Keppra users: do different dosages cause different side effects?

[Parker26]

I take 1500mgs in the morning and 1500 at night. I never experienced nightmares. The medicine just makes me really really drowsy,hard to focus, motor skills are slower, and more irratable. Yes, i did notice as i increased the mgs the side effects would increase. I felt the side effects within a few days to a week usually. I have been taking Keppra for 5 years now and still feel the effects.

[Wally]

I started on the regular Keppra and had a rough time with the side effects but finally adjusted, sort of. When they started offering the generic version it was like starting over with every refill. Quite frustrating. I discussed it with my Neurologist and he told me that once it can be sold generic that some of the ingredients can vary. He switched me over to Keppra XR, which is not available generic yet. That made all the difference for me. I finally had at least one variable under control. I then found that if I stayed well rested, hydrated, and reduced stress factors in my life, I was able to minimize side effects. I also take some carefully selected vitamins. I still have problems with memory, and fatigue, but it is not as bad as it was.

[joan]

When my daughter was on 1200 keppra daily, she had hallucinations. She is now on 500 keppra daily and the only side effect I see, if it is the Keppra, is she cant sleep. Seems she sleeps 3 - 4 hrs at a time, at best.

I wish you well,
joan*

[tripletdad]

I've found that sticking to an exact routine, 1000mg of Keppra at 9am and then again at 9pm has helped immensely. My neurologist says that keeping the level of keppra in the blood consistent was very important and it makes the drug much easier to manage.

[hadley.laura]

Hi BarryIreland - thanks for your post. In my (very limited) knowledge about Keppra, I think the idea prevailing neurologist's offices is that across the board it has less side effects than some of the others - especially the older ones. Plus, it's processed through the kidneys (although I'm not sure that's much better than the liver, frankly, except you have two of them), and it doesn't "seem" to interact with other meds as much...in theory. I'm learning after reading this site for a few weeks now that many are able to control seizures in more natural ways - yet, in some cases, the meds still have to be taken. Good luck in your case - this is a great site and keep us posted. Cheers, D in Dallas

Hi I was looking up side affects from Kepra and read your reply and noticed you said there were natural ways to help with seisures, what were they?


Thanks Hadley

[epileric]

Hi I was looking up side affects from Kepra and read your reply and noticed you said there were natural ways to help with seisures, what were they?

I can't speak for ddr1166 and say what they were referring to, but this list might help you out a bit. The neurofeedback has gotten some good reviews on this site.

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/...ive-treatments

[Blue Cat]

OK, it's not just me. Every; since they added this to my regiment (2000/day plus 750 Lamotrigine), I've had very vivid and weird dreams. And I remember them, which not that usual for me. Not nightmares so much (at least not all), but certainly weird....

[momof3boys]

I take 3000mgs a day of Keppra XR. (1500mgs in the morning, and 1500mgs at night). Ive noticed that I am sleepy during the day, but at night time, I find that Im not as tired before going to bed as I am in the middle of the day.

[Eve]

I take 1500 of Keppra. At first the side effects were will bad So I had to take Zoloft to get over the nasty moods. Now I am taking B complex vitamin and that seems to help. So far it has stopped the simple partial nocturnal seizures but I still have trouble sleeping with the leg cramps I am getting, not sure if it is a side effect of the Keppra or what. I am taking Magnesium too. I just don't know what else to do.

I also have started having some weird dreams too , they often seem so real. The dreams are definitely different then when I was taking Cabatrol. When I was taking Cabatrol I didnt have much in the way of dreams. If I sleep more than 6 hours I start to have the dreams.

I get really tired about 3:00 everyday and I have to have a cup of English Breakfast tea with Lemon and Honey to get by for the rest of the day and to make it through dinner preparations.

I just wish I didnt even have to take this medicine at all but the Dr says there no chance going off my medicine. I really hate taking pills.