ARRRGG! Keppra Rage

[sjconner]

I started Keppra recently. Because I was so exhausted, I had my dose reduced to 250mg 2/day. Today, I had to call the neuro. His associate (mine was sick) took me off Keppra.

Tuesday I spent more than 30 minutes crying on one of the placement counselor's couches. She locked out all our students and let me go at it. Today, with one of my classes, I was pulling my hair out. Normally I have tons and tons of patience. And then after classes, one of my co-workers cornered me about the new labor contract I just negotiated. He got a $2/hour raise out of it. I just about lost it with him. I was at the really loud ready to scream at him stage. I almost grabbed him by the front of his shirt. Needless to say, I immediately left the building and caught the first ride home that I could find! My boss is probably pissed. She looked at me like I had grown horns when I was yelling at my co-worker.

No more Keppra for me. Kinda sucks ... my daily multiple simple partials had pretty much disappeared.

 

[Stinkpot]

It seems we're the oposite on the affects of this stupid overpriced drug. I was put on Keppra for simple partials as well. At least they have control of your simples - it doesn't do squat for me. It's pretty much like taking a sugar pill. However I guess this pill has helped me, but also developed problems. Since taking that pill, I've noticed a decrease in aggression, controlls suicidal actions of harming myself, regadless of how depressed I am. Problems with this drug, I noticed I started ignoring things, not giving a shit, lack of paying attention, and constant spelling errors.

 

[valeriedl]

OOOHHHH I wish keppra had the same effect on me as it does for you Stinkpot! I would pay for it too!

I have serious keprage. I go off on people so easy. I'll start yelling at people in grocery stores, restaurants and about any other place you can name. I was on the pone with customer support for something one time and ended up in a swearing fight with the man I was talking to. My husband grabbed the phone off of me when he heard what was going on and hung it up.

I do it at family get togethers and I hate it when I do it there but I just can't help myself! I'm yelling before I even know I'm doing it.

My grandfather had a birthday party a few days ago. I was ready to start yelling at my aunt and uncle because my cousin (who is in his forty's, still lives at home and has never had a job) wasn't there. Managed to hold it in though. They only live about half a mile away to boot! The only time he shows up at things is when he's going to get something, like Christmas.

My aunt said he was working, guess he did have a job. I asked what he was doing and she told me that he works from home on his computer. Guess he couldn't get the time off to come over for half an hour to say happy birthday to my 83 year old grandfather who I know isn't going to be around too much longer!

I did almost punch a wall while I was there but I went and started scrubbing their kitchen instead. My grandparents got mad at me for doing that instead of sitting down and talking but I told her that I was too angry too. She laughed at me and said she was going to get me angry more often because her whole house needs cleaned! lol

I have a VERY hard time being around kids, and I used to love them. I find myself constantly yelling at them wither I know them or not.

One of my best friends was over one time with her 3 year old daughter. She was siting at my coffee table coloring on a piece of paper. Next time I look down she's coloring on my $20 coffee table. I started SCREAMING at her. The poor girl started crying like crazy. I got stuff and stated scrubbing crayon off the table, still yelling at the kid. My friend kept telling me that she'd get me a new coffee table but all I was worried about was getting this one cleaned.

I still apologize every time I see her, and it happened about 3 years ago, because I feel so bad but I just couldn't hold it in!

My neuro wants to try to get me off Keppra because of the effects it has on me, but he's not sure what to put me on because it works pretty good. Good luck sjconner I hope everything works out good!

 

[sjconner]

I teach at a quasi-military residential school for 16-19 year olds. While working there I CANNOT lose my cool. These kids come from all over the state and have a huge set of issues. I am working on a masters degree focusing on emotional disturbance to help with my job.

 

[valeriedl]

I teach at a quasi-military residential school for 16-19 year olds. While working there I CANNOT lose my cool. These kids come from all over the state and have a huge set of issues. I am working on a masters degree focusing on emotional disturbance to help with my job.

I could never be able to do that. I'd be fired within an hour! :evil:

 

[Katie]

I have serious Kepprage but I take Citalopram as well. The Citalopram made the Kepprage disappear.

Since Keppra is the only med that's worked for me, I'm eternally grateful to low-dose Citalopram!

Something to think about. It seems counter-intuitive because anti-depressants lower seizure thresholds... But the combo has worked really, really well for me.

 

[Janus]

Valeridedl, I have had both rage and signs of apathy (which i can not stand.) I have been noticing more forgetfulness and less creativity (which KILLS me as an artist) and the worst of it is i am really in love and my libido went away!! I hate hate hate Keppra! I thought i would try something else but i am scared. I am alone here now. My lover can't move here until the Fall. What should i do?

 

[Evamarie91]

Do any of you all know anything about itching and Keppra? I just started taking it, and I was fine up until last night. About two hours after my fourth dose I started itching and my arms and legs are pretty much burning at this point, but there is no rash. My face and neck feel itchy too. I don't like it and it's making me wonder if I just want to quit this and go back to not being on meds. I'm not a fan of these.

