Epilepsy Forum - I'm New to Keppra,is It Any Good?


I'm New to Keppra,is It Any Good?

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teabag 17

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 5
Location: australia

Hi Shelbe Posted: 03-25-07 18:52pm


Thanks so much for answering, I have been on keppra for nearly 4 weeks. I think I worry more because the reason I have epilepsy in the first place was a burst aneurysm. I have had a mri scan but there is nothing causing the headache. I will carry on and take my panadol if I get a headache. I get disability pension as well. I have even done a t-shirt with a shame on you on the back with a thumbs down. Because I was sick of people talking and shaking there heads when they see me parked in a disabled spot. I think I am too heavy for my husband who is my carer to carry much further. You hear of so many people shouting and moaning about the disabled spots, they dont take into account you dont have to be in a wheelchair to be disabled. I was in hospital 3 weeks ago and they kept me in, they said my salt level was down and that can make your seizures worse. I didnt know that.? Best Regards and keep well. pat

sami_1982

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 13 Dec 2003
Posts: 200
Location: Australia

Hi Posted: 03-26-07 00:20am


Hello there I was on Keppra, But after i was in hospital and they took the 2000mgs off me. and just had me on the epilim, i was not good. then 2 days later when my stay in hospital was over they gave me back my regular dosage of keppra, and it was all down hill from there on. From the stay in hospital they found that i was to highly medicated on the keppra and the epilim was not doing me any good on its own. So my neurologist took me off keppra slowly and then he kept me on epilim for a few more months and then introduced me to the wonder drug Lamictal. I am not tired anymore. On keppra and epilim i was like a zombie, felt high all the time, i had to sleep alot and it wasnt good for a relationship. it doesnt just effect me or other ppl on these drugs it effects our partners. they have to ride the rollercoaster with you. i have now been slowly weened of the epilim and i am on 100mgs 2x daily of lamictal and the drs want to up it for my condition. i dont know how high they want to up it yet as i dont go to see my nuro till june. but i also had the nausia and the headaches and swollen ankles it was just not a nice drug and i have since been told that hospitals dont like to use keppra because it can raise blood pressure. but if it works for others then that is all well and good. just wasnt for me and the thing that i hated most on it was that if i got sick it was like it didnt work and i got so many seizures. regards sami.

shorty1825

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Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Posts: 27

Keppra - It's One of the Better Meds Posted: 05-22-07 16:42pm


Hi Shelbe! I've been on Keppra for several years now. I take 1500mg (2 X day). This was added on to my 800mg (3 x day) of Felbatol. Felbatol helped with the Partial-Complex type Seizures; but, seemed to increase on Simple Seizures. My Neuro added Keppra to help control the Simple Seizures. These two meds work well together. I have to admit it doesn't solve all my "Seizure episodes". I still have about 10 to 20 a month; but, at least it has taken care of the one day a month of uncountable seizure activity. To me, this is an exceptable trade. Side effects are acceptable. There's the normal fatigue (especially when I first started Keppra). I was either too happy or too sad; but, I happen to met a lady who understood what it was like to struggle with side effects of medicine. She helped me to understand when I was to "giddy or grumpy" so that I could adjust. She did this until I was able to finally do it myself. I have never met any person like her. Anyways, once you get through the first several months of adjustment, the benefites (controlling seizures) is worth the pain of adjustment. My only real thing I have noticed during the time being on Keppra, is every once in a while I get real dizzy. It usually happens waking up in the morning. The room actually spins. It's really frightning. But, this has only happened a hand-ful of times. Keppra is still worth it. Take care. Hope all is better!

teabag 17

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Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 5
Location: australia

Im New to Keppra Is It Any Good Posted: 05-22-07 19:15pm


Hi Shorty, I have been on Keppra for nearly 3 months now. I did have headaches for the first month then I noticed I was not having a seizure in my sleep anymore. I would wake up sweating and fighting for my breath and when I woke properly it would pass, I do not have that anymore. I do get a little dizzy, when i look up or lay down the room spins twice and I feel like I am going to fall but then it settles and I am alright. I got dizzy last week just looking in the boot of the car. My husband opened it and I just looked to see if there was any more shopping and it was as though I was drunk for a few seconds. I have not had a drink for years after having the subarachnoid haemmourage. Thats when the epilepsy started. Sorry Shorty but I am glad someone else is dizzy like me. Look after yourself Best Regards Teabag ( going for one now with a piece of toast )

orangelover77

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Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 2

