard of Keppra Rage, too, and I think I definitely had it. I constantly felt uncomfortable in my own skin (I've always been a very confident, secure person). I've now gotten off the med and it is amazing the change! It took me about 4 weeks it get it completely out of my system. I'm very anti-Keppra, but I've heard that it works for some. Talk to your doctor - there are other options. Good luck!

TwstdWhsprs60 · 04-14-2006, 11:01 AM

I've been on Keppra for a couple years now...The main things you have to watch out for are the mood swings, and weight loss due to appetite suppression. Also, antidepressants are known to CAUSE seizures, so be very careful with that. I was on Prozac and wound up in the ER within three days of being on it. Also, it's a good idea to find someone who knows EXACTLY what they're doing with Keppra. It's one of the harder medicines to test for, as it's relatively new. Most of the doctors I've had have looked at me like I'm crazy when I mention it. If they don't know much about it, they can't test for it.

mommax2 · 04-21-2006, 11:51 PM

Hi. I am new to this board, but not new to epilepsy. My 9 year old daughter took Keppra for over 2 years. I thought my angel had turned into the seed of chucky. We did psychologist appointments, behavior management, etc. Nothing still worked. It was just like some days she hated her own self.

We weaned Keppra a few weeks ago and it is such a remarkable change. No more fits, kicking, hitting walls, being mean to her sister, or anything. She is actually happy again. She took Lamictal with Keppra.

Her next drug to try is Zonegran. I was worried about possible side-effecs with it.

Good luck with the Keppra.

Susan