Keppra Side Effects

[pattid12]

Hi everyone, my 15 year old son was put on Keppra 500ml day. He has been on it 2 months for juvinile myocolonic seizure (he only had 1). He failed the last 2 terms in school, and is very angry. I discussed with the dr. he said it can't be the meds because he's on the lowest dose. I asked him 2x to change it and he won't. I have appt this month with new dr. I'm worried about him and his feelings. He is not himself. I read here that Keppra can do this. I'm curious if anyone had this problem, and what med were they changed to. Thank you all !:e:

 

[Nakamova]

I discussed with the dr. He said it can't be the meds because he's on the lowest dose.

Not true! The brain meds are all very powerful, and even at small doses people can experience side effects. And if it's considered enough of a dose to control seizures, it's definitely high enough to cause mood issues. Keppra is known to make people moody and angry ("Kepprage"), and it sounds like that's what's happened in your son's case. I think you're very wise to seek out a different neurologist who's more experienced and more responsive to your concerns.

Since your son has had only one seizure, it's possible that an even smaller dose of Keppra might be worth trying to see if the side effects are mitigated. Other meds that have been used for JME are Depakote and Lamictal. A good neurologist should be able to go over the pros and cons with you.

 

[Cint]

I think you're very wise to seek out a different neurologist who's more experienced and more responsive to your concerns.

Since your son has had only one seizure, it's possible that an even smaller dose of Keppra might be worth trying to see if the side effects are mitigated. Other meds that have been used for JME are Depakote and Lamictal. A good neurologist should be able to go over the pros and cons with you.

:agree: Keppra can/does cause depression/anger (Kepprage) in folks at even a small dosage, so to have a neuro tell you it can't be the meds is being foolish! It is time to seek out an experienced neurologist who does know something about these powerful drugs.

 

[chop456]

Hello Patti, my daughter is 15 and also diagnosed with JME. She is taking 300mg of lamictal - although she still has morning myoclonics, she has not had a tonic-clonic. Lamictal is also used as a mood stabilizer.

I have read that a B vitamin can help stabilize the mood with keppra. Perhaps someone on CWE can confirm which B vitamin. It seems to help some I'm glad to hear you are seeing a 2nd doctor - perhaps you can explain to him what you have seen going on with your son and more importantly, you son will be comfortable with the doctor to talk about what is going on.

Have you asked for a 504 plan for your son? Paige has a 504 plan to cover her many, many tardies we have as well as extra time on school work. I can send you a copy of our plan if you'd like to see what we have in place for her. Paige carries a full load of honors classes and is an A/B student - still holding strong.

Keep us posted, Beth

 

[Nakamova]

I have read that a B vitamin can help stabilize the mood with keppra. Perhaps someone on CWE can confirm which B vitamin.

A B6 supplement can help some people with the emotional side effects of keppra.

 

[jenn2482]

I have been on keppra since it came out . A long tome ago if they put me on 1250 mg. am& pm I would be very mean , didn't care about my remarks to people and most of the time I did not know I was doing it . I know am on 1250 am and 1000 pm . What a difference in my personality .

 

[bridge]

Hi everyone, my 15 year old son was put on Keppra 500ml day. He has been on it 2 months for juvinile myocolonic seizure (he only had 1). He failed the last 2 terms in school, and is very angry. I discussed with the dr. he said it can't be the meds because he's on the lowest dose. I asked him 2x to change it and he won't. I have appt this month with new dr. I'm worried about him and his feelings. He is not himself. I read here that Keppra can do this. I'm curious if anyone had this problem, and what med were they changed to. Thank you all !:e:

Hey there, so sorry to hear. But I was on that Keppra too, I had to basically go into my doctor and tell him I wanted OFF! It had been making me a depressed angry mean unhappy girl. I was on it and at first he asked me to try to get used to it. I saw him probably 3 times before I told him I wanted to go back to what I was previously on. He finally started me with something else so I could get off the Keppra. I had to go in on an non appointment day crying, to get off. He said right away, stop taking it! Iwas already taking something else so he finally okayed it. Be cautious and if your son starts telling you he is feeling down or depressed, my opinion is GET OFF!!! It was ruining my new marriage and I am off now, but still having some episodes where I am down and crying. I guess it takes a few weeks to get out of the system but really, I was really thinking that I was unhappy and hated my life. Best of luck and I hope things get better for you and your son!!!

