Keppra - Good, bad or useless?

Hello everyone,
 
I've just been put on Keppra, which sounds rather like a Greek goddess.  It's supposed to replace the Lamotrogine which has been entirely useless in getting rid of the partial complex siezures I keep having.  I was wondering if anyone else takes Keppra and whether they think it's any good or not.My doctor warned a possible side effect was mood swings and hyperactivity, though added that this is rare.
 
Love,
 
Andrew
Hello Andrew,

I've only been taking Keppra for a few months. I think it's helped more than any other AED I've taken since Dilantin. I have had some side effects that aren't bad. I was pretty tired for a few weeks when I first started it. Your neuro should start you out at a low dose and increase it slowly. It helps prevent the side effects. I also have CP seizures. I had gamma knife surgery a year ago but still have frequent seizures. The theraputic dosage of Keppra is around 3000mg to 4000mg a day. I'm only at 2000mg a day. I also take 300mg Dilantin, 500mg Lamictal and 400mg Zonegram. My neuro wants to get me off Dilantin. I don't think much of Lamictal at all. Good luck and you'll be in my prayers tonight.

Jeff
HI I am on Keppra and have been for almost a year. I think it controls my daily life pretty well, though most of my seizures are nocturnal so it is always hard to know. Everyone seems react differntly to Keppra. I am on only 1000MG Daily. It did give me an extreme emotional problem the first two months, but I slowly got over that once the shock of the AED wore off on me. I hope that it helps you. Give it a try. Let us know . Tracy


 

Keppra has been, without a doubt, the best med for my temporal lobe siezures and interictal complications, with the least side effects of *any* medication I've been on in the last 17 years (I have been on massive doses and combinations of most of them). I truly think it is a god send... Give it a good trial...
I had given up... so sick of all the meds and trials...
I hope it works for you.
Dawn
First Light

Thanks Jeff, Tracy and Dawn for your help.  Just to give an update: after a week on Keppra I've had periods of fatigue, weakness and dizziness.  And I've had another partial complex siezure! Oh well, they say patience is the something-or-other of what-do-you-call-it.  And no psychosis yet, except the large amounts which are always caused by my job.

Andrew

Hi folks, I've been on Keppra 500mg twice a day since this past March of 2009. I look forward to getting off of it, as I do with all meds eventually. My onc would like to have me take them the whole time I'm on his chemo protocol for a total of a year or so. I have a question though that I have not found an answer to that my wife asked me to find out for her: Does Keppra end up in sperm at all? I really do not like the idea of getting any chemicals of any amounts in my wife in any way shape or form. I'd also really rather not ever have to wear a raincoat (if you know what I mean there) when we fool around.

She stands no chance of pregnancy either as some of those parts have been removed from her years ago.

Thanks,
the Captain