3,000 milligrams of Keppra too much?

[Parker26]

I started having seizures at 16 and took tegretol. After a few years the dr. took me off all seizure meds completely. Well i was off them for about 6 years. Started getting little twitches and muscle spasms. The dr put me on Keppra and I have a seizure 1-2 times a year. Everytime they just raise the dosage. I am currently taking 3,000 mgs a day. I believe I had 2 seizures in my sleep during the past 3 months. Just tired of it and what the medicine does to me. Are they just going to keep rasing the dosage or when does it get to be too much?

 

[Meetz1064]

Personally, I

think you're on too much. Ask for med levels (kidney/livel levels to make sure that your organs aren't being affected.)

Have you considered one of the diets? Perhaps something as simple as changing your diet will help you.........

Take care.

Meetz
:rock:

 

[dfwtexas]

Back in May I had a seizure during the day but also a bad episode that was a noctural seizure. The neuro upped me to 1000 2x a day. He did say he didn't like me to be on too much. I am schedule to go back in Dec. He said if I don't have a seizure during this time, he will check my level and go back to 750 2x day. He admits he is on the conservated side about meds. I would suggest a check of your levels and dicuss with your doc if another med at a lower level would be more effective.

 

[Parker26]

think you're on too much. Ask for med levels (kidney/livel levels to make sure that your organs aren't being affected.)

Have you considered one of the diets? Perhaps something as simple as changing your diet will help you.........

Take care.

Meetz
:rock:

I'm not aware of any diets. Do you have a link with further information?

 

[Crystal11]

I am currently taking 3000mg of Keppra XR and 600mg of Tegretol XR. Your about to the max on Keppra but I think it can be raised a tab more like 500mg I think. Normally if that doesn't stop your seizures and the doctor is looking into you being totally seizure free, then they might add a medications. It seems that your doctor is looking into you being totally seizure free since you were for a little while after getting off of meds.
I have seizures a lot more frequently and it was untreated for a majority of my life which is not good. Means that it will be much harder to get seizure control and probably will never be seizure free- I don't know what thats like anyways so it would be odd for me.
Anyways- the doctor might increase it a little but 3000mg Keppra is the highest that is suggested for most.
If Keppra is making you feel bad, then talk to neuro about it and see if there is anything else that can work just as good as Keppra but without the side effects of it.

Take care,
Crystal

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Parker --

There are a few different diets that folks on this site have had success with in reducing or controlling seizures. You can get general information at the link below. The diets include the ketogenic diet (used mostly for kids), as well as the MAD (Modified Atkins Diet), Mediterranean Diet, Low Glycemic Index diet, and others that restrict exposure to MSG, aspartame, gluten etc.

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/index.php?p=alternative-treatments

 

[Parker26]

I had an appointment today and asked the dr about diets that would help me control or eliminate seizures. She told me diets don't work for adults. I also asked her about adding tegretol or another medicine and she doesn't like them. Just said they were old and the new medicine is alot better. She recommended Zonegran to go along with the keppra I am taking.

 

[epileric]

I also asked her about adding tegretol or another medicine and she doesn't like them. Just said they were old and the new medicine is alot better. She recommended Zonegran to go along with the keppra I am taking.

I would have asked why the new ones are so much better or why the old ones are worse, after all everyone is different & reacts differently to different meds.

 

[Parker26]

I asked her twice but she avoided the question. Just kept saying they were old and she doesn't like to prescribe them. I was the last patient before lunch break so that could of been it.

 

[epileric]

I"ve had numerous neurologists avoid answers the way yours did. After it being done so much I get very suspicious when they avoid my questions.

This is something that I'm putting in my body that can effect me mentally, physically & emotionally. I'm going to want to know all I can about it.

 

[Cint]

I asked her twice but she avoided the question. Just kept saying they were old and she doesn't like to prescribe them. I was the last patient before lunch break so that could of been it.

Since she avoided the question and doesn't want to prescribe some meds, maybe it's time for another dr. onder:

 

[epileric]

Since she avoided the question and doesn't want to prescribe some meds, maybe it's time for another dr. onder:

:agree: I'll give a doc a 2nd chance to answer my question(s) in case they were just in a rush but anyone that has avoided my questions I leave for someone who won't.

 

[knothing]

On the avoiding the question I would go again and tell them if you can't answer my question that only tells me you don't know or don't think it matters. And let them know you will be looking for someone else who cares enough to be able to answer. Be honest and take charge of your visit.
My answer I got on diets was something that some people on this site would be upset about. He said in general diets do not work and he has had quite a few that tried them. He stated that when adults move into alternatives like diets that they are trying to gain control. They come in and want complete control and they cannot stand the idea after a seizure of a Dr. having the control.He said the only thing I can control are the questions I ask (and who I ask) but I cannot control his answers. Eventually you have to decide who you are going to listen to.

 

[Nakamova]

Parker --
Your doc is right about the use of diet for adults in the sense that there aren't large published studies that can confirm their efficacy -- there are too many factors that make this kind of study difficult to do. However, diets have made a difference for some people on this site, and can potentially help with lowering the dose of a med, even if you don't go med-free altogether. Your doc may not be open to or comfortable with discussing the role of diet in epilepsy, so if you do become interested in that option, you would need to find a different doctor.

As for the newer meds, many of them are considered safer or better in different ways, but they ALL come with side effects, and the long-term side effects are unknown. The older meds do work for a lot of people. It's difficult to predict which will be the one that works for you, old or new, especially in combination with other meds. My personal experience with Zonegran was not a good one; if you try it you may have a different (better or worse) experience. Unfortunately, there's no way to know for sure.

Best,
Nakamova