You know what? Thank you for this video your the first and only person on this entire TH-cam that explains things that everyone can understand... Thank you for this video it truly helped me
It works perfectly fine for me ( keppra ) I Been on it for 7 years . First 3 years I only had a seizure once a year . After that I been seizure free going for 5 years 😁💪🏼 .
Hey, when would you get your seizures? During the day or sleep? I get seizures only in my sleep and I'm scared of taking Keppra. I feel like I choke while asleep. If I continue getting em I'm gonna have to take something.
Keppra stops my seizures but I don't enjoy life anymore, never satisfied, can't even feel love & I was a very caring person, it's really sad. Got off it for a bit, felt amazing & could care & love people again, started having seizures again, had to get back on it. Feel emotionless again, so I know it's deffs the drug. Epilepsy since I was 13, 26 now, ruined my life.
Startedwhen i was 8, 21 now. Super emotional a lot of hate and paranoid thoughts thoughts of just ending it all sometimes but it comes and goes just went from 2500 mg to 2000 hoping for a change.
Have you tried keto diet? I grew up on Dilantin and phenobarbitol. Went on to Tegretol, then Epival, back to Tegretol with Frisium, then on to Keppra. I can't say I was ever 'happy' on any of them but Keppra was the worse for me. I finally went keto after menopause, and wish I had done it years ago. I carry Frisium always and take only on occasion if I feel I'm at increased risk (fever, nauseous...) Google the Charlie Foundation and google Dateline NBC Medical Secrets.
I suffered an attempted suicide while on Levetiracetam. I've been a lab rat since 1983. These doctors should take these medications and find out for themselves what the side effects are like.
I've gone through two Neurologists already and I have only been Epileptic for about 7 months. The last one had no personality whatsoever and was completely Ego driven. So I completely understand what you're saying. Some are just legal drug dealers, and it's sad. I'm in the process of transitioning from Levicteram, to Lamotrigine, as I don't care much for the side effects of Levicteram. I'm not suicidal thankfully, but before I started taking medication, I was usually pretty balanced emotionally. Now it's all over the place, and sometimes I really have to catch myself, so I'm not being short with people and barking at them. It's not completely out of control, but there are definitely moments I see myself doing things I never would have done beforehand. That's the problem with basically every single modern medication. They do all affect us differently, but there always seems to be undesirable side effects, just to accomplish what you want from them. Sure I'm still alive and the seizures have been at bay, since being on medication, but I don't really enjoy being sad at times, when there is nothing to be sad about. It's like it puts feelings in your head that aren't true, or how we really feel. The first two weeks on it, I was weeping one minute and laughing hysterically the next
Totally agree! These doctors put my son on Keppra after a serious car accident where he had a brain injury that caused seizure after seizure... well, good news is that he's fine, but stays depressed, mad and very agitated, and talking like he's a serial killer or something, or Just ready to die, he says... call the doctor, and all they did was lower by 250mg a dose? Not to mention, he also stays dizzy and says his heart is racing.... im about to talk to a lawyer
I have been taking Keppra for years and I didn't know about "Keppra Rage" as what I've heard the nickname in other chats. I have had some arguments on things that were for good reason, but couldn't let things go and might have escalated because I have to be right. Currently taking 1500. I'm currently a nursing student with extended time and it takes me much longer to memorize things than other individuals of course. But I try to never let me hold me back.
I’ve been on keppra for some weeks now. It’s hard to concentrate at times . Also I get very cranky and at times I get very very dizzy and always feel very tired. I hope I can get over these side effects and just be normal again. And seizure free.
Sorry, but you won't feel normal, especially depending on how long you'll be on it. I've been on keppra since it was very first put on the market (about 25-30 years) and sometimes I'm perfectly fine, others I fall into depression and anxiety big time, I've almost tried to take my life already. Then it's like you suddenly realize what you've just done after you do it, I mean it's a bad side effect, but I'm also on phenobarbital and phenytoin.
@@DiMarzio-Toneyou don’t have to discourage him, everyone’s bodies react differently to medications. I’m sorry you’ve been on this medication for that long, I hope you heal eventually.
@@invoice999 Actually I'm glad you said that about me healing, cause I'm gonna try and stop taking these medications, my life is almost over and I don't wanna live the rest of my life feeling confused and mixed up. It's not all because of the meds, but the anger, anxiety and tearing up for no reason issues are bad, totally controller over my real personality, I don't even quite remember how I used to feel. So I'm gonna ween myself off, I've been missing my meds a lot and nothing has happened. Usually I'd pay for missing my meds, seizure time. But not for about six months of missing my meds on and off. I'm scared I'll be honest with you, I hope it's time for me to stop, or I could cause harm to myself.
