An unpleasant side effect...constipation - Epilepsy Message Board

neurowreck · 08-17-2006, 02:59 PM

OK, this is sort of embarrassing, but since starting the Keppra, it's been BAD. I'm already on PeriColace and Colace because I've got a sluggish gut from the autonomic disorder, but this has topped the charts....one day it took 2 glycerin suppositories, 2 throw away enemas, and still, I had to get latex gloves and get it started (sorry if that's TMI- just desperate). It's been like that 3 days in the past week and a half (not as bad some days). I've got dried fruit, have tried fiber powder, Miralax in the past, bran cereal, yogurt, milk of magnesia, sugar free candy (the sugar alcohols are laxatives), etc, and I still feel like I'm sitting on a 6 inch drill bit set on high, from the pain.

I sent my doc a note (sure she'll love that) about why I've cut the dose back and am starting over, to see where I can tolerate this stuff, IF I can...

I can't drink hot liquids- so those are out (autonomic stuff gets irregular heart rate going). I don't want to take regular laxatives all the time since the gut just gets used to them, and more are needed....

Any ideas???? (sorry if this is too gross- just can't deal with this much longer)

valeriedl · 08-17-2006, 07:38 PM

I'm also taking Keppra 500mg 2 in the am and 2 in the pm. I haven't had a problem going to the bathroom. If anything I go too much, I don't know if that is a side effect of the other meds that I am on or not (Depakote, Tegretol. and Lamictal ). My boyfriend makes fun of me cause I usually go about three times a day, if I don't he wants to know if I'm feeling ok!

It could be something that you are eating, or if you are not eating a balanced diet I know that could cause it. I'm a vegitarian so I don't know if that has anything to do with me going ok.

I know that coffee will get me going, I usually drink it hot but I've started drinking the cold "special" ones that they have out now, that may work.

I'd ask your doc about it and see what they have to say. Has this been going on for a long period of time or is this just a recent thing? If it has just started happening you could maybe have some type of cold or flu (or something like that). I know that sometimes when I am sick I will have trouble going, but that will only last a few days.

Hope this helps!

neurowreck · 08-17-2006, 08:54 PM

I sent my doc a note (not in the office all days). Can't do hot liquids because it gets my heart rate going wacko...my diet is horrible, but had been "regular" until the Keppra. My guts are sluggish from an autonomic disorder, but the stuff I'd been taking had been working- until now.

jerrytom · 08-18-2006, 06:13 PM

I don't think Keppra has bothered me but I'm taking so many AEDs it's hard to tell. I know that Zonegran can cause constipation, it's one of the four I'm taking. My epi tells me that some of the side effects I get aren't from the AEDs but when you take more than one or two, I don't think they can be too sure. My epi put me on Lamictal and after I had a hard time getting my blood sugars down. He checked his computer and said that it wasn't one of the side effects. I know it was! Everyones body is different and it effects everyone differently. Good luck with the awful side effect. You'll be in my prayers. Jeff

neurowreck · 08-19-2006, 02:33 PM

I cut the dose back to the initial dose I took when I first started it, and am going to slowly move it up, until I see where the problem starts...then that's it. I'm not going to have the impactions. I've got 'as needed' meds for seizures, and I'll just deal with those, instead of having the plumbing problems.