RachelGreene
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Hi all!
I was diagnosed with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy when I was 13. I was put on depakote and responded greatly to the drug. I didn't suffer through the dreaded weight gain and was 100% seizure free. No breakthroughs, no side effects, it was great.
Well the past 3 or so years, my doctor has tried to convince me to switch to alternate meds because I am female and Depakote is awful for pregnancy. I am by no means trying to get pregnant, but they do not want to take that risk.
I agreed to transition after I graduated college, even though I was absolutely terrified to switch meds. My mother and doctor decided on Lamictal and my body responded terribly. I had break through jerks and twitches pretty much daily, blurry vision, slurred speach luckily I was still living at home because my mom ended up driving me to work for about a month or two.
I told my doctor, I would try one more drug, and if that did not work we were going back to depakote. I started on Keppra and had lamictal completely out of me about 15 months ago. (I am 24 now)
I have responded well to Keppra, no jerks or twitches and completely seizure free since I have been on it. The downside though, is the irritability and mood swings. I am a relatively easy going person, but the irritability side effect causes me to get angry over some of the simplest things.
I take a vitamin b6 daily (although my doctor never recommended a milligram amount, so I don't know if I am taking too much/too little), and I am trying to work this issue out naturally by running daily and getting back into yoga.
My main issue, is my doc responded greatly to me throughout all the med changes depakote to lamictal to keppra. He was always on call for me when I was having seizure episodes and told me what to do/whether to come into the office. I called him about this side effect from Keppra and left a message with his office.
At this point, it have been 3 weeks since my initial message, and I have only heard from his office manager. Apparently he phoned in a scrip for Lexapro to help stabilize my mood. I asked for him or a nurse to call me back and explain Lexapro more/what side effects I may receive from that drug/etc and no one will contact me. (let me stress that I adore my doctor, the reason why I chose him was because I have been to the doctors that you sit in the waiting room for 45 min and see him for 5 min. This doctor seemed different especially through my med changes, but now i would just appreciate him or someone at his office to explain the side effects I could experience with another drug)
I was wondering if anyone else experiences the irritability from Keppra and what they do to handle that issue. I would love to do this naturally and not have to take an additional drug.
I was diagnosed with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy when I was 13. I was put on depakote and responded greatly to the drug. I didn't suffer through the dreaded weight gain and was 100% seizure free. No breakthroughs, no side effects, it was great.
Well the past 3 or so years, my doctor has tried to convince me to switch to alternate meds because I am female and Depakote is awful for pregnancy. I am by no means trying to get pregnant, but they do not want to take that risk.
I agreed to transition after I graduated college, even though I was absolutely terrified to switch meds. My mother and doctor decided on Lamictal and my body responded terribly. I had break through jerks and twitches pretty much daily, blurry vision, slurred speach luckily I was still living at home because my mom ended up driving me to work for about a month or two.
I told my doctor, I would try one more drug, and if that did not work we were going back to depakote. I started on Keppra and had lamictal completely out of me about 15 months ago. (I am 24 now)
I have responded well to Keppra, no jerks or twitches and completely seizure free since I have been on it. The downside though, is the irritability and mood swings. I am a relatively easy going person, but the irritability side effect causes me to get angry over some of the simplest things.
I take a vitamin b6 daily (although my doctor never recommended a milligram amount, so I don't know if I am taking too much/too little), and I am trying to work this issue out naturally by running daily and getting back into yoga.
My main issue, is my doc responded greatly to me throughout all the med changes depakote to lamictal to keppra. He was always on call for me when I was having seizure episodes and told me what to do/whether to come into the office. I called him about this side effect from Keppra and left a message with his office.
At this point, it have been 3 weeks since my initial message, and I have only heard from his office manager. Apparently he phoned in a scrip for Lexapro to help stabilize my mood. I asked for him or a nurse to call me back and explain Lexapro more/what side effects I may receive from that drug/etc and no one will contact me. (let me stress that I adore my doctor, the reason why I chose him was because I have been to the doctors that you sit in the waiting room for 45 min and see him for 5 min. This doctor seemed different especially through my med changes, but now i would just appreciate him or someone at his office to explain the side effects I could experience with another drug)
I was wondering if anyone else experiences the irritability from Keppra and what they do to handle that issue. I would love to do this naturally and not have to take an additional drug.