@@DiMarzio-Tone I wouldn’t just give up a medication that fast without talking to your neurologist. (I know sometimes it feels like all they wanna do is drug you) but tell them ab what you’re feeling. Try looking for therapy. Trust me man I may not know exactly how you feel but I’m on a similar path. I got Epilepsy since I was 12. First they thought it was just one seizure but I had multiple. Since then I’ve been on medication. It sucks cause most of the time I feel like a burden to those who care for me and idk if that’s the medication, or just how I actually feel. I cant drive, it pretty much ruined my life and no one understands cause they just think taking the drugs is doing the good. There’s more to it and I get it. I hope everything turns out alright and you’ll be okay, I think of this as more like a test that god (idk if you’re religious) is putting me through. To make me stronger. we’re fighters man don’t give up!
I have epilepsy and tried out a number of different seizure medications and they all made me feel not only like I was a different person but like I was always half sedated or half full of jittery energy not good at all.Once I tried Keppra all that went away and the Keppra helps with my epilepsy and doesn't make me feel like Doo Doo.Good video very informative thanks
Thank you, Doctor! I just got diagnosed with Epilepsy 2 weeks ago at 20 years old. I've taking Keppra as one of my medications and it's really nice to kinda hear the run down on it in a much more comprehensive way than my neurologist has given me. This video was very insightful, once again, thank you!
Hey, I started taking Keppra one year ago at 21 years old after I experienced the first seizures in my life. I’ve been seizure free since. I did experience mood swings for the first month or so, but not anymore.
@@AlexRamirez-vq4gc funny thing my mom only drinks hot chocolate and ginger ale she wants to drink tea but im honestly doing things very safely now she has eplipsey now so being on the safe side
I'm on 2000MG/day. I was taking 3000MG. At the higher dose, I started getting really bad thoughts and depression. Not suicidal, exactly, but these moods woukd start where I would get all sad out of nowhere. Like as sad as I was when my daddy died. Then a random thought would pop into my head...like "if you just cut yourself, you'd feel much better". It sounds crazy, but it wasn't my normal subconscious voice, it was as if someone else was saying it to me, but in my head. It scared me horribly. I've never been a depressed person, even when I had plenty of reason to be. I've not had an easy life (grew up in an abusive home, watching my alcoholic father beat my mother, and much more), but never have I ever had thoughts like that before. So I talked to my neurologist about it and his first thought was to switch me to another seizure med. But I suggested maybe going back down on the dosage. I'd only been on 3000mg for maybe a month, and had taken the drug overall about 6 months. Never at the lower dosages did I have issues. I just had had 2 more seizures (after almost being seizure free for 3 months) but that (I believe at least) was bc I was missing too many doses. One thing Keppra has always done is slow my thinking and affect my memory. It wasn't until I set an alarm on my phone that I started taking every dose every time. I'm now seizure free since June 16 and not skipping doses. Depression has mostly gone away, I'm just more sensitive to what's going on around me, if that makes sense. Like I'm not getting sad out of nowhere or having bad thoughts, but if someone in my family is rude or upset, I'll get really down about it more than normal for me. Idk what to do. I hate this medication honestly, wish I could take nothing. I started having seizures suddenly at 34 years old. After a million tests, my neurologist has ruled out every cause except severe exhaustion, brought on by years of undiagnosed (I didn't even realize) severe sleep apnea. I now have a CPap machine and am getting real sleep. But he says I have to take this medication for 5 years no matter what. I don't like that at all. I've had about 15 seizures in all, between Nov 2018- Feb 16. Plus was having focal seizures inbetween. But now they've all stopped. I just want to be med free and back to my normal life. Who knows what this is doing to my liver? I'm not even quick to take pain meds for a headache unless absolutely necessary. I'm seriously considering giving it a year and then weaning myself off...assuming I stay seizure free. I'll be careful not to drive etc while I do it if I do, and I'll inform my doctors.
Thank you for sharing your story Jennifer snd your experience with this drug. I'm sorry you had such a rough road to travel. You are a strong person. Hoping you have a happier better road ahead, a complete remission and weaning. You can look into lifestyle (sleep, sun, exercise, positive and good company, quieter job..) and dietary changes (keeping off the common allergens and inflammatory foods). Wishing you all the wellness ahead 🌻🌻🌻
Wow! I was around 34 when mine began suddenly. I got better and got off of it... but then they came back and I can't seem to get them under control... :( Be very careful when you wean yourself and do like the other person suggested too! Good luck to you!
Thank you so much for sharing - my 17 year old brother had brain surgery last year and he has been taking keppra since then. He’s in the hospital right now after having 2 seizure last night they went from 1000 to 3000 per day we hope that they reduced it ones his back to normal. This is very scary.... sending love your way ❤️
Thanks for sharing that. My own experience mirrors that quite closely. Got up with my disabled son 2-3x/night for about 16 years. Hard to get back to sleep after dealing with messy bathroom issues. Had grand mal then keppra. Few partial onset focused seizing response to stress, missed dosage and lack of sleep. I despise the depression, anger, loss of self, memory problems. But no more grand mal, so I’m resistant to try something else. I’ll stick with the devil I know.
I have Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Had it from the age of 14. I got diagnosed with it at 21 years old. I am 22 now and the keppra has been working brilliantly for me. First few weeks I felt tired but now I'm fine. I'm seizure free.
