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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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Hi @baa
Many people do adapt well to Lamictal and I hope you will be one of them. Let's think positively and one day at a time! If I remember well, the testing time of a new AED is around 3 months, but do please confirm this information with your neurologist.
Since Covid times, I have done all my sessions via Zoom with my neuropsychologist. As it has worked out so well, I have kept them online instead of in person, which makes things much easier for me as I do not drive anymore. Her office is about 1 hour from my home, considering the traffic here in this huge city. If you do not find a neuropsychologist in your area, doing your session online could be an option to you perhaps?
Stay well and all the best!
Chris (@santosha)
Thank you Chris, @santosha, I have heard some positives from Lamictal, and if this high dose of lacosimide doesn’t seem to improve will talk to neurologist to see what he thinks. I am seeing the psychiatrist again tomorrow that neurologist recommended. Don’t know if there are any specifically trained neuropsychologists in this area but will check that out. As always I appreciate your knowledge and experience. Hope you are doing well and bless you🙏🏻
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2 ReactionsHi @baa
I really do hope that this new dosage of Lamictal works well for you. Lamictal was the AED I tried that had the fewest side effects.
Have you considered having some support from a neuropsychologist? I am with mine since 2019 when I was diagnosed with epilepsy. She has helped me a lot and continues to help me. I can well remember the first two years of epilepsy treatment and how stressed I was and also stressed my husband. Now well this vicious circle. My neuropsychologist also did some private sessions with my husband at the beginning. Have a thought about it!
Wishing you all the best!
Chris (@santosha)
Hi Chris @santosha, finally had video visit with neuro and he increased my lacosimide to highest mg to see how that works. My kids were there. My daughter who lives next door cried the entire time as finding me “out of it” from seizure is more than her anxiety can handle. Do I stress about her as she is stressing about me and vicious circle! Dr suggested we might live too close to each other. A lot to think about. Hope all is well with you and again, I always enjoy hearing from you and your thoughtful insight you have for others!
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2 ReactionsHi @motobee
I know very well how frustrating this can be,
I have not taken Keppra, but other AEDs and some did not control my seizures, though it has worked for others. This medicine testing is very particular. Some might get good results with one drug, others not.
How long have you be taking Keppra? It takes some time for the medication to make its full effects. Are you having any side-effects on Keppra? Did you already try other medications before Keppra?
Curiosity, do you know your type of epilepsy? Do you have tonic clonic seizures or just focal/partial seizures (the ones you just get absence and does not have convulsions)?
Take care,
Chris (@santosha)
I take Keppra twice a day and so far no negative reactions.
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3 ReactionsDue to the anxiety issues with "paxil" (generic) withdrawal I am sticking with the Keppra for now.
Feeling a bit better and changed my diet to Activia, Bananas, Vegetables and probiotic capsules daily. Diarrhea I much better. Thanks for the feedback.
I would not recommend Keppra due to it literally made me feel like I was losing my mind and after just 1 dose. I honestly believed that reality wasn't reality.
I have never had anything make me feel like that and only thing I could do was ride it out and I locked myself in my room till it wore off.
I didn't have any diarrhea tho
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1 ReactionWell....I thought it may be the keppra. However, I also take paxil and i thought it may be that. I went to me GP and he said, "Which one (paxil or keppra) do you think you can do without the best"? I said paxil....big mistake. I started tapering down from 20mg to 10 and then 5 within about 5 weeks. I Crashed!!! Massive depression and anxiety, couldn't sleep. Total diarrhea, not just loose stool. Went back to 20mg and then to 40mg before I got back to my GP. Today is first day of feeling a little normal. 10 days back on 40mg paxil. Hoping to taper back to 20mg and see how it goes. Then work on the keppra and loose stool.
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2 ReactionsThanks also Cher
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