Thanks Shelbe Posted: 07-12-07 12:33pm


thanks shelbe

cmurray

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Joined: 11 Sep 2007
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Keppra Posted: 09-11-07 19:49pm


I started Keppra two weeks ago. I am taking 4 (500MG each) Keppra a day, 3 (25 MG Each) Topamax a day, and 1 (0.5MG) Clonazepam a day for seizures plus Cyclobenzaprine for flexeril as needed and 1 (25 MG) Promethazine for vomiting up to every 6 hours as needed with seizures. Also I take Amerge 2.5 MG Naratriptan up to 2 a day for Migraines and Advair 500/50 twice a day for asthma and Spiriva tiotropium bromide inhalation powder for asthma and Combivent for asthma. My seizures are better but I am not a normal person since the car accident of June 25, 2007. I have a 6.9mm lesion on my right front temporal lobe. Sometimes the pain is more than I can take and sleep is the only escape, but that can lead to a seizure and I wake up having bit my tongue and cheek and bruised arms usually. Will this ever end or is this my life? I cannot go to the mall and go shopping with my teenage daughters alone because I might have a seisure. I cannot go shopping alone because of a seisure. For a time my drivers license was taken away and I just got it back this week and that makes me feel human again and with hope. The person that did this to me is still living his life. I was the victim of a felony hit and run and the District Attorney is not convinced that my life has been changed all that much other than my car was totalled and I have a brain injury. I have no broken bones and did not die, so in our state the worst he gets is a fine of between 2500 and 5000 dollars and one year in jail, if that. Now he is free on bail. Since, I am not dead and still able to work, the DA is not certain how badly the accident actually harmed me. I am not asking for any monitary settlement, I just want this man off the streets and out of a car. He does not even have a drivers license and no insurance and he left me in my car and drove away following the accident. That should be considered a terrible crime, I dream of it every night. I am trapped in that car smelling the leaking battery from my hybrid Prius leaking into the cab of the car and I cannot breathe. No one has granted me any favors, my insurance company would not even pay off the car loan, as my brand new car was no longer worth what I had paid for it, due to high mileage. The DA does not seem to care, to speak of such things is to vent my anger for which he does not have time to hear. Since I did not see the accident, because I was not conscience I do not get to testify at the trial. The witnesses do have a very compelling story to tell that is very scary to hear, which makes me glad I was not awake. But I feel cheated not to get my chance to speak. Are there other people out there like me?

olsones2j

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Joined: 18 Sep 2007
Posts: 1

Posted: 09-18-07 17:34pm


My little daughter had a seizures in June of 2007 (freaked me out the first time). She had another one on Labor day. I was much more calm this time, since I knew how to handle it. She was tested and epilepsy was rules out as of now. (Fingers crossed) Her neorologist recommended Keppra (250mg) and so far so good. Can anyone give me their opinions (good/bad) of this drug on children under 12 while on this drug. Thank you in advance. Eric

ctstar

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Joined: 11 Oct 2007
Posts: 2

Keppra Effects Posted: 10-11-07 23:23pm


I've been on keppra for months and didnt have any problems that were serious but my seizures were still frequent. Recently my seizures are much less but I am much more moody and it happens about the same time every day. Right around 10pm I get angry or depressed or feel like crying. Any suggestions?

sami_1982

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 13 Dec 2003
Posts: 200
Location: Australia

