Keppra & Amitriptyline?

[seetseet]

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for taking the time to read this, I really appreciate it because I am really hoping to get some feedback!

I was wondering if anyone has taken/is taking Keppra AND Amitriptyline at the same time?
If yes, what it was like re mood, drowsiness, effectiveness of both the drugs, how long for etc?

I have been on Keppra for the last three years, and we have finally pin pointed for sure that yes, it the keppra that is the cause for my interesting ( to say in the least) "mood patterns" (I just stress out really bad and start crying, or go from zero to 100 in flash anger wise or get the full "I can't take it anymore I need to end it now" feelings suddenly and out of no where)

I was put on Lexapro (also an antidepressant back when I first started taking keppra, because I apparently had depression, but I don't think I even lasted 6months because it was just AWFUL, I was still feeling the same but I was even more tired and drowsy (fresh on keppra and a new born)...

In the last month and a half I went to see my GP who sent me for my first "full blood test" everything came back fine, except that my iron and vitamin B levels were low. So she got me to get three injections of Vitamin B over 6weeks. So!I am feeling better, I still get sadand freak out sometimes BUT coincidently my life has been super good because I was accepted into university AND our plans are set for the next two years, so I am happy as can be!
So is this the Vitamin B or is this because life is good at the moment?

So anyway, just last week after freaking out feeling like a junkie on the way to my neurologist to tell him our theory, I burst out crying there too while I was telling him our theory about how we thought Keppra was the cause of my mood swings. His response really surprised me because he was like "Yea depression is really common with epilepsy and mood swings/depression/anger are really common side effects of Keppra, but keppra is great for your epilepsy so here is a script for an antidepressant (amitriptyline)."

Point of the story is I have never heard of amitriptyline and I am worried about starting to use it after my experience with lexapro!

So please share your experience and opinions if you have the time and would like to!
Thanks again

 

[resaebiunne]

It is interesting that they would just put you on an antidepressant. The reason I say this is because I am very nearly bipolar, and antidepressant treatments can cause mania in bipolar patients. I am not saying you have bipolar; your medicine could be causing bipolar like symptoms which would exclude a bipolar diagnosis, but it is something worth considering and being aware of.

 

[Cint]

Seetseet,

Keppra is known to bring on KEPPRAGE and moodiness. Temporal lobe E can bring on depression for lots of folks, too. I have TLE and suffer from depression, also. I've taken tricyclic anti-depressants, which is what Amitriptyline is, and SSRI anti-depressants. For those with E, a well informed doctor would prescribe an SSRI, something like Zoloft or Prozac. And sometimes, doctors will prescribe an AED for extreme mood disorders, like bipolar disorders. IMO, you need to see a neuropsychiatrist, or at least a psychiatrist to treat your depression, not your neurologist. The psychiatrist would know more about mood disorders and what meds work/don't work together. And he/she needs to work together with your neurologist. Hang in there!

Check this out for more info:

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/impact/moods-and-behavior/mood-and-behavior-advanced/depression

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/impact/moods-and-behavior/mood-and-behavior-advanced/psychosis

 

[Nakamova]

If your depression is co-occurring with your epilepsy, then an anti-depressant could be a good idea. But if your depression is merely a side effect of the Keppra, then maybe trying a different anti-seizure med would make more sense? For example, Lamictal is considered less likely to cause mood-related side effects (though everyone's experience is different of course).

 

[seetseet]

Thanks for the feedback I think I'll take a few more days thinking time, I suppose I just dont want to be tired because being tired is annoying.
Thanks again for the feedback, and if there is anyone else out there willing to share their keppra+antidepressant stories keep them coming (please of course!)

 

[seetseet]

Hey Cint,
I hada quick question for you, (because I have temporal lobe e too) how long were you taking the tricyclic for? What were you taking it with? Did it work? How did you feel? Hehe and did you become super tired?

 

[Cint]

Hey Cint,
I hada quick question for you, (because I have temporal lobe e too) how long were you taking the tricyclic for? What were you taking it with? Did it work? How did you feel? Hehe and did you become super tired?

I took Amitriptyline for several years along with Tegretol and Neurontin (I think, it was a long time ago.) But that only made the depression worse, so he changed me to Pamelor (Nortriptyline). Then he added a small dose of an SSRI. We increased the SSRI and eventually went completely off the tricyclics because they didn't do a thing for me, except make me feel crazy! We started with Prozac, and that didn't work. Now I take Zoloft. BTW, I also take Keppra for seizures. As said before, Keprra can cause rage, depression for some, but I was already experiencing all that before I started taking Keppra. For me, TLE is the cause of my depression. And all AEDs make me super tired!