As a kid I took Keppra and I was so angry all the time when I took it, I constantly got into arguments and was given detention at least once a week, I even attempted suicide a number of times because I was so overwhelmed with anger and frustration at the smallest things
It’s also a mood stabilizer. It also has a side disorder called Keppra rage. Vitamin b12 has been said to help. I had Keppra done by vein at the ER and my seizures were gone for a week.
I started having problems with being "absent" in grade school. Later had Eclampsia convulsions after my first delivery. Then had T I A s around menopause and seizures when falling asleep or being awakened suddenly. Complex Partial. Started on Dilantin and tried everything under the sun to keep them in check, to no avail. I had terrible and strange side effects as well. That was around 1999? Then the doctor decided to try Keppra and everything changed! All my life I have been a victim of crying issues. I cried easily and couldn't stop or control it. I even cried at the end of seizures. No emotion, just crying. Now all that has stopped! 750 mg three times a day. I can control my emotions and have no more seizures. Yes, I seem a little scrambled and my memory isn't great, but is far better than having the rest of it! I don't mind being thought of as a batty old grandma. I'm 72. 😆😜 Thanks for your channel! 💋💖
Thank you so much for this video, my son has just been put on them and I pray he’ll be as successful on it as some of the people that’s commented 🙏🏼 he’s 19
Just jules bro may i chat with u pls ! I need information cos' my brother son also on levetiracetam !! How is your son ? How old is he ? How many mg ? My nephew is 11 and he is given 1000 mg a day is that enough ?
Deepen Rai Hi Deepen My son was first put on 250mg twice a day and then I think after a few weeks that went up to 1000mg. They have said everyone is different and because of the possible side effects this is the dose they start at and if the have any more seizures they increase it.
I had got on keppra this year in February it help but the side effects something else it make me sleepy and my mood be changing i don’t wish this on nobody but i can’t take no naps if I do it feel like I had a seizure in my sleep so I’m going make appointment for a sleep study
I’ve been on keppra for 6 years now. The first few months were very ruff! Break through simple partial seizures, lots of other side effects. But no tonic clinic seizures! So I stuck with it. I upped my dosage to 2000mg per day and I found two supplements that sure seemed to help mitigate side effects and maybe helped my epilepsy as well. That is of course unknown but when I take vitamin B6 it really helped my nervous system calm down. Than later I included omega 3 fatty acids. The omega 3 really seemed to help stop occasional days where I would suffer from dizziness or vertigo that could last sometimes all day. So to summarize the keppra seems to do an excellent job stopping my tonic clonic seizures. As well as greatly reducing my simple partial siezures in quantity and intensity. The B6 really controlled anxiety attacks and general sense of stress and anxiety I believe was already present but keppra made worse, and the omega 3 fatty acids has really seemed to help with dizziness and vertigo which was one of my seizure types. So over all I am a strong proponent of keppra with the clear understanding that one suit does not fit all. But I can not stress enough how these two supplements I take now has greatly stabalized some of the worse side effects I felt from keppra and additionally could potentially be having a positive impact on my epilepsy in general. So for everyone out there who’s trying to figure this stuff out these are my experiences I know they might not be yours but hopefully this information can help some people. Good luck out there trying to find seizure control! Stay strong, give yourself a lot of compassion and respect for what your going through❤️
Thank you for your post. I take vitamin B6, but not daily. Maybe I should try that... and I've never taken the other thing you mentioned. I also have major dizziness. I have an appointment today. I'll ask about it! Thanks again!
Dragonfly Intuition, Hi there, I just wanted to specify the omega 3 fatty acids I take are from fish oil. There are other plant and nut sources for omega 3’s but fish oils just have a lot of them. I wish you the best and as much seizure control as possible!
God bless you so much Am really blessed have this information or testimony. Iwill try it .on my daughter, she has been now on keppra one and half months. But seem not to do well. She gets very bad attacks and over stay plus fatigue , bad mood etc. So thanks going to try this by God's grace it will work out for us too. Be blessed once again🙏👏👏❤️
For me Keppra hasn't stopped the seizures at all and the side effects have been really bad. I would stop taking it, but I don't want to have any more seizures than I already do.
Hi I'm on Keppra hasn't stop mine either, mine comes from mine my Right hippocampus, recently I started reading about creatine as a food supplement taken with your Meds, so far I'm only on day 20 without any, but that good for me.
@de ad I have them at night. Sometimes I'm extremely sore afterwards, usually a day or so later. Sometimes I bite my tongue which can be extremely painful.
I have been taking keppra from when it first came out. My seizures have never been fully under control I have about four seizures a month but if I have cluster seizures it will get up in the hundreds. God bless everyone with this it is hard real hard. Keppra has helped a lot I'm tired of being sick I have Suicide thoughts a lot and my wife and people do not understand it.