Keppra Posted: 10-24-07 22:09pm


Hello to everyone, i know it has been a while since i posted about keppra. I am not taking it anymore, since the VEEG thing in hospital the report was that the keppra was giving me anxiety, and i was on a huge amount, 2000mg a day. It did not seem to work after i was put back on it. I only went without it for 2 days. while in the hospital, and soon after being put back on it. my seizures changed. like racing heart, leg jumping, or arm jumping flat out till it hurt, then it would stop, i was aware that it was happening and i would cry because it hurt i started wetting the bed at night and i felt like i had no control over other things also know what i mean its embarresing. So my neurologist decided to take me off it. When i had a bad grand mal and broke my wrist, this would have been last August. and he introduced me to Lamictal, i started on 25mg till i was up to 100mg a day, while still taking 2400mg of epilim a day. i was going alright but the epilim was making me gain alot of weight (30kg) and i had some fluid on my legs. So we tried to reduce me off the epilim over a few months, we reduced it til', i couldnt handle it any longer, loosing time, fitting all the time, i was totaly retarded, sorry for using that word but its true, basically druling. So my neuro put me on 400mg a day of epilim again, and upped my lamictal to 300mg a day now. i dont have the feeling that something scarey is going to happen, i dont know how auras are for any of you, and i dont really know how they are supposed to feel, but i would all of a sudden feel like something awful was going to happen and it would last for hours, my pupils would be massive maybe a number 6, you know what i mean. and my seizures were yucky different my body felt like it was twisting and my back would feel like i cant describe, my feet were so sore in the arches, and my hands were always strained. i was just twisted, i could remember this all and that was the awful part, i never want to feel like that again. but since i have been put on lamictal 300mg a day and epilim 400mg a day with 5mg folic acid, i have not had those awful seizures or those feelings that something awful is going to happen for hours. I can now wake up in the morning early bright as a button, best in my life ever, better then child hood, when no one knew that i was having seizures. i can sleep at night i feel like a normal person in the street, i dont worry as much, so i can keep the fact that i have epilepsy a secret. i can go 6 weeks between seizures, and when i do have one its smaller then before and only a few minutes now not 20-40 minutes long as before. i can do all the chores around the farm and the heat doesnt affect me as much. but lights still do, so i am aware of that now. i have told my neurologist that when i stay up late i have a seizure in the morning, so i am learning my limitations for once in my life. but i guess there will always be the un-expected seizure. i have been told i will never be seizure free, but if thats all one every 6 weeks and some if i am tired then i am happy with that. better then 50 a day. sorry for the longest message. i hope everyone feels good today and my thoughts are with everyone, i hope everyone can find something that works for them, if not totally maybe better then what you are now. regards:, god bless sami xx

sami_1982

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 13 Dec 2003
Posts: 200
Location: Australia

Lamictal Posted: 10-24-07 22:19pm


i just must add, that if anyone is thinking of changing to lamictal the out come for me was greater then the side effects at the beginning, i felt nausiated when i woke up so i would have a pepermint lolly, its a natural anti nausia remedy my chemist told me. and i would all of a sudden cry for no reason, i could not explaine why. my dad worked with a man that was also on lamictal, he told me no matter how yucky you feel for the first few months it will be worth it in the long run, at times i did not believe that. but now i do believe it. im not feeling like that anymore although it did take about 3 months to stop feeling like a cry baby. but it was all worth it. regards sami

stu1996

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Joined: 02 Nov 2007
Posts: 1

Keppra Posted: 11-02-07 10:58am


Hi I've been taking Keppra 200mg/day for 2 years now. Since starting Keppra I've had 3 seizures in 2 years which is much better than my usual 2/ month. So I've gone from having 10 to 12 per year to only 1 per year. It has iproved my seizure control and the side effects for me is only weight loss. Sorry to hear about your disabled parking issues, by the was how are you able to still have a driver's licence when your seizures have not been controlled. Thanks Stu

dinowk

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Re: I'm New to Keppra,is It Any Good?
Posted: 11-17-07 23:38pm

shelbe wrote:

I'v been epeleptic for the past 5 years.... Smile

I am on Kappra for 4 years now. No side effect at all. I used to be on Dilatin, which I had tons of problem.

After I began Kappra, my localized partial seizure is under control.

cocobean

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Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Posts: 1

Young but Old Posted: 04-13-08 23:18pm


Hey there guys! I'm 26 and have been having seizures since i was 12. I went up until i was 15 with no meds because a doc diagnosed me as having a sleeping disorder. I finally got really sick of having these crazy episodes that drained me beyond belief and I was really embarassed once when I had one in front of my friends at school and they didn't know what to do and ran around very scared. I went to see another neurologist who put me on Lamictal and it seemed great but then one day my face blew up with little red dots on it and on my lips as well. Not cool, this happened around the second week when I had to increase my dosage to two tabs instead of one. Well my doc took me off the Lamictal and put me on Keppra, I just started it about a week ago and it seems okay for now I'm not sure if I have the mood swings or not but i feel edgy somrtimes so i hope this is as far side effects go. I read that it can make you go crazy before it evens out.