Side effects from Keppra?

@sunny18
Vitamin B6 helps some people with anger and aggression issues caused by Keppra. Ask your doctor about it.
Jake

@sunny18

I’ve been on Keppra extended release for years with success. I’ve had no possible side effects. except I sleep a little more than I used to.

@methel - that sounds like great news. Do you mean since you been on levetiracetam (Keppra), you've had no seizures?

@lisalucier

I take a heavy dose of Keppra extended release, 1500 mg 2x a day. At the beginning of this, (after the meningioma, stroke, surgery which started the seizures) I would have an occasional seizure when the medication was wearing off, just before the next scheduled dose. But the switch to extended release ( recommended by the phlebotomist) apparently evened out the med’s so that I didn’t get the ‘dip’ and my last seizure (knock on wood) was in 2017.

@lisalucier

And yes, the heavy dose seems to be necessary. As the Keppra dose increased, the severity of the seizures decreased. The first seizure generalized and I woke up on the floor. The last seizure, just the left half of my tongue vibrated. (I can’t replicate that consciously. ) And the difference in seizure intensity seems to be the amount of Keppra needed to get control.

I had to stop keppra. Bad side effects. I now take lamotrogine. Get a good neurologist. If yours isn’t listening get a different one. Get one that specializes in seizures. I do not have epilepsy it have. Seizure disorder.

@sunny18
Welcome to our group!
Yes, Keppra can definitely cause mood-related side effects for some people. Thankfully, I haven't experienced those since starting Keppra alongside Epidiolex in December 2024.
As my doctor reminds me, everyone responds differently – what works well for one person might not work for another. Side effects vary from person to person and often depend on the dosage prescribed. When I first started Keppra at a higher dose, I had several side effects (not mood-related ones), but they became much more manageable once my dosage was reduced and customized.
For example, Tegretol (carbamazepine) sent me into a depression, so I had to switch to something else. But I know many people who do really well on it!
I'm curious – what kind of epilepsy do you have?
Chris

I am glad people are writing about keppra side effects Just last night my wife was complaining to me that I sleep all the time I take 1500 mg of keppra in the morning and 1500 mg of keppra at night and when we sit down to watch tv I go right to sleep. I also as I am thinking about I it fall asleep every time I try to watch tv it does not matter night or day I take about 15 medications in the morning and I try to tell my wife It is the meds that make me want to sleep I take a lot of meds I think 15 in the morning maybe more and that's why I want to sleep actually I don't want to sleep I try to fight it but the sleep wins out I am 74 I thought it was my age that was putting me to sleep. I also noticed that my words coming out just don't sound right to me and also, I was walking to the car with my wife and told her I was weaving all around as I was trying to walk

@rustyjones
I see you're taking Keppra to control seizures? Has it helped decrease their frequency? Have you been taking it longer than a month?
I wonder if your dose could be at a toxic level? Or if any other medications you are taking could contribute to the drowsiness?
You should contact your physician or pharmacist for a medication review un-less you just started it. After a month or so the drowsiness may decrease.🤞Although in some people it can take months.
Take care,
Jake

Hello,
I had just finished #15 out of #18 immunotherapy (Nivolumab) treatments for metastatic melanoma. It had induced encephalitis which caused seizures. I was hospitalized for 6 days. I couldn't speak, walk, or recognize anyone. They put me on high dose prednisone and after a couple days I was better. This was a month ago. Im on 6 anti-seizure meds a day, Keppra and Vimpat, along with prednisone. Im in the process of tapering down on the prednisone and Keppra, however, I cant drive until im off all of it. I walk with a limp and forget alot of things but Im in remission.