Leaving Keppra = Starting Lamictal

[alivenwell]

I have had excellent results with Lamictal. I'm taking 400mg daily. I've never been on Keppra. Mysoline is my other medication.

[BuckeyeFan]

pdubau Thanks for sharing. I will pray all goes well. I have just weened off depakote to keppra. I take 1000 of keppra, is that much? I also am taking 250 of lamictal a day. So far so good.

1000 mg of keppra is on the lower end. I was on 2000 mg for 5 years with good success until the last year when the side effects got worse. Am down to 250 mg this week and off next. Some members here are as high as 3000-4000 mg which are very high doses. Hope all works out well for you. I never had a tonic-clonic seizure the entire time I was on keppra

[pdubau]

Thanks , nice to hear from you. what were the side effects of the keppra for you?
I would really appreciate to know. hope to talk soon.

[seizures4ever]

Alright Buckeye!

Finally off the dang Keppra next week! I'm still at 4000mg., but "I have a dream" of being Keppra free. Good for you! Hope the Lamictal works well for you. I didn't really have any major problems with Lamictal. Wish you the same.

-Julie

[BuckeyeFan]

Thanks , nice to hear from you. what were the side effects of the keppra for you?
I would really appreciate to know. hope to talk soon.

For most of the 5+ years I was on Keppra, my only major issue was emotions, especially anger/frustration. This is very common with K and is nicknamed Kep-rage. My solution for it was to channel my emotions or temper towards inanimate objects. I would get mad at politicians or sports or just during hard exercise and this generally worked well. Make sure you never let any anger out on family, friends, or co-workers. Go dig in a garden, run a mile, or do anything to remove yourself from the situation.

My reasons for getting off Keppra were cognitive. I became unable to focus at work, memory was getting worse, and making a simple decision became a overwelming task. My neurologist felt that my Keppra had just ran its course and now I am on the Lamictal along with Dilantin.

Give Keppra a chance. It gave me 5 years without a tonic-clonic seizure. That was the longest streak I ever had.

[HELP4U]

I started on Lamictal (100mg, 3X per day, about 6 years ago after unsuccessful trioes wit

[joan]

My daughter started lamictal oct 2008. She was supposed to take 75 x 2. When we got to 150mg a day, she had her first grand mal. We never thought lamictal worked well for her but wanted to give it time to do its job. She had an allergic reaction to it the week of jan 23rd and was hospitalized for a few days while they weaned her off lamictal onto 1000 keppra. She is still on 25 lamictal for the rest of the week. Im petrified of keppra but am told it is our only hope with myoclonics. ughhhhh.. We are also pulling my daughter out of school, to have her home instructed for a few weeks, till she adjusts. Its been a rough few weeks. They hope to get her off of the lamictal and to lower the dosage of keppra. We shall see*

My son started lamictal 1/2006. We have always been happy with it. It seems to do an excellent job with his grand mals. BUT what we are finding is damage to his cognitive memory, sleep issues and eating issues. We cant be sure if its the meds, the E or just another uncovered issue. His IQ is 123. We are in the hospital with my son tomorrow for a few days to try and figure out if its the meds, and if it is, wean him to something else. Im kinda scared to change him to any new med as his grand mals long ones and Id like him to not have anymore lol

What I am trying to do, is to be aware of the side effects BUT to judge the meds by how they do with my kids and not what I hear.

I wish you well
joan*

[BuckeyeFan]

Joan, that is a great example of how meds work differently for everyone. Plus, the effectiveness can change over time. What works so well for your son didn't work for your daughter.

I wouldn't worry too much about that low of a dose of keppra. That is half of what I used to take and only a fourth of what Julie takes. She should do fine. My worst problems took five years to develop.

Best wishes to your kids.

[BuckeyeFan]

I am now off my Keppra completely with no problems at all. Feeling much better so far on the lamictal.

[joan]

Congrats *** I am so glad you are feeling better. Like a whole new world. They say IF you can tolerate lamictal it really a great drug. Im so glad its working for you.

The Keppra is working great on the myoclonics but its kicking her butt. She is home instructed the next few weeks, to give her time to adjust. She seems to wake later and groggy and then about 9pm? Kick into high speed and overdrive lol We are trying to be consistent and have her take her meds by 7pm sooo... hopefully.. that "high" feeling slows down so she can sleep. She also mentioned crazy dreams and one other experience that kinda freaked me out. We talked about it and IF it happens again we will call the Dr. As of right now they see the Dr feb 25th. HE did say he may try to lower it alittle to help with the butt kicking* Im not so sure she will be able to stay on keppra, but we shall see.

Enjoy your weekend
joan*

[brain]

I am now off my Keppra completely with no problems at all. Feeling much better so far on the lamictal.

YeeHaw! Another Lammy Fan on the board!
It sure works baby, huh?

[seizures4ever]

Congrats Buckeye...no more Keppra!

Glad to hear that Lamictal is doing well for you!

Wishing you the best.

-Julie