Change in cognitive function on Keppra?

[epilepsee]

Hello, I'm new here. I have had juvi myoclonic epilepsy for about 11 years. I have some questions regarding keppra, as I have experienced a 'change' in brain function since I have been on it.

I have been noticing things like increased sensitivity- not when it comes to emotions but the senses themselves. My dopamine levels seem to be fine as I am content, but there is definitely a heightened sense of smell, etc. Has anyone else noticed this on Keppra?

Also, I have power lines by my house and every time there is an electrical surge I notice a very faint ringing in my ears. This is not an auditory hallucination as I measure the radiation and every time it happens it is consistant with a surge. They have been doing testing and it has been going on and off- they run approximately 150k voltz according to an engineer that works for the power company, and these fields travel through most of my home (I have taken measurements). My spouse notices it as well, but only at a higher frequency. Sometimes I see dots that are similar to the light in a tanning bed, but are rare and don't interfere with anything. It is different than the 'floaties' I experienced when I first started Keppra- that was likely due to a vitamin deficiency.

There also seems to be an increase in amygdala function, and my reflexes are perhaps quicker- but not in a way that causes seizures as it would if I were not on meds. I was cooking dinner last night and had to go downstairs for a minute because the scent was really strong. When I think of heightened senses and increased amygdala function, I think of...dogs. Quite frankly, i kind of worries me but so does everything on this med. Moods are fine, but this type of head change seems odd. I also experienced something similar to what I would call an adrenaline rush when I first started taking it.

I don't mind it as it reminds me of how sharp my senses were as a child...but I am curious as to whether or not others are experiencing similar issues? My interests have changed as well...I am much less interested in small talk and more introverted, creative and curious. This is pretty odd for an anti-convulsant, IMO. Keppra intrigues me. Where my myoclonic twitches once were I seem to have absence seizures instead. It seems like it doesn't travel all the way to my 'motor function' or whatever. I am pleased with my seizure control (I am likely only having absenses bc I am sick and haven't slept more than 4 hours in days) I am just wondering...what are people who are on Keppra experiencing?

[Nakamova]

Hi epilepsee

Welcome to CWE! I'll let others chime in with comments about their experiences with Keppra. (I haven't tried it myself). In general, many of the anti-epileptic drugs work by by keeping seizures from spreading beyond a certain point (like dampening a circle around a fire), so perhaps that accounts for how your seizures have changed qualitatively.

Best,
Nakamova

[carolyn]

Hi Epilepsee!

I have been on Keppra for a little bit more than 5 weeks now. I don't think I have noticed any real change in the acuteness of my senses... However, I find that it sort of amplifies whatever is going on. For instance, if I feel sad I get really depressed or when there's a cue to be anxious- it gets pretty intense, not a mild anxiety that I would normally get. And when I am irritated I get mad! And all those emotions are not only intense psychologically but also physiologically. For example, when I get angry I feel this anger as an electricity going through all the muscles in my body.

As for reflexes I haven't seen any difference recently. But in the first or second week I was playing squash and it seemed to do an opposite of speeding them up for me. Most of the time it was all good and then everything started to appear in slow motion suddenly. I could see the ball coming but it seemed like the information going from my supplementary motor area to my primary motor cortex was kind of slowed down. For example, I already knew that I am too slow to adjust the position of the racquet in order to hit the ball the right way and there was no point executing the motor action, but same time my hand was adjusting the position until a few seconds after the ball was behind me. Even though I wanted to inhibit the action, I couldn't do so . But it lasted for a few minutes at a time and then I was good to play again. I haven't been experiencing that recently, though.

As for other cognitive phenomena, I don't think I have noticed anything in particular. Uni starts this week so maybe I will notice something new . I was a curious creature before I started Keppra so it's still the same I would say . And I don't think I have become more creative .

Seizure control is good for me too. I am still getting complex partials but they don't get generalised which was happening 90% of the time last year.

[epilepsee]

Nakamova: Thank you for the warm welcome!

Caroline, I can certainly identify with Keppra 'amplifying' moods, etc. I become a bit more stubborn when I am on it and if I am in a bad mood it lasts longer than otherwise. I have found meditation snaps me right out. Good luck with Keppra!

[carolyn]

Thanks, Epilepsee Good luck to you too!

And I am planning to try meditation to be nicer to other people because those that used to mildy irritate me in the past, now make me so furious I want to (or actually do) punch them .

[epilepsee]

Carolyn, other things that help me when I am irritable (although I don't experience that as much at this dose, I did at higher doses) are exercising, music, books, sunlight, melatonin and vitamin b complex. If you search youtube for guided meditation you can find videos to walk you through it, but I recommend turning your monitor and lights off when it is on- some have flashing images.

[carolyn]

Epilepsee,
I actually do quite a bit of exercise so probably if I didn't do any I would be much more difficult to handle .

I started taking vitamin B6 but I keep wondering what the correct dose should be? My GP told me not to exceed 50mg a day but the tablets my pharmacist gave me are 200mg each... I looked online and most sources say that 50mg is the upper daily limit (some set it even as low as 25 or 10mg a day). So I am a bit confused now. What dose are you taking?

[Nakamova]

The FDA lists its upper limit for adults as 100mg/day.
If there is a deficiency, up to 200mg is acceptable. There haven't been any toxic effects reported at that level or less.

To be on the safe side, start low, as your doc recommends, and see if it helps. It can be better to take small amounts several times a day, rather than one large dose. For some folks, B6 taken in the evening can affect sleep, so you may want to avoid that.

Also -- Ssome researchers suggest that the B vitamins are even more effective when taken as a group, so you might want to consider a B-Complex supplement instead.

[carolyn]

Thanks, Nakamova! The 200mg tablets I have are slow-release ones (8 hours). But I don't really want to take so much if I don't need to. And I have noticed that even without B6 my irritability is a bit better now . But I think I will get a B complex next time.

[epilepsee]

The one I take is a super b complex. I am not sure how much is in there, but there are several vitamins including b6, b12 and niacin, etc. I think the b's are at 1000%. Probably more than I need but keppra filters vitamins out of the kidneys quicker (I think). I don't take it much now at 1000mg, but when I was at 1500mg I noticed a HUGE difference in stress levels when I didn't take it. Good luck!