Can Kepprage get worse over time

[valeriedl]

I've been on Keppra, the generic version Levetiracetam, for probably over 8 years. I always had anger issues with it but it seems that they've gotten worse.

If I was angry about something it might not be too bad I could usually keep it in and yell someone else, like my husband, about it later. Over time it seems like the words would just start coming right out of my mouth though. Sometimes I can still hold it in and let it out later but it just builds up and builds up quickly to the point that I can't.

I've had problems being around children since I've been on it. I'm ok around babies but it's when they get to the walking and talking age is when I start to not be able to handle them. I think it's because children run around like crazy doing all sorts of things, basically just being children. Now it seems like when I see a kid my body usually tenses up. Even if they're being good like sitting there quietly playing with a toy.

I can get angry about the stupidest things too, things that make no sense getting angry about.

Has anyone else had problems like this with Keppra?

 

[Porkette]

Hi valeried,

The longer I was on Keppra the worse I got with my temper and I'm around a lot of jr. high school kids 5 days a week and just like you mentioned I couldn't stand it anymore and I finally told my Epileptologist about it and he took me off the drug and put me on vimpat and cbd instead and life and my seizures are much better. Wishing you only the best and May God Bless You!

Sue

 

[valeriedl]

Hi valeried,

The longer I was on Keppra the worse I got with my temper and I'm around a lot of jr. high school kids 5 days a week and just like you mentioned I couldn't stand it anymore and I finally told my Epileptologist about it and he took me off the drug and put me on vimpat and cbd instead and life and my seizures are much better. Wishing you only the best and May God Bless You!

Sue

School age kids are the worst for me. I'd never be able to work in a school, I'd be fired on the first day!

I was reading over the side effects of Keppra and I've got probably more than half of them. Most just showing up or have gotten worse over the last few years.

I was looking through my neuro visit notes and seizure diary and I saw that I've been on it for 10 years, probably even longer though because 10 years ago was when I started keeping a very detailed seizure diary. I saw it's one of my meds that has always been increased through the years too. I started out on 100mg twice a day and I'm up to 1500mg twice a day now. I'm going to talk to my neuro about having it reduced or even getting off of it. If things keep getting worse I'm not going to be able to handle it at all.

Thanks Sue.

 

[Nakamova]

Valerie, do you take B6 supplement? Sometimes that can help with Keppra's mood-related side effects.

 

[valeriedl]

Valerie, do you take B6 supplement? Sometimes that can help with Keppra's mood-related side effects.

I tried once a while back and started having more seizures.

 

[Nakamova]

Oh well. Hopefully reducing the dose will help.

 

[Nakamova]

Two other things I've come across -- anecdotally -- that might help:

1. Splitting your daily dose into three doses rather than two. I think because Keppra has a relatively brief half-life, this keeps the levels more stable throughout the day, which can help to minimize side effects.

2. Vigorous exercise

 

[Janus]

Yes. The same for me with the symptoms getting worse over the years. We (wife, doc, and I) considered stopping it as I also take lamotrigine and depakote. I would love to leave I it but I've been doing so well. DAMN. Side effects or seizures? I do side effects but complain anyway. I am complex partials only and the cut way back to. I suspect it is related to. Cannabis. Whatever the case I don't want to change anything for now. Thank you all for sharing

 

[valeriedl]

I sent my neuro a message last night and got a reply back from the dr who's covering for him because he's out of the office this week. He told me about the B6 but suggested that I talk to my neuro, not him, about making any changes to my meds.

I let him know about the B6 causing me to have seizures and I told him that I'd wait to talk to my neuro about doing things. Hopefully I'll hear from him early next week, he's usually good at replying quickly.

Yes. The same for me with the symptoms getting worse over the years. We (wife, doc, and I) considered stopping it as I also take lamotrigine and depakote. I would love to leave I it but I've been doing so well. DAMN. Side effects or seizures? I do side effects but complain anyway. I am complex partials only and the cut way back to. I suspect it is related to. Cannabis. Whatever the case I don't want to change anything for now. Thank you all for sharing

I take Depakote, Tegretol and Lamictal along with it plus I have a VNS. I really hate to changing things because you never know if it could be for the better or worse. I have on average 5 seizures a month now, partials and tonic clonics, and it's been that way for about 4 years. If he took me off of it I don't know if he'd want to try another drug or not? I'm at the point now though that I think I'd rather deal with seizures than side effects of the keppra.

 

[valeriedl]

I just took a look at my blood test results from June, the most recent ones done, and if I'm understanding them right my Keppra levels are high. So I don't know if this will help my neuro figure out what might be a good thing to do or not. Hopefully it will.

 

[Porkette]

Hi valeried,

I don't know if you would be interested but you may want to try cbd (medical marijuana)
as I've mentioned before it has done wonders for me and my seizures have been cut in half and all I do is squirt 2 squirts of a mint flavor cbd oil in my mouth twice a day. If you are interested check out healthyhempoil.com
Wishing you only the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue