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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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About a year ago, I was taking Keppra twice a day as is prescribed. Well, I decided to just start taking one pill per day and had a seizure. My doctor informed me that Keppra is a 12hr pill and you needed to take equal amounts twice a day. So what I did was cut down my total amount per day by cutting my pills in half. I would suggest you look into that so that you have some in your system for the entire day. God Bless
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3 ReactionsIs anyone diabetic, with heart problems, what do you do naturally to lower your blood pressure?
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1 ReactionYes, I take Keppra for grandmal seizures, I can only take 1 capsule per day. My system is really sensitive to medication, it works for me. I don’t have auras any more.
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3 ReactionsI have recently weened myself off of Keppra gradually. I had been taking it almost 2 yrs and had diarrhea everyday in the morning but when I was having joint health issues and there was some discussions on this board that keppra affected joint health also. Since being off it my joints seem to be improving! (great) Doctor wants to put me on Vimpat but I do not know yet whether I will start taking that.
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1 ReactionDoctor changed dose from 500 to 750mg; I am not dizzy any more
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3 ReactionsGood Morning @ysv12345
Thank you for letting me know that. Happily, my calcium levels are OK, but I have only been on Keppra for just 6 months. I will keep an eye on that.
I remember from our conversation last year that you experienced some dizziness when reducing your Keppra dosage. How are you feeling now? Are you still dealing with any dizziness?
Chris
I have been taking that medication since 2019, and it causes osteoporosis issue.
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2 ReactionsThanks for sharing @ysv12345
As @jakedduck1 has already mentioned many times, Vitamin B can help with behavioral and mood side effects of Keppra. Curious to know - why have you been taking calcium? Do you have any osteoporosis issues?
Thank you!
Chris
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1 Reaction@dollynz
Good Afternoon!
I can relate very well to your husband's experience. By the end of 2024, I had experienced 3 tonic-clonic seizures and status epilepticus just before Christmas, which led to starting Keppra. This medication has controlled my seizures effectively, and I've been seizure-free since then 🙏! However, I also experienced some side effects, with worsened memory being one of them. But with the medication fine-tuning process my doctor is doing, the side effects have gradually improved. Over the past 6 months, he has been safely reducing my dosage in small increments while monitoring me with regular EEGs and other tests. My memory has improved, but hasn't fully returned to pre-Keppra levels (I was previously only taking pure CBD - Epidiolex). As the immunologist referred by my neurologist explained to me recently, all anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have the potential to reduce neuronal activity, which accounts for cognitive changes. This happened to me not just with Keppra, but with other AEDs I've tried before.
It took over five months for my body to better adapt to this medication. The initial period was challenging, with multiple side effects that made me want to discontinue Keppra. However, my doctor's encouragement and support gave me the confidence to persist, and I'm incredibly grateful for that guidance today.
I'm curious to know what medication your husband was taking before starting Keppra? Has he had any seizures since the start of Keppra? And aside from the memory issues, has he noticed any other side effects?
Sending you both my best wishes and hoping things improve soon!
Chris
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2 ReactionsI have been taking Keppra 750mg for about five years; I have been taking vitamin B-6 50mg and calcium 500mg daily due to the side effect of Keppra.
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