Hi Everyone!
I posted a while back about going on generic Keppra XR. I'd been on the brand name for nearly a year and a half, then decided to try the generic because of cost. It didn't work, as I wound up feeling horrible (everything from mania to fatigue, etc.) I've been back on the brand med a little over a month now, but something odd is happening.
I had my six month checkup last Tuesday with my doctor and I mentioned that I feel fatigued all the time. No energy, can sleep 20 hours a day if given the time. No desire to do anything and even said I feel a bit depressed (and in my situation, no reason for depression...good job, boyfriend, life is good!) She upped my Zoloft to 150 mg and the only thing she said, is that if the fatigue is still prevalent in six months that we may consider switching to Lamictal (I've never tried it). I was a little disappointed, because I don't bring things up if they aren't bothersome and I haven't been feeling well. Just blah.
About two weeks ago, I got what I thought was a cold. Sore throat, fever, chills, coughing. It lasted a while and included eyes watering constantly. Then a week and a half ago, I got a hives-like rash. Now, I've gotten quick rashes before that go away quickly, this one though hasn't gone away and only got worse. My boyfriend at one point said my back looked bruised and purple. The itching has just gotten worse and worse then last night my mom took a look and was shocked. There were tons of bullseye type lesions, most bloody from me scratching. It's all along my back, my neck and now on the front of my chest.
I called the neuro office and the patient line person was rather rude. She said "oh, you have a rash, go to your primary physician". I was upset and said how can my GP figure out if it's related to the Keppra? then, she tells me she will "give" the info the doctor, but that Monday is their busiest day. She goes on to say if I don't hear from the doctor in a timely manner, to go to the ER.
So, I went this morning. Being aware of Stevens Johnson, I marked down that I have epilepsy and am concerned it is the beginnings or an allergic reaction. The nurse comes in and says "do you even know what SJS is??" and I said yes, I do..and she yells at me that it looks like burns which mine doesn't! I tell her, yes, at later stages, but it can also appear in early stages as bulls eyes, lesions, etc.
Long story short, they take my blood and doctor contacts my neuro. He comes back in and says "I do not believe it's SJS" then tells me to take Benadryl. I tell him I prefer not to and he proceeds to show me that there are no interactions, so I politely tell him while the literature says it's ok, that Benadryl in general can reduce seizure threshold, so I ask, what then? If I take the Benadryl, will that be the end of it? and he has no answer. He tells me the neuro doesn't want to change my meds, he doesn't "believe" it's SJS and here I sit at home, nauseous and brain dead from the Benadryl, and still itching! The redness has gone down, but itching is still there. Lastly, he tells me to see a dermatologist.
So, am curious if anyone has any experience with rashes related to meds. Thing is this, I got up at 8 am this morning, took my meds, and had nothing else, within two hours of taking the meds, the rash flared up. Later in the ER (still having had nothing) the rash got bright red, and burned to where my skin was actually hurting me! Nothing environmental has changed for me (soaps, etc.) and the ER basically told me nothing of value, so I'm a bit upset, uncomfortable and confused. I'm also questioning whether I need to now try to find an epileptologist, as my neuro just doesn't seem to be as well versed in epilepsy as I thought. For instance, I mentioned at my checkup that I have a ringing in my ears almost constantly that I have gotten used to. I looked it up on the Keppra site and while a "rare" side effect, it is listed...she didn't even know that!
So, I'm just a bit frustrated. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice!
I posted a while back about going on generic Keppra XR. I'd been on the brand name for nearly a year and a half, then decided to try the generic because of cost. It didn't work, as I wound up feeling horrible (everything from mania to fatigue, etc.) I've been back on the brand med a little over a month now, but something odd is happening.
I had my six month checkup last Tuesday with my doctor and I mentioned that I feel fatigued all the time. No energy, can sleep 20 hours a day if given the time. No desire to do anything and even said I feel a bit depressed (and in my situation, no reason for depression...good job, boyfriend, life is good!) She upped my Zoloft to 150 mg and the only thing she said, is that if the fatigue is still prevalent in six months that we may consider switching to Lamictal (I've never tried it). I was a little disappointed, because I don't bring things up if they aren't bothersome and I haven't been feeling well. Just blah.
About two weeks ago, I got what I thought was a cold. Sore throat, fever, chills, coughing. It lasted a while and included eyes watering constantly. Then a week and a half ago, I got a hives-like rash. Now, I've gotten quick rashes before that go away quickly, this one though hasn't gone away and only got worse. My boyfriend at one point said my back looked bruised and purple. The itching has just gotten worse and worse then last night my mom took a look and was shocked. There were tons of bullseye type lesions, most bloody from me scratching. It's all along my back, my neck and now on the front of my chest.
I called the neuro office and the patient line person was rather rude. She said "oh, you have a rash, go to your primary physician". I was upset and said how can my GP figure out if it's related to the Keppra? then, she tells me she will "give" the info the doctor, but that Monday is their busiest day. She goes on to say if I don't hear from the doctor in a timely manner, to go to the ER.
So, I went this morning. Being aware of Stevens Johnson, I marked down that I have epilepsy and am concerned it is the beginnings or an allergic reaction. The nurse comes in and says "do you even know what SJS is??" and I said yes, I do..and she yells at me that it looks like burns which mine doesn't! I tell her, yes, at later stages, but it can also appear in early stages as bulls eyes, lesions, etc.
Long story short, they take my blood and doctor contacts my neuro. He comes back in and says "I do not believe it's SJS" then tells me to take Benadryl. I tell him I prefer not to and he proceeds to show me that there are no interactions, so I politely tell him while the literature says it's ok, that Benadryl in general can reduce seizure threshold, so I ask, what then? If I take the Benadryl, will that be the end of it? and he has no answer. He tells me the neuro doesn't want to change my meds, he doesn't "believe" it's SJS and here I sit at home, nauseous and brain dead from the Benadryl, and still itching! The redness has gone down, but itching is still there. Lastly, he tells me to see a dermatologist.
So, am curious if anyone has any experience with rashes related to meds. Thing is this, I got up at 8 am this morning, took my meds, and had nothing else, within two hours of taking the meds, the rash flared up. Later in the ER (still having had nothing) the rash got bright red, and burned to where my skin was actually hurting me! Nothing environmental has changed for me (soaps, etc.) and the ER basically told me nothing of value, so I'm a bit upset, uncomfortable and confused. I'm also questioning whether I need to now try to find an epileptologist, as my neuro just doesn't seem to be as well versed in epilepsy as I thought. For instance, I mentioned at my checkup that I have a ringing in my ears almost constantly that I have gotten used to. I looked it up on the Keppra site and while a "rare" side effect, it is listed...she didn't even know that!
So, I'm just a bit frustrated. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice!
onder:FYI; I have been on generic Keppra 3000mg 
