My husband has been taking keppra for 9 days, 1000x2. Before he started taking it he was what I'll affectionately call hot tempered, easily worked up but would get over it and we'd move on. He'd not been on medication, begun having seizures again, and the neuro called in the keppra for him. During all of this, my husband has been out of town. Monday, his first day taking it, he seemed ok, a little detached, but ok, it's all been downhill since. Tuesday he felt totally detached from me and our kids, Wednesday he was saying things like, "nothing matters, I'm going to die anyway, might as well enjoy myself". Thursday morning I woke to text msgs telling me crazy nonsensical things. It wasnt until Friday that I had the sense to investigate the keppra. By Saturday he decided to half his dose and call his gp monday, and believe I made a call myself. They wanted him to wean himself off by half for 5 days while introducing zonegran at the same time. He won't come home, he thinks I'm trying to control him. When I try to explain to him how different he's acting compared to just days ago before taking it, he tells me all I ever do is try to blame him and nothing is my fault. He was going to quarter his dose today and tomorrow, and then be done with it. I love this man, and we do fight sometimes, but this is like 9 days of a roller coaster ride. I keep telling myself to just wait it out until the keppra is out of his system, but it's getting so hard. Everything is directed at me in either a personal venomous way or completely detached. Has anyone had anything similar at all? Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
Could it be as simple as the keppra?
- Thread starter nikanders
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jackier
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Yes, it could be the Keppra & probably is. Keppra can cause some BAD mood swings. Keppra is NOT for everyone; I'm on it 1000 mg twice a day & I had those symptons and more when I first started. Eventually most have sub-sided & I think the Keppra is making my seizures a little milder. So, I'm sticking it out. It has caused fights between my husband and myself also, and my husband is learning to just give me my own space when I'm hit by a mood swing. But, everyone reacts to meds differently; your husband may need to go off it entirely. Please continue to be patient with the man you love. More than likely he doesn't mean what he is saying/doing. Good luck, he is lucky to have you.
Georgie B
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Hi guys, keppra hasn't agreed with me I suffer mood swings depression and a headache 24/7 I spoke to my neuro and he eventually switched me to tegretol I am half way through the switch and I am slowly getting better, stick it out! Me and my partner argue but all is soon forgiven he understands 
stand by him no matter what it will get better! hope this helps
stand by him no matter what it will get better! hope this helps 
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Many of the anti-seizure meds can/do cause depression/mood swings and Keppra is known for this (Kepprage). Temporal lobe epilepsy is well known for mood swings, also, so do make sure you mention this to your neuro. I've had TLE for over 30 years and tried many AED's and have suffered depression, too. I eventually had to leave my husband because he had no patience and no understanding of E and depression. I do hope it gets better for you.
I am one of those who couldn't handle Keppra. as the others have said ---make this matter known to his Neur. this his to be hard for you well.
When this temper thing hits you feel you can't control it, when it passes, I would think to myself, how next time I feel like this, jut get a hold of myself and keep to myself, but then it was like before I couldn't control it.
He lucky to have you.
When this temper thing hits you feel you can't control it, when it passes, I would think to myself, how next time I feel like this, jut get a hold of myself and keep to myself, but then it was like before I couldn't control it.
He lucky to have you.
Thank you, everyone. I'm having such a difficult time with this. Our 4yo keeps asking when dad will be home, and has been acting out. Our 18yo and I keep trying to reassure him that everything will be ok, but we have moments of doubt. Even when he's not texting me out of anger (the only way he will currently communicate with me), he's completely apathetic to anything going on at home. When I ask him to come home, he tells me I never cared about him or the epilepsy before, he'll do it on his own. This is unlike anything I've ever dealt with. I've never been anti pharmaceutical, but this drug has turned my husband into a stranger.
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I'm on keppra too and I've got some pretty bad kepprage. It doesn't take much for me to get mad. I've told people off in stores and I've told nurses off in dr offices. I've gone off on my husband a good many times but he usually understands it's because of the keppra.
My husband was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and was saying some of the things that your husband is saying. "nothing matters, I'm going to die anyway, might as well enjoy myself" was a good one that I heard alot. Even now when something comes up medicaly with him he'll start talking the same way too.
If he went a good while with out having seizures and they started happening again he might be having a hard time dealing with it. Since you don't have epilepsy you don't know what he's going through. I'm not saying that meanly because I heard a good bit of "since you don't have cancer you don't know what I'm going through" from my husband.
I don't know if he was having seizures during your relationship at all or if they just started acting up now and it's the first time you've seen it happen. Try to get him to talk to you and have him tell you what he's feeling like. What his seizures are like because you want to understand more about it. Let him know that you do care and you want to help him out as much as you can. Try to get him to sit down with the whole family and talk about it.
It's probably scaring him that the seizures have started up again and he's not sure how to deal with it himself.
My husband was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and was saying some of the things that your husband is saying. "nothing matters, I'm going to die anyway, might as well enjoy myself" was a good one that I heard alot. Even now when something comes up medicaly with him he'll start talking the same way too.
If he went a good while with out having seizures and they started happening again he might be having a hard time dealing with it. Since you don't have epilepsy you don't know what he's going through. I'm not saying that meanly because I heard a good bit of "since you don't have cancer you don't know what I'm going through" from my husband.
I don't know if he was having seizures during your relationship at all or if they just started acting up now and it's the first time you've seen it happen. Try to get him to talk to you and have him tell you what he's feeling like. What his seizures are like because you want to understand more about it. Let him know that you do care and you want to help him out as much as you can. Try to get him to sit down with the whole family and talk about it.
It's probably scaring him that the seizures have started up again and he's not sure how to deal with it himself.
hi
hi , yes this could be keppra . I am on 1250mg a.m. 1000mg. p.m. . When I was on 1250mg at night , I was mean ,nasty , depressed , going down made me fine . The other thing I was thinking is that epilepsy is very closly related to depression and anxiety . I take an antidepressent daily . If I did not I would probley be crying24/7and unable to funtion in todays world . I also take adavan for my anxiety . Counceling also helps . I know this may be harder especially since you have to deal with it . good luck . jenn
hi , yes this could be keppra . I am on 1250mg a.m. 1000mg. p.m. . When I was on 1250mg at night , I was mean ,nasty , depressed , going down made me fine . The other thing I was thinking is that epilepsy is very closly related to depression and anxiety . I take an antidepressent daily . If I did not I would probley be crying24/7and unable to funtion in todays world . I also take adavan for my anxiety . Counceling also helps . I know this may be harder especially since you have to deal with it . good luck . jenn
My 18 year old son was on Keppra for all of about 5 days and it affected him so dramatically we switched him to Topamax right away. On his 5th (and last day) on Keppra he developed a rash on his face, his muscles and joints were aching and he was not talking, slurring words and couldn't make a simple decision. It was pretty severe!
From everything I've read, it can have horrible, nasty side effects! Good luck to you!
From everything I've read, it can have horrible, nasty side effects! Good luck to you!
Thanks to everyone who replied. My husband told me the only way he could describe his Keppra time was "mad hatter crazy". He was weaned off and is now on Zonegran. So far no seizures and the worst side effect is sleepiness. I'm grateful for all the info I found on this site.