I always tell my Dr about the crazy roller coaster of emotions I go through, and I really just lost hope in any other options I can have ps I've always been a very positive person until I started keppra at first at thought it was just me going through the motions of realizing I was ill and I was going to stay like that for the rest of my life but everyone in my family noticed my changes, and were concerned, they asked my Dr of I was bipolar and he just said no.
I was on it in the hospital during my first seizure. After the first pill at home, I had horrible delusions. I ended up back in the hospital overnight. Praying the Rosary kept me sane until it wore off. I'm now on two other drugs. Keppra is off the list permanently for me.
I've have been on and off of levitracitam 250mgs for some time, because some doctors thought that I was just having fainting spells. Recently I was put on 500mgs twice a day. I can deal with these side effects, because the medication helps calm my body. It also helps with the migraine with aura. Topamax and Lamictal worked for me too, but the side effects were unbearable. I'm thankful for keppra. Dilantin was the first medication that worked for me as a teen.
Hi, my son was just recently diagnosed with JME when he was 14 yrs old I didn’t even know because it started happening while he was showering early mornings .And I though he was fainting in the shower due to maybe to showering with hot water I once had to break the bathroom door because I heard a loud noise and I called his name and he didn’t respond.Started in 3/2023 since last year his seizures have happened more often .He is having weekly seizures usually in morning between 7:00 am to 10:00am He started taking Keppra but I honestly hear so many bad feed back I’m scared he gets his seizures controles but a worse health issues would raise due to this medication
I’ve been on the stuff pretty much ever since it first came out. It works great at keeping the seizures under control. I’ve never had the so-called “Keppra rage,” but the biggest thing for me is that it makes me as forgetful as $h!t. I feel like Dory from Finding Nemo. People often have to repeat themselves to me, and sometimes I’ll completely forget someone’s name or forget what I’m saying in the middle of a sentence. This became especially apparent when my neurologist upped my dose recently.
I had Keppra rage and I am very easy going. But during the first few weeks while adjusting I would get so angry so fast. It was that type of anger that almost starts in your chest? And the littlest of things would set it off
I mix Keppra with a CBD/THC 1:1 flower often. I used to get very pissed off all the time when I was solely on Keppra. I've had my license back almost a year, often feel irritable if I haven't gotten stoned in a couple days. I'll smoke up at night for leg pain, walking around with a pulled ACL all day, don't get much sleep without it. Not sure if this is safe, so far so good. I don't feel safe smoking cigarettes, they hurt my head.
@@thedcuostylist6689 Yeah I stopped taking that medication and told my doctor I wouldn’t be it anymore another side effect they didn’t mention was and it is actually kind of funny I couldn’t keep a hard on cuz of those meds 😂🤣 wife wasn’t too happy about it 😂 Hell bro I hope you find something that works with you
I have epilepsy. I've been on keppra since I was diagnosed. When I first started taking it everybody noticed my mood swings right away. I thought I was a little grumpy but my family thinks my mood hasn't been the same. My mood is better.
I keep a diary and despite keppra I get seizures twice a month. Strange pattern is that it seems to be in tune with lunar cycles. Anyone else feel that?
Well, thanks for that. It's a thousand times more information than the Pill Pusher that prescribed it for me gave me. Since using it I have blurred vision. Cut the dosage?
I’m 30 years old I started having seizures at 28 I’m on keppra and I hate this side effects I feel really woozy and dizzy I don’t feel like myself at all I can’t even have a cup of coffee thanx for sharing this video❤️
@@elenikariolemou7363 not sure but next week I’m going to see my doctor and talk to him about it this shit sux I whatever it is he can fix it I don’t know what I started having them
@ I’m taking one lamotrigne 100mg once a day I still have those keppra side effects tho I don’t understand why I’ve been taking this medication for a few months now and still those side affects not as bad as they were but they are still here I want it to go away I thought it would by now
I have epilepsy and hated it. That and depakote were my least favorite. I’m on lamotrigine now and it seems to be ok. I’m still having seizures though it is only my 3rd week of taking it. My Xs bf was diagnosed with epilepsy and he started Keppra and you could literally see the difference in him. It may work on some people but the people I’ve seen it seems to wear them down hard.
My neurologist started me on a total of 1000 mg of Keppra (gradually increases me to 3000mg Keppra and 100mg B6 in 6 months). Blood tests show my Keppra level is 26. Isn’t that too much B6? I’m 44, and had my 1st grand mal seizure at work in September 2019, 2nd at home in December 2019, 3rd at home and 4th at work in March 2020, and most recently at work this past Friday on April 24, 2020. I’m so emotional, when before all of this I felt balanced...btw, I’m a counselor. I’m crying so much for just about everything...anxiety is high...and feel apathetic 😐. I’m just tired, and I’ve never been so sad and depressed.
Seizure medications are known to change mood and motivation in some people, even at low doses. Personally, I would discuss my mood changes with my doctor.
Andrew Reeves Neurology Thank you, I did. We had a telemedicine visit yesterday. He’s going to start me on Lamictal, as he believes my seizures are stress induced, because that’s the common denominator and for my depressed mood. Then he’d like to taper/titrate the Keppra to a lower dosage. I’m praying I don’t experience the rash with Lamictal. That’s all I’ve seen/heard magnified when doing research. I’m extremely appreciative of your videos and responses.
