hello and bear with me i am chatty.

[jenbayly17]

My name is Jen and I am not sure why it took me so long to look for an outlet like this to help me through the rough times and also offer any reassurance I can to others.

Currently I am going through a change in medicine. I am starting the 5th week of my 6 week process. I am switching to Keppra to be the med I would stay on. I am tapering away dilantin starting yesterday and eventually may also be tapering away my gabapentin. So right now I am on all 3 meds. It has been a little better than the last time I switched since I have not had any seizures but it was a rough start with an anxiety attack, which I have never had before. But now the anxiety isn't there as much since I am to what "should be" my full dose of keppra. I now am more dizzy and tired which I have read is pretty normal especially starting out. I am hoping and trying to stay positive that the side effects will work themselves out or at least be something I cab work around. I have looked around on different posts and this forum seems not only supportive but a little larger than some other sites I have dropped in on.

I am hoping to get to know more of you better and offer any advice I can and take in the knowledge of your experiences and researching that you have done.

 

[chmmr]

Hi Jen, Welcome to CWE! Sounds like you are off to a pretty good start with your positive attitude about the switch. I hope it continues to go smoothly for you as you taper the dilantin. And i hope you will find lots of support here

 

[skadwad]

hi jen I am am on kepra I was on the gabapentin but found I just couldent get stuff done am now on the pregabalin instead awake a lot more been on tegatrol the past couple of yrs it used to be a brown tablet now they have changed it to a white colour I don't know if its just me but I am wretchin a lot more now anyway nice to meet u

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Jen, welcome to CWE!

I hope Keppra is the perfect med for you. It can cause moodiness and "Kepprage" for some folks. I hope that's not the case for you, but if you do notice those side effects ask you doc about adding a B6 vitamin -- it's known to help.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[skadwad]

whats kepparage ? never heard of that here in the uk ?

 

[skadwad]

I know that it has sent one of my blood work in the thyroids from an 8 to a 12 ??

 

[Nakamova]

"Kepprage" is a slang term for the rage and mood swings that can be a Keppra side effect.

I don't think Keppra is supposed to effect thyroid, but you never know with these powerful brain meds -- they can hit us all differently. Did you already have thyroid issues before starting Keppra?

 

[jayde-101]

Skadwad, did you have a problem with blood platelets while on keppra ... Mine keep dropping .. Sorry to hear about your thyroid issues

 

[jenbayly17]

Thank you for all the welcomes everyone. I am experiencing more drowsiness now than I have so I am going to call my doctor this next week about that. I know that many things I have read including your post Nakamova that Vitamin B6 should help. When I started the dilantin they put me also on vitamin b1 but I am sure that was in relation to the bone density issues between the dilantin and the fact that I was on tegretol XR for 14 years. I had a bone density test about 2 years ago and everything looked good at that time but you can't be to cautious. I just feel like a pharmacy sometimes between the epilepsy meds and vitamins, and the medicine I take also for Meniers disease and seasonal allergies. I am sure I am not the only one that deals with all of this. but at the same time I remind myself that I have things that can be treated mostly with medicine and can adapt to these medicines after time. We all go through tough times with epilepsy but at the same time I have unfortunately watched many people with cancer (as I am sure we all have) and it makes epilepsy look like a cake walk.

And skadwad I actually was just reading about the thyroid on epilepsytalk.com and the only med that I have seen you mention which I have also taken is the Tegretol that could affect your thyroid per what that website states. I haven't ever had mine tested but it is on the list of things to ask about because thyroid problems run in my family as it is. :giveup:

I know my husband has now gotten to the point where he thinks I am letting epilepsy dominate my life because I have been researching a lot but it is only because I want to be proactive about things and haven't been able to work during this med change due to side effects.

Enough babbling from me for now I guess. Thank you all again.
Jenfft:

 

[skadwad]

thanks for the info nakamoto never heard of that b4 and never had any issues with my thyroid b4 and jade 101 when I was on epilim my blood work was all over plus my hair kept coming out in clumps never had thyroid issues b4 when I asked neuro he said it could be so they sent my blood to two hospitals to get a 100 percent result if it still high might be putting me on levothyroxine to give me that get up and go as being a single dad holding down a job and 3 kids its hard work but I will not let this epilpsey beat me I have an alarm fitted at home with a pendant so if I go down I know theres sumone there plus I have a keysafe outside so emergency services can get in what I have noticed they have changed there tegatrol formular from being brown to a white tablet been on them a week now each day I feel sick has anybody else noticed that ?