 

[Katie]

Do any of you all know anything about itching and Keppra? I just started taking it, and I was fine up until last night. About two hours after my fourth dose I started itching and my arms and legs are pretty much burning at this point, but there is no rash. My face and neck feel itchy too. I don't like it and it's making me wonder if I just want to quit this and go back to not being on meds. I'm not a fan of these.

This could still be an allergic reaction (I'm allergic to dairy and get itchy with no rash). I'd say to call your doc.

 

[Evamarie91]

My doc isn't in on Saturdays. I'm only taking it at 250 mg once per day. Could it really hurt if I just stop taking it and call him on Monday? I'm not really sure that I can be much more weaned off it.

 

[Katie]

Can you try calling an urgent care or pharmacist?

 

[Evamarie91]

I called my pharmacist and she basically told me that itching is a side effect and to take benedryl. I'm not entirely sure I trust that though- have read too many horror stories.

 

[valeriedl]

Valeridedl, I have had both rage and signs of apathy (which i can not stand.) I have been noticing more forgetfulness and less creativity (which KILLS me as an artist) and the worst of it is i am really in love and my libido went away!! I hate hate hate Keppra! I thought i would try something else but i am scared. I am alone here now. My lover can't move here until the Fall. What should i do?

If the side effects are too much for you to handle I'd defiantly talk about changing it. I don't know if it's a good idea about just stop taking it cold turkey. I don't know if it's something that you need to wean yourself off of?

The only real side effect I have is the rage and I've talked my neuro about changing it. He said that Keppra works pretty good for me and he really doesn't want to switch it to something else. So he asked if I can deal with being angry then he'd like me to stay on it. He did say that he'd try to find something that he thinks might work for me but so far no good.

My memory is horrible. I don't know if that is epilepsy, medicine or both related. I write a ton of notes to myself and I've got them all over. I keep note books around so I'll have something to write on when I think of something. I've got a small date book in my purse to keep my life in line. What sort of art do you do? Depending on what it is someone might be able to give you some ideas on how to help with it.

I always say "Laugh don't cry, it feels better!"

I love to make jokes of things. If you start to get upset about something then think of something good about it instead. One of my best friends died when I was in high school. Just about every time I think about her I want to bawl and cry (don't know if this is med/epilepsy related or not). If I do start to cry I just think about some of the fun things that we did, that puts a smile on my face.

It's so nice to make other people laugh too. I try to do that as often as I can.

I have a very good relationship with my grandma. I can talk to her about anything. Never in a million years would I think I'd be telling my grandma that I do now! Do you have a family member or friend that you can talk to about how you are feeling about things? If not maybe see some sort of therapist?

Do you have any pets? Their nice to have around, it's like another person in the house a lot of the time. I can carry on a conversation with one of my cats. I say something to her and she answers me. I haven't learned to speak 'cat' yet so I don't know if she's talking nice to me or not? (hope you laughed at that)

My libido is still good. None of the meds that I've been on have had any effect on it. I'm sorry that you have. Others might be able to give you advice on this one.

How often do you talk to/see your lover? Try to do both as often as you can. It could help very much with how you feel.

 

[QueenieKP]

I am quite good natured. Keppra turned me into horrible rage monster from hell. I was either throwing stationary items (abusing stapplers is never, ever good) or locked in the toilets crying.

At the time I was also working for a bunch of twunts. So it's always been hard to say how much was the meds and how much was the company? I just knew that when I was sat on a bus fantasising about putting my hands through the window just so i didn't have to go into the office that both the job and the Keppra had to go.

 

[QueenieKP]

Eva;

How are you with antihistamine? I have always been advised not to use over the counter antihistamines because they have the potential to lower seizure threshold. Whenever trying to purchase any OTC and saying I have epilepsy they usually bounce back to gp.

Q

 

[Evamarie91]

Eva;

How are you with antihistamine? I have always been advised not to use over the counter antihistamines because they have the potential to lower seizure threshold. Whenever trying to purchase any OTC and saying I have epilepsy they usually bounce back to gp.

Q

I have never noticed a problem with antihistamines. I have always taken Benedryl to knock me out for the rare occasions that I can't sleep (you better believe I used it when I visited New York- that place is loud! ). I'm allergic to cats and so any time I visit friends who have them I have to take some OTC Claratin and I don't notice any major problems with my seizures. My biggest triggers seem to be exercise and talking due to the loss of breath. In fact, when I got my eeg about a month ago they triggered my seizures by having me hyperventilate. The light test really didn't do anything to me. I thought that to be odd.

 

[QueenieKP]

How long had you been taking Keppra before the itching started?

Q

 

[yenoom124]

keppra just tires me out

I have been taking keppra for 3 years now I'm at 2000mg twice a day all it does is wear me out and in the morning I fill so hungover that I dread going to sleep. I'm having these partial seizures all the time they're driving me insane and the drugs a're not even controlling them. It's these partial seizures that are stopping me get back to driving.