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Side effects from Keppra?
This is about my husband. He started having seizure like episodes four months ago once or twice a month that lasted 5-20 minutes. After trying to convince doctors these weren't anxiety attacks they did an EEG which was interrupted by a seizure like episode. They immediately got him on Keppra without confirming epilepsy and since then he's been completely out of it, has memory loss, slurs his speech, uneven pupils sometimes and others he smells something burning, cough, panic, sees flashing lights and colors,loses contact with the environment and more. He has stopped taking it since Saturday morning and he's much more conscious but still had episodes mostly with his head hurting, panic, burning smell and getting super sleepy when this happens. Memory is getting better.
Does anyone know if all of these are normal as far as bad side effects of keppra go and if so when they will go away?
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You should never suddenly stop any seizure drug without first consulting with the person or prescribed it. All medications have side effects and Keepra is no diffeent, you can check those online. I was sleeping 12 hours a day when I first started Keepra and was exhausted all the time. Things slowly got better over the last several months, my sleep pattern has normalized. I still have nights where I sleep too long or tired all day. Seizure meds have helped me, Keepra more than others, but none elimnated my seizures. My neurologist has referred me to USF for brain mapping.
Being raged and angry is not uncommon for Keppra. This can be researched easily. The term I've always heard is "Keppra Rage" I don't think I've experienced such.
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1 ReactionHi @baa
I have not heard from you for a while. How have you been doing?
Kind regards,
Chris (@santosha)
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2 ReactionsSo far, so good, thank you.
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2 ReactionsHi @baabaa @motobee
Good Morning!
Is @motobee the same person as @baa? I got confused! Perhaps I need more coffee, just got up 🙂
Since my last reply to you last year, some things have changed. I have had two tonic-clonic seizures at the end of December (too much stress with the health of both my parents) and ended up at the hospital because of status epilepticus. I have been put on Keppra, starting with 500 mg twice a day and having many side-effects. But my doctor has been doing a great fine-tuning process and today I am on 150 mg twice a day and no seizures, Thank God!!!
I tell you I was so afraid to be taking this AED based on many comments I have heard about Keppra. But with my current dosage, it has been the AED I have tried that has harmed me the least. Perhaps because my current doctor is doing this fine-tuning process that other doctors did not do. He says that every person is unique, and what is the ideal dosage for one might not be for others. He has been respecting my sensitivity to medications greatly.
What has been your current Lamictal dosage and what was the last dosage of Keppra you took?
Wishing you a lovely weekend!
Chris (@santosha)
What they meant is that to discontinue a seizure medicine you have to gradually ween off of it Not suddenly stop cold turkey. I had a single tonic clonic seizure about a year and a half ago and a smaller seizure about 10 months ago. Initially doctor put me on 500ml Keppra 2x per day. The only side effect I got from Keppra is diarrhea everyday for a year and a half. I reduced that down to 250ml 2x per day last year and now have reduced even further to 125ml in am and 250ml in pm. No issues so far and next step is 125ml am and pm probably in a month and on from there. God Bless
ray hippele
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2 ReactionsHave you tried anything different since we last communicated?
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1 ReactionI've never heard about antidepressant's effects. This is an example of why we are here, e.g. to learn from each other. Thank you.
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2 ReactionsHi Lisa, we've communicated back to December 24th of last year regarding sleep. So, this is just an update. My insurance company finally agreed to partially pay for Ambien, the Brand name of Zolpidem, which I've been taking for years. I got a call from my pharmacist asking if I really want to make the change? Ambien cost is $120 for 30 tablets which includes my co-pay. With Zolpidem, I pay $11.18 with tax for 30 tablets. So, I guess it's still the Z for me. I hope you enjoy your weekend.
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1 ReactionAs of today, no. I've been researching for an over-the-counter sleep aid and found one that I hope will work. I will ask my neurologist tomorrow if it's safe to take. My goal is to get off of prescription sleep aid. I've heard that one of this country' opponents provides most of generic medications. I want to be prepared.