@@MissBeeMarie I pray that all people and animals with seizures will get control over it. To be RID of it all would be even BETTER! Bless you. I hope the medication is working out for you.
Monkey Barrel I really appreciate your comment and prayers. The Lamictal has mellowed me out. I started feeling better emotionally after a couple of days. My doctor said I could start tapering off the Keppra. Part of me wants to, but I’m so scared to do it right now. I’ve just gotta fully trust God.
I can cope with Keppra, I still have the rare blackout which is putting a complete stop to my life. Several times I've collapsed, busting my head open, and as I live alone and am now in my seventies it gets to be bad news when I can't get into the car to go and see my doctor.
My daughter, 2 years old, has side effect when started Keppra. She is very agresive, sad, nervous, she cried half of the day. One hour after keppra I can tell she is in pain. She wakes up at night, she lost her apetite. Her neurologist said: " keppra is a great medicine, you must continue. She only has febrile seizures, and they are not frequent, once a month, when she has a virus. It happens during the day. Please help. What is another alternative? We only did short EEG, 10min, and while sleeping, a nurse dropped a heavy object. My child made sudden move with both arms. When I told this to her doctor, he said that it's possible that EEG register that as a sharp wave, but you must use Keppra. ?!?
I use a lot of lamotrigine in my practice. Also, all the EEG studies in our laboratory are done for 60 minutes. Also be aware that "febrile seizures" is a specific syndrome, and is not the same as "having seizures when there's a fever." It is confusing for many people, including doctors. Best of luck to you and your daughter!
@@andyreevesarchive528 Thank you very much. We are from Serbia, Europe, I'm still learning about epilepsy, types of seizures...our doctors are not so dedicated to patients, I wish I could take my child to any foreign clinic. They prescribe medications " just in case". I'm not a doctor, but I don't think that is enough to diagnoze epilepsy based on one EEG and no seizures without high fever.
My step brother has been givin keppra. He was diagnosed 3 years ago with syncope at the royal children’s hospital with no medication as his seizures were always months apart. They have become much more frequent, I sent him to hospital after having many a seizure every 3-4 hours after about 10 seizures in 24hrs I called the ambos. He was put on a ventilator so they could do test and let him recover, I guess. For the last few weeks he was taking keppra, but suffering from the side effects, headaches dopey ect. He had a seizure couple weeks after leaving the hospital while still taking his keppra so he wanted to stop taking it. 2 days later he’s had 3 seizures in the one day. His seizures are best compared to grand mal seizures. Because of Coronavirus the neurologist won’t see him and cancelled his appointment, I don’t know what he actually has even worse I have no idea who to go to for help😔
I have been on Keppra about a 1year now. And. It has help I haven’t had a seizure ever since the last one it’s a very good medication and I haven’t had any bad side effects
I have been on keppra almost a year now. Every night i have insanely crazy dreams. When i wake up i feel like i didnt sleep at all. Some days I can sleep for 12+hours and still be tired. I have watched myself become increasingly hostile. I almost hit my girlfriend in a fit of rage and i have never come close to anything like this in my entire life. I really hate this drug but i am allergic to many others and my epilepsy is bad enough that i have to be on medication. I keep telling myself maybe ill get used to it but its just getting worse and worse.
Keppra certainly stopped my seizures but also made me extremely aggressive and short tempered, stopped within days after talking leviracitam and switching to depakote or divalproex. I struggle with some mental health disorder including depression and anxiety, and this was not taken into account. The “no reason to be mad” is very accurate. I had a repetitive argument that I would bring up on a regular basis without provocation.
How about Briviact? How long does someone need to be on these medications? Pharmacy says its a Schedule V (?) (don't know exactly, but a Schedule "?" drug (as a controlled substance)😬
the book brain beat by doctor Michael J Hoffman is very interesting and an interesting point of view of the neurological response to the blood that is pumped to the main vein inside the brain
I currently take Lamotrigine for my seizures. I recently had an appointment with my neurologist, and we were possibly looking into adding something else to my medication. I had a car accident last year, and while in the hospital the doctor also looked into adding this to the lamotrigine. He said a side effect of it was anger or aggressive mood. We immediately said no to that. I was on Dilantin when I was first diagnosed with seizures, and that caused my mood to change my mood. We just stuck to the lamotrigine which has helped me quite a bit
I've been taking Keppra & simultaneously for the passed 13 years. A random switch to depikote by a doctor without notification put me in the emergency room everyday for an entire week because of the lack of professionalism
Thanks Brother, now I know why Ive been pissy.. Hope youve gotten your amp fixed. Take care man.. P.S. I hit a semi head on ,broke every limb but one arm. lost one leg steel rods in the 3 limbs I had left. But thank God so much when I woke up a month or so later I was still able to play guitar after a little Rock& Roll therapy.. Peace out man... I take my meds now and just play angry riffs...lol LIfe is So Good .. Loving every minute..