 

[amilie]

i have been on dilantin for 25 years. i never had a problem with it last year when i developed periferal neuropathy. i was told its coming from the liver and to change meds to either lamactol or keppra. in only had 3 liver enzymes checked. 1 was normal and 2 were slightly elevated. there was never a liver panel ordered and i still dont get this. the dr wouldnt answer my questions. he said i can take a statin . that goes thru the liver, but not dilantin. i asked why. he wouldnt answer. he said he was busy. im always polite, but right now im busy and im seeing a new neurologist. i had 4 days of the wporst nightmare of my life with keppra and lamictal. im not that great on meds anyway and im thin, but to experience this---it literally put my husbands and my life on hold. i have a good life. all of a sudden i was depressed and wanted to die.i never felt like that. i had a hard year, but im usually strong and i get thru things. this---when that keppra got into me, i was out of this world. the dr said to continue it and took me from 3 dilantin to 2. 2 hrs later i felt a seizure coming and i hadnt had a seizure in years. i should have realized myself that you dont go so fast with me. i should have broken the pill in parts and gone slower, but it wouldnt have mattered. the keppra wrecked havoc in me. i took the 3rd dilantin and didnt get the seizure, but the keppra was the worst nightmare of my life. i cant imagine how a drug as dangerous as this is even out there.im off the keppra and seeing a new neurologist. i was told this one is good. i certainly hope so because i didnt get any answers from the other neurologist. im terrified to try anything now than what i have. i can really understand what youre saying here too. it is a nightmare--i read these posts and i do a lot of my own research too. it even says on the brochure how dangerous a drug it can be for some people. i didnt read that till the calamity was over. had i read some of that, i wouldnt have started.im lucky i have a good husband and children for support because if not for them i dont know what would have happened.its out of my system now and thank goodness im me again. i dont want to die. i realize itn was the drug.i really hope things get better for you. and your son and that drug is changed.

 

[seizing more]

mind boggling drugs

my experiences with the meds we are subjected to has been a mixed bag of side effects, some worse than others. keppra was one of the worst. my family kept telling me bursts of total anger & rage,depressed moods,paranoid feelings, hearing voices were my meds. i've had reactions like these in the past on other meds. in my case i've never had total control of my seizures, they are better at this point but i still have plenty. i was on keppra & lamotrigrine and that combo wasn't good for me so my neuro pulled me off keppra. i suspect i will be on another on my next visit. it's also rough to have our doses adjusted, new meds introduced. the side effects and seizures are still after 10 yrs of my diagnosis just plain scary to me.

 

[amilie]

im sorry for what youre going thru. when i read what you wrote i see i had zthe depresion, rage moods--i never had it with dilantin. i was fine. until i met this specialist. how does a dr say liver isnt normal if all the enzymes arent tested? he wouldnt answer anything. now im seeing a new neurologist june 14 and i hear hes good. i hope so. what i did on my own from my research is get off the statins. im being careful what i eat because in have high cholesterol. statins go thru the liver i see by staying off them since mon the neuropathy isnt worse. thats a good sign, concidering the humidity and my arthritis. the arthritis is there, but it seems i may have hit on something here with the statins.everything point to staying off statins. the dr wouldnt answer that either. he told me to take them. im going to my family dr to get a med thats not a statin. i really hope you get on the right dose of med so as not to get any more seizures. i am not good on meds and i told this dr that. how does he give me keppra!? i dont want to see him again. he wrecked havoc in my house. i have a great husband, but we didnt need this. nightmare. i was really fine till i met him. whenever you get on meds like this it is scary because theyre not regular meds.i really hope you get the right dose and youre well.