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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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Thank you for your kind words @smokry777
My first experience with seizures was the same as yours. I always said to my mother when the aura came that started that the movie was about to start, feeling some weird smell and taste in my mouth. As you said this movie was only in my mind.
I am very happy to hear that it has never affected your studies, professional life and sports. Fingers crossed to continue this way!!!!
I did my studies, had a professional corp life and practiced many sports, some of them even professionally (like sailing). But in 2016/2017, things started to change. But I must confess, I have abused, I was quite a workaholic at that time. I hope to be back to work one day. Going back to my previous professional activity I feel is no longer possible, because it requires much of my memory which has been affected. But I see other possibilities and I am about to start some studies this coming April to be able to do this career change. Enjoying it 🙂
Let's keep in touch!
Santosha (BTW Santosha means contentment, my real name is Christine or just Chris)
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2 ReactionsSantosha
Had my first aura when I was 8 almost 9 years old. I was getting dressed for school and I saw a cartoon on the TV, only the TV we had was not in my room, so what my mind was telling me was happening wasn't real. Went to the Dr and found out what I had and that he wasn't going to prescribe me anything then because the brain is still growing. Also there were very few meds at that time. I didn't then very often either. Never affected my school, sports, college or professional life, even after my operation and didn't retire until I was 67. Just hope you can find a great solution. Good luck and thanks for the feed back.
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5 ReactionsHi Brad,
I had my first seizure when I was a teenager, 13/14 years old, I can not remember well, it is so long ago (I am 52 years old right now). I had very few seizures, about 3 per year, they started as simple and evolve into complex, but were very mild ones. Right after a seizure that lasted just seconds, I was back as if nothing had happened. I lived this way without knowing I had epilepsy until I was 46/47 years old (2016/2017) when things started to change because of a period of much stress and then burnout. First, I had changes in my sleep and memory, followed by an increase in my seizures and more time to recover. But it took two more years to be diagnosed with epilepsy (temporal lobe), which happened in February 2019. My epilepsy most probably is related to an accident I had when I was 5 years old that caused a small lesion on my hippocampus, left side, staying my epilepsy in a latent phase until I became a teenager when this condition first manifested itself. It stayed quite silent for so many years, having evolved because of this burnout I had.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me.
Have a nice evening!
Santosha
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1 ReactionThanks for the like. Have a ? for you. How old were you when you had your first seizure and was it simple or complex? I know a lot of people have seizures that don’t always have the same point of origin like mine did. I was 55 when I had my operation.
Brad
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2 ReactionsMay not be the right med for her. I would call the doctor. I personally didn't have an issue with Keppra but I have with others. Everyone is different. Side effects sometimes go away after a short time. Just talk to the doc first and she will have to he weened down slowly and maybe start another medication. I hope she feels better.
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2 ReactionsGood Evening @smokry777
Thank you so much again for the information you have shared with us.
I wish you a nice week!
Santosha
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1 ReactionMorning santosha. Started Keppra in late 2000 or early 2001. It had just become legal and was very expensive. I was also taking diazepam. That had become legal around 1995, prior it was used only in hospitals. Operation was April 2006. The amount prior to operation was 1750mg/day after 3000mg/day and no diazepam. Toleration was the same before and after, only at 3000mg/day I could just fall asleep for a few minutes but I knew it was coming. Like I said before am at 1750mg/day today. About the brain, just remember that it is never perfect, what is? If your Dr wants you to maintain dosage do it. Your brain has to heal after operation and that takes time! If your Dr wants/thinks an operation is right for you do your research, ask questions and when you are satisfied do it. What we have learned about the brain in the last 40 years is more than all the years prior combined. Good luck, you will find your answers, just do the research.
Brad
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2 ReactionsHi @smokry777, Good Morning
Thank you so much for your posts, experiences, and information you have shared here with us! Very valuable!!! Again, I am very happy and glad for you and about your current health state. Did you already take Keppra before your surgery? Did you tolerate it well and other medications before the surgery or has the surgery helped you to better tolerate those medications?
Does anymore know why one has still to take AEDs after such surgery, as the lesion that causes the seizure is removed? This is still something I do not understand well.
Thanks to all of you.
Wishing you a beautiful Sunday!
Santosha
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1 Reaction@lyhay1973
I agree very when you said "I wish doctors would listen more to the patients who are actually experiencing the side effects and not brush them off" :-). Unfortunately, many do not do it. This is also shown in the movie First Do no Harm with Mery Streep.
I hope all goes well with this neurologist. That you find a doctor who listens and respects both of you. My best wishes for this appointment in April. Give us news after that, please.
Have a beautiful Sunday!
Santosha
PS: Let the neurologist convince your daughter about changing the medication.
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2 ReactionsGood morning Santosha,
Thank you for the information. I wish doctors would listen more to the patients who are actually experiencing the side effects and not brush them off. I have talked to my daughter about being open to maybe changing medication. Right now she is not exactly on board with that. We are hoping this new Neurologist is better. He was recommended by my oldest daughter who saw him for headaches she was having, and issue with an optic nerve that was discovered. Plus this new Neurologist is closer to where my youngest is currently going to college which I think will be helpful. I will also look into epileptologist if we don’t feel good about this new doctor.
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