Keppra dosage? - Epilepsy Message Board

NOSiR · 08-31-2003, 03:01 AM

Hi,
Just wondering how small dosage of Keppra you can react on. I´ve taken 2x500 mg for about 4 weeks, and it made me awfully tired, I slept 12-14 h/d. It also kicked me into a minor depression, so I went off Keppra for a few days. Yesterday morning I had a seizure, so I desired to try again with 2x250 mg a day. Is this a dose that can do any good?
I´m also on Lamictal, 2x300 mg/day. It works just fine, especially with my psychiatric problems, panic and bipolar disorder. But I have had about 3-4 seizures a year. It´s no big deal, but it has been mine and my neurologic´s intention to get rid of these seizures with Keppra. So I´m not prepared to give it up yet.
Anyone with experienses like these?

Grumps · 08-31-2003, 07:07 AM

Yes - I was introduced to Keppra in June of this year I was started off on 250mg twice daily and my dosage was increased on a 2 week basis to the current dose of 1000mg twice a day. Yes I do need more sleep about an extra 1-2 hours per night. However, the initial tiredness has gone.

I have been szr free so my opinion is I am not that bothered that I need more sleep as it has got better and I just build it into my life - yes I have been a bid down on occassion and had a few mood swings nothing major. Again, these feelings are getting less and less and the good Keppra is doing for me out weighs the bad

Good luck - word of warning don't just stop anti szr drugs without your doctors knowledge has huge impacts on you (as you probably now know)

Take care

NOSiR · 08-31-2003, 11:06 AM

Grumps - I appreciate your advises, but the thing is that I never have reacted this much on a new medication. I´ve taken AED´s for more than 25 years, maybe 10-15 different types. But only Keppra has done this to me, so that´s why I´m a bit concerned. Maybe it´s the right drug for me or maybe it doesn´t fit me at all.

This morning I took 250 mg, and I´ve felt fine all day, just a little tired. But I´m in a good mood, so I will continue with 2x250 mg futher on. I live in a mid-sized city in Sweden, and our regional hospital has no neurologist! Yeah, that´s correct, no neurologist! For years we have only had dr´s now and then. I saw my ND in June, and then he prescribed Keppra 2x500 mg, but since this dose obviously doesn´t fit me, I have to do something until I can reach him again, in about two weeks. My family doctor doesn´t have a clue, so I don´t bother.

Thanks any way

bleubird · 08-31-2003, 11:12 AM

I am on both Keppra (1000mg twice a day) and Lamictal (200mgs twice a day) At first the Keppra really made me tired. But after the about 6 weeks I finally lost that side effect and this combo has been the BEST thing for me. Good Luck!