Best diet for weight loss and energy for keppra?

[notime]

Hey,

I am newly diagnosed with epilepsy and I've been taking a generic version of keppra xr (levetiracetam er) I started off taking 1 500mg twice daily then a week later. I took it two 500mg twice daily one in the morning 6am and one around 6pm. I am suffering from only a couple side effects. One of them is being extremely tired despite how much sleep I get. I drink a lot of caffeine and that helps A LOT to keep me awake and alert throughout the day. Other is having difficulty thinking a little bit. Will it be like this until I am taken off? Or will it just take time for my body to adjust? Also I am looking at going on a diet, I weigh 275lbs and want to lose weight that would probably help a lot.

What diet would be useful for energy and to help burn off weight? I also suffer from hypothyroidism (wasn't taking my medication properly, but I started recently again) and that's helping a little bit but my tsh says it is normal it was like 1.6 or something.

Thank you.

 

[jenbayly17]

I had weight gain with previous meds for epilepsy. I just started generic keppra myself in the last two months and have been a lot hungrier. I lost weight while on tegretol xr and gabapentin by going through weight watchers and exercising after adjusting to this med in the last few months I am starting back with my regular exercise. I had lost 120 pounds and now still have to work to keep it off. Weight watchers let me be able to live and still enjoy different foods I liked but the exercise is what helps me with the energy. Good luck. Let me know if I can be of any help for you if you have other more specific questions. :hugs:

 

[Nakamova]

For getting more energy and reducing fatigue, regular exercise can do the trick -- even better than caffeine! It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just walking for 45 minutes every day can help. For weight loss, try increasing your muscle mass, since muscle burns more calories than fat. If you belong to a gym, the trainers there can get you started on safe ways to train with weights.

I've had success over the last few months with the "5/2" diet. For two days a week you consume less than 500 calories a day (600 if you're male). The other days of the week you can basically eat whatever you want, though you shouldn't go completely overboard. Since April, I've lost 15 pounds. The diet isn't easy, but it's not as hard as some others since most of the time you can eat normally and don't have to count calories. You can also skip the diet days some weeks if you need a break, and then pick up again when you feel ready. My weight has come off steadily and slowly (about 2 pounds a week), and it seems to be staying off.

Good luck! I hope you find a routine that works well for you.

 

[Walbro]

Funnily enough I was thinking about 5:2 diet though not to lose weight, more for the other benefits such as cell renewal and allowing your body to heal. I'm new to Keppra but my appetite has nosedived. From others here though it sounds like it may improve again. Myfitnesspal is a great app for support, diet, motivation etc. Even 20 mins walking every day can help if you are limited on what exercise you can do.

 

[valeriedl]

Caffeine can cause people to have seizures. I can drink a little, maybe a cup of coffee or a can of soda, but if I do much more than that I'm almost guaranteed to have a seizure.

To loose weight I started walking a mile a day. I also started watching what I eat. Stayed away from sweets (candy, ice cream and that sorts) and pasta were the main ones. I started eating better foods and didn't put a huge second helping on my plate.

It took me about 6 months but I lost about 30lbs.

 

[masterjen]

I'm on two medications known to cause weight gain supposedly due to increased appetite, but I have been careful to make sure I am eating no more than I used to before starting the medications but have found that I have to eat less and get more exercise to prevent weight gain. This to me would suggest that one or both of the medications are affecting metabolism somehow. My diet has always been very healthy so it is not sweets or processed foods that are playing a role.