HI, my seizures also started with the Deja Vu Warning...been on Keppra for 3 days now. did you know the root cause of your deja vus, their relations to your current life, and so on... I'm looking to understand what is happening to my body as my neurologist can't explain to me in a manner that I can understand.
The "Deja vu's" didn't cause your seizures, it's the other way around, your seizures caused the "Deja vu's". Glad they worked for you however, that's what my seizures are like mostly, focal aware seizures however I had a Grand Mal seizure recently... So hoping Keppra I'm on now keeps me seizure free.
I got mostly good control with Keppra at 3g a day but when it was pushed to 4g a day it became intolerable. Once it got put back to 3g with added lamictal the combination became the best I've had in 35 years.
@@zzombada I take 3000mg Keppra a day and 100mg of Lamictal a day. When I took 4000mg of Keppra I either was or thought I was crazy because of it if that makes sense.
Quick question......I just switched to keppra......ive only taken 3 doses so far.......is it normal to feel wobbly, of balance,etc.? Cause when I turn a corner I feel kinda like I'm swinging around the corner like a drifting race car.....
I took this medication for quite a long time it caused anger, depression, ad some other side effects, as well as more seizures, I don't recommend it. I switched to depakote for my specific type of epilepsy, ever since i've rarely had seizures. Make sure whatever medication you get espeacially this medication matches your specific type of epilepsy (DVA, JME,etc). If your wondering about seizure meds, let me just say there's meds way better than keppra.
I’m new to Keppra. 62 years old. Looking like epilepsy is being ruled out. Cause of seizure not determined just yet. I did get a severe rash but it’s fading away now. My concern is insomnia. Anyone else affected with insomnia? It’s torture to be up all night
Hello doctor, i have been diagnosed as unclassified epilepsy and my eeg report suggested right anterior temporal lobe epilepsy. I have been prescribed levetiracetam 500 mg for a week and to continue with 1000mg daily. I’m 44yrs old female. I just started the medicine and i feel dizzy and tired always. Do i have to increase the dose or should 500mg be enough for me? My mri report is okay, i have no family history of epilepsy.
My 9 month old daughter just got put on this drug. She was the happiest, most loving, full of life little baby you'd ever meet. Now she's a little zombie, seems so emotionless and numb. She's so angry all the time. All I do is cry and cry. What drug would YOU personally, Dr Reeves, put a 9 month old on who has suffered from 4 seizures. Generalized focal seizures, lasting about 2 minutes each time.
I’ll say experiment with cannabis bro, start small doses It helps with any other medications( keppra 750} bro at least for Me it does, Hope helps god bless!
Thanks Doc for the very educative video. How long is it advisable to take keppra? I seem to suffer convulsions at night only after an intense weight lifting workouts (SPECIFICALLY ONE ARM ROWS). Mris and all the other tests showed nothing wrong. Can it(keppra) be a lifelong medication..so I can be taking once a week 250mg twice a day each time after heavy lifting?
The people around me I feel like they don’t want to associate my behaviour to my meds because every time I bring it up they say I have anger issues and I’m looking for a excuse ( 750mg kepra) ( 150mglemotragine) twice a day. and it is almost starting to make me feel depressed and I’m just seeking for help. Who would I go see?
I can't remember short-term when I'm on this drug and I still have seizures and it makes me have bad mood swings I tore up my house and broke everything at least three times. They're still trying to find a medicine to help me. I can't believe all the money we have in the world to ship they spend money on in this country and they can't figure out how to stop a fucking seizure. I'm praying for myself everyday and everyone out there who has seizures and they cannot find the diagnosis
I've been taking this for 1 1/2 year. Goodnews the seizure has stopped but there are so many bad effects like losing my short memory most of the time. I feel dizzy most of the time, it always took a while to grasp a very basic info. like I was staring at a table but it took me more than 10 seconds to figure out that it was a table. I'm really scared. I feel like losing my life anytime of the day. I feel hopeless.
@@AndrewReevesNeurology yeah I will. thanks could you help me on what questions must I raise to my doctor? cause all I know is I am an epelipetic, my meds is keppra and it will take 3 yrs. for me to be possibly feel okay.
The anger thing is very real. It’s kinda worked to keep the auras away but like he said “ dont need a reason to be angry “ its bad but like everyone else in the comments i feel like i cant just stop taking it..
They tried to give it to me for a cause for a conclusion on my head when I went into a seizure for that reason I begin begin to have a reaction I went into a seizure And they also apply to continue to prescribe it to me afterwards and it was unnecessary
I'm taking five hundred twice a day and it's never effected me badly. My nurologist keeps changing my meds but won't add more keppra instead of experimenting with other drugs. This really pisses me off, I've been epileptic for over forty years and I'm sick of being experimented with. Now I've been give fycompa and it's putting me to sleep all day.
