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littlegrasshopper · #1 07-28-2010, 01:05 PM

I've been having seizures since March 2009, but they weren't diagnosed until June 2010. My primary thought they were episodes of fainting. And it wasn't until I canceled weekend plans with my sister that I thought any differently. I told her what happened, and she told me to get a second opinion as she's been a special education teacher for 10 years and has had students with seizures. So I saw a neurologist, went through the EEG, MRI and was diagnosed with partial seizures and put on Keppra XR.

I've been lucky enough to get a warning anywhere from 3-5 minutes before I have a seizure, so it hasn't impacted my life very much. The biggest impact has been how people treat me, and my guess is that it's a lot for other people to digest.

I'm still trying to figure out what my triggers are- seems I have a few: dehydration, low calories, inadequate sleep, intense exercise.

**PhylisFeinerJohnson** · #2 07-28-2010, 02:52 PM

Hi Little Grasshopper...

Welcome! You're in the right place for answers and info from kind and caring people (who have been around the block a few times!)

I would suggest you keep a daily seizure diary noting your sleep patterns, what you eat, your daily activities, anything in your life/routine that has changed (like something stressful). Also I would document my auras, how you feel before a seizure, how long a seizure lasts and how you feel afterwards.

This will help you identify your triggers better and it will help your doc get an up-to-date picture of what's going on with you.

Good luck!

**Nakamova** · #3 07-28-2010, 02:57 PM

Hi littlegrasshopper, welcome to CWE!

I agree with Phylis above about the seizure diary. You may also want to note potential side effects from the Keppra (if any).

You can search here for information about Simple Partials using the search tab at the top. CWE is a great source for info, feedback, support, and a community that understands exactly what you're going through.

Best,
Nakamova

ddr1166 · #4 07-28-2010, 03:05 PM

Hi littlegrasshopper! Welcome to the site. This site has been SO helpful to us. I agree with all above - keeping the diary really helps figure out triggers. Besides the normal triggers, in our case, we think there were some OTC meds he was taking that interacted weirdly with the Keppra XR (he's on 2000 mg/day). He also had a hard time sleeping with the increased Keppra dosage, so he switched from taking it in the evening to taking it in the morning. That helps the sleeping. Initially, it made him tired, so he was taking it in the evening. Good luck and keep us posted! D in Dallas

littlegrasshopper · #5 07-28-2010, 06:18 PM

Thanks so much for all the information. I've kept a log of them since March 2009.

I was seizure free for months and then they started again.

The only thing I could link them to today- while going through my calendar was SSRIs.

I was previously on Lexapro & Wellbrutrin, when the seizures started. I didn't put two and two together. Then I stopped those meds. No more seizures.

I'm currently on 20mg of Celexa once a day in the morning. And 500mg Keppra XR at 9:30pm. My neurologist told me to take it the same time everyday. And I'm one to follow orders. We did try 4 days of 750mg of Keppra but I felt like I had a hangover and just wanted to sleep.

I'm just wondering if anyone has had issues with SSRIs lowering their seizure threshold?

**PhylisFeinerJohnson** · #6 07-28-2010, 07:02 PM

Wellbutrin is a known danger to incite seizures. I almost died from it...a cascade of seizures, heart stopped, coma, life support, etc. Glad you're off it!!! :-)