Keppra and loss of appetite

[difenbaker]

For starters let me apologize if I posted this in the wrong place, length, and if there are copious amounts of grammatical/spelling errors. It's been a rough few days.

Does anyone else seem to have an issue with keppra and loss of appetite/weight? (Yes really im about to complain about weight loss - mainly because it's not in a healthy manner)

I had 4 med changes all on one day (9/19). I got pulled off of topamax and my birth control (which the only break I've had from that since I started it 8 years ago is the last 8 months of my pregnancy). Keppra and metatopralol (topral not extended release) were both added as well. As much as I wasn't happy about all of this changing on one day I do understand why they all needed to be made and asap at that.

I guess what I'm getting at is had anyone else had an issue. I'm never hungry any more. I have to force myself to eat and then I'm horribly nauseated afterwards. I've gone from 171 pounds (on the 19th) and when I weighed myself today 157. I know this isnt healthy I've only lost three pounds in the last 4-5 days just to give an idea of how quick this weight came off. I've been told the weight loss is noticeably by a couple of close friends. Just worries me. Is anyone else having this problem, or could it be one of the other changes? I worry because my junior year of high school I dropped down to 108 from 145 in about 6 weeks and I'm concerned about the drastic weight change again.

Thanks for listening and any advice anyone feels like sharing. This is just to hold me over til the 17th when I go to my family dr.

[Nakamova]

Some folks have reported appetite issues and weight loss on Keppra (I had similar problems with Zonisamide). If Keppra is the culprit, then you have to make a quality-of-life decision about whether it's safe or comfortable to continue on it. Definitely talk to your regular doc about the weight loss (in case there is some other possible cause) and let your neurologist know what's going on too.

[maureen]

I too have lost the desire to eat. I mostly do it because I know I have to. I haven't had as much of a loss in weight - only 10lbs. It seems to have stopped, but like I said I usually have to make myself eat. It helps that I have a husband...if I were alone I probably wouldn't eat and then it would be worse. Good luck to you! Also, try and eat several small meals a day, or be sure to snack - fruit, yogurt,etc that may help slow the weight loss down.

[difenbaker]

I do try to pick when my son has his snacks. I will give him a cookie or 2 and try and eat one myself. I usually wind up giving him half of it. The only reason I know I'm eating at all right now is because we are crashing at my parents house since I'm not driving yet. When we do go home I worry about it. Mainly because I noticed today I was destracted, I was home cleaning while my son was at daycare and didn't eat lunch and breakfast for me is usually a cup of coffee or two. My mom made me eat a leftover piece of pizza after she picked us up.

[wyocop]

I have been on Keppra since April 2009. Started it very slowly over a 4 week time line. Taking 2000mg a day, 1000 in am and 1000 in pm. No weight loss, no appetite loss, for me. I could stand to drop about 20 pounds . Only side affect I had that finley went away was a runny nose. Good news, no serizers for since starting Keppra, and stabelizing red blood count caused by PolycythemiaVera (PV). PV was primary cause of gran mall that put me in the hospital for 2 days.

[Cint]

I've been on Keppra. 3000 mgs. daily, for 10 years now along with a small dose of Topamax and I think the loss of appetite for me is due to the Topamax more so than Keppra. Keppra makes me thirsty and tired. As Maureen suggested, I do eat several small (healthy)snacks throughout the day, otherwise I would be hypoglycemic.

[difenbaker]

Cint - I was on topamax for 8 weeks for migraine prevention. 25mg per day made me drop 12 pounds in that time frame. But then I ate like a horse... I was always hungry. Just made me think hmmm... maybe its the meds in general until some little light went on and I've been on klonopin for anxiety (up to 3 mg per day) and lamictal for mood stabilization (2xs never either time made it out of the starter pack... I got a rash. Went on it about 6 years apart)

[Mnm8405]

Someone asked my question I havent noticed any actual weight loss just yet, but I'm basically reminding myself to eat at this point.. because I never get hungry anymore! Has anyone experianced a metal taste in their mouth with Keppra? Im always so thirsty lately and it tastes like I'm sucking on a quarter.