Hi Dr.! I have a 8 yr son on Levetiracetam 3ml twice a day. I see that he has slowed thinking as a reaction after taking the meds. What other drugs should I discuss with my Dr, I heard that Lamotrigine may be better for slowed thinking. He had seizure a related to Occipital eplepsy "Gastaut Type" with sudden bilateral loss of vision. Thanks!
I could not take it. I had every side effect it says. And every bad side effect. What is best other than. This (keppra) Please help. Love, 🙏 epileptic in KY
Hello Andrew I’ve been on Keppra for many years now and I think since August 2021 I realize that it started developing rashes I was taking lamotrigine 200 mg pills twice a day and Keppra 500 mg pills two tablets twice a day I stopped taking lamotrigine because it started developing rashes and I saw that he had a side effect of Steven Johnson syndrome but after having stopped in it I still have rashes. is it something that keeps going after you have it stop taking lamotrigine or would it be Keppra causing it.
So I Have Been On Keppra For A Few Months Now && It Really Makes Me Angry. I Really Don’t Like Keppra So I Take It Maybe Twice A Month Instead of Everyday. Maybe More Depending On My Epilepsy. Is There Anything Else That Is Available Other Than Keppra? TIA
It’s really an awesome review.. By the way, is it a safe drug in pregnancy. My wife is gradually switching from carbamazapine to Keppra recently. It’s almost the end her 1st trimester. I see her a neurologist recently. She actually suffering from breathlessness in sleep..
I recently started having seizures and have panic attacks but feel like I am dying. I am on keppra, Gabapentin, and clonazepam. I have a 17x22mm cyst I didn't have a year ago on my paramedian dorsal. I been having mood swings and been extremely suicidal, and am overlooked cause I am an addict. I also don't have epilepsy. Just wake up in extreme leg pain and feel like I am giving up
I had a seizure in July 2022 I'm 79 Dr's just say a seizure not a definite explanation. I'm on Keppra 500mg twice daily. No driving 6 months I am going for counseling this month very depressed and want to drive for my needs. Have headaches through the night. The hospital and Dr who treated me are Dr's too far from where I live. I live alone help please
I take 2,500 Keppra 3 times a day. I hardy feel hungry and this will be 5th year. My memory is horrible.. Plus, with Keppra I’m on 4 different seizure medications. I was in and out of different hospitals for three years. It all started when I was 17...
I've been on it for a while but got bumped to 1k 2x daily a few days ago after an apparent seizure. I also have a GBM diagnosis and now I'm worried it's coming back. I remember waking up getting put on the stretcher, lol.
Only day 2 and my anxiety is significantly better. I'm on half my dose of keppra right now and full briviact. I'll try to remember to update later when I'm on briviact only in case anyone sees this
@@sweetine777 overall I am much better. My anxiety is only at a 2 at most instead of the 8-10 it would usually be at. But I feel like I could only attribute 10-15% of that to switching to briviact. After a few weeks of briviact I started taking ashwagandha 470mg once a day that I picked up in GNC. Also no seizures, however those were already very under control on keppra and I am fortunate. Also more consistant CBD usage. I started taking a 25mg CBD oil pill from flower of life CBD every night. I'd say 10% briviact, 75% ashwagandha, 15% CBD have been the difference. In my anxiety and depression. Briviact is $40 a month my keppra used to only be 5. The CBD was 70 for a month. The ashwagandha was a much better deal but don't remember specific price. All of it worth it to me because I was in a really bad spot.
@@ROFL_661 Thank you so much, I'll talk to my mom about adding those and switching from keppra because she's really going through it with all the side effects of keppra. Quick question, did you have any paranoia while on keppra?
@@sweetine777 yes. More of a health anxiety OCD thing. I always felt like I was out of breath or going to pass out. So I was always googling symptoms or thinking I had some health issue. Completely unable to relax and difficulty sleeping.
You know what? Thank you for this video your the first and only person on this entire TH-cam that explains things that everyone can understand... Thank you for this video it truly helped me
It works perfectly fine for me ( keppra ) I Been on it for 7 years . First 3 years I only had a seizure once a year . After that I been seizure free going for 5 years 😁💪🏼 .
Hey, when would you get your seizures? During the day or sleep? I get seizures only in my sleep and I'm scared of taking Keppra. I feel like I choke while asleep. If I continue getting em I'm gonna have to take something.
How many seizures did you have before you started taking it?
@@xgt1000 how did do you know you had seizures during your sleep? Were your muscles all sore and tight when you woke up?
Show off lol well done
It worked for me for ten years, surgery has been offered.
Keppra rage is crazy. I had it the first two-three months and then it went away. Keppra a working great for me so far!
Me too!! It's terrible.
Keppra stops my seizures but I don't enjoy life anymore, never satisfied, can't even feel love & I was a very caring person, it's really sad. Got off it for a bit, felt amazing & could care & love people again, started having seizures again, had to get back on it. Feel emotionless again, so I know it's deffs the drug. Epilepsy since I was 13, 26 now, ruined my life.
I've been on the medicine for 4 years day and night, I'm 20 now. I thought I was alone.
Startedwhen i was 8, 21 now. Super emotional a lot of hate and paranoid thoughts thoughts of just ending it all sometimes but it comes and goes just went from 2500 mg to 2000 hoping for a change.
Look into chiropractor
CBD
Have you tried keto diet? I grew up on Dilantin and phenobarbitol. Went on to Tegretol, then Epival, back to Tegretol with Frisium, then on to Keppra. I can't say I was ever 'happy' on any of them but Keppra was the worse for me. I finally went keto after menopause, and wish I had done it years ago. I carry Frisium always and take only on occasion if I feel I'm at increased risk (fever, nauseous...) Google the Charlie Foundation and google Dateline NBC Medical Secrets.
I suffered an attempted suicide while on Levetiracetam. I've been a lab rat since 1983. These doctors should take these medications and find out for themselves what the side effects are like.
I've gone through two Neurologists already and I have only been Epileptic for about 7 months. The last one had no personality whatsoever and was completely Ego driven. So I completely understand what you're saying. Some are just legal drug dealers, and it's sad. I'm in the process of transitioning from Levicteram, to Lamotrigine, as I don't care much for the side effects of Levicteram. I'm not suicidal thankfully, but before I started taking medication, I was usually pretty balanced emotionally. Now it's all over the place, and sometimes I really have to catch myself, so I'm not being short with people and barking at them. It's not completely out of control, but there are definitely moments I see myself doing things I never would have done beforehand. That's the problem with basically every single modern medication. They do all affect us differently, but there always seems to be undesirable side effects, just to accomplish what you want from them. Sure I'm still alive and the seizures have been at bay, since being on medication, but I don't really enjoy being sad at times, when there is nothing to be sad about. It's like it puts feelings in your head that aren't true, or how we really feel. The first two weeks on it, I was weeping one minute and laughing hysterically the next
YES! And they wonder why I'm a little stingy with information they want from me. All they want is a good, little, bill paying (like you said) lab rat.
I have never had any problems on Keppra 750 mg I take that n lamictal 200mg morning and night
Totally agree! These doctors put my son on Keppra after a serious car accident where he had a brain injury that caused seizure after seizure... well, good news is that he's fine, but stays depressed, mad and very agitated, and talking like he's a serial killer or something, or Just ready to die, he says... call the doctor, and all they did was lower by 250mg a dose? Not to mention, he also stays dizzy and says his heart is racing.... im about to talk to a lawyer
I have no choice, glaucoma medication conflicts with epilim and 2 days later am on keppra
Just started this medication and this is the first video that I personally feel has given me any useful information. Thank you for that.
Glad it was helpful!
I started this medication too but makes me very tired.
One of the best inforrmative videos on Keppra, thank you very much for putting this video together, I really enjoyed listening to you.
I have been taking Keppra for years and I didn't know about "Keppra Rage" as what I've heard the nickname in other chats. I have had some arguments on things that were for good reason, but couldn't let things go and might have escalated because I have to be right. Currently taking 1500. I'm currently a nursing student with extended time and it takes me much longer to memorize things than other individuals of course. But I try to never let me hold me back.
@marissa15 Oh, I would ask your doctor for that information. Sorry.
Great news,
I’ve been on keppra for some weeks now. It’s hard to concentrate at times . Also I get very cranky and at times I get very very dizzy and always feel very tired. I hope I can get over these side effects and just be normal again. And seizure free.
Sorry, but you won't feel normal, especially depending on how long you'll be on it. I've been on keppra since it was very first put on the market (about 25-30 years) and sometimes I'm perfectly fine, others I fall into depression and anxiety big time, I've almost tried to take my life already. Then it's like you suddenly realize what you've just done after you do it, I mean it's a bad side effect, but I'm also on phenobarbital and phenytoin.
@@DiMarzio-Toneyou don’t have to discourage him, everyone’s bodies react differently to medications. I’m sorry you’ve been on this medication for that long, I hope you heal eventually.
@@invoice999 Actually I'm glad you said that about me healing, cause I'm gonna try and stop taking these medications, my life is almost over and I don't wanna live the rest of my life feeling confused and mixed up. It's not all because of the meds, but the anger, anxiety and tearing up for no reason issues are bad, totally controller over my real personality, I don't even quite remember how I used to feel. So I'm gonna ween myself off, I've been missing my meds a lot and nothing has happened. Usually I'd pay for missing my meds, seizure time. But not for about six months of missing my meds on and off. I'm scared I'll be honest with you, I hope it's time for me to stop, or I could cause harm to myself.
@@DiMarzio-Tone I wouldn’t just give up a medication that fast without talking to your neurologist. (I know sometimes it feels like all they wanna do is drug you) but tell them ab what you’re feeling. Try looking for therapy. Trust me man I may not know exactly how you feel but I’m on a similar path. I got Epilepsy since I was 12. First they thought it was just one seizure but I had multiple. Since then I’ve been on medication. It sucks cause most of the time I feel like a burden to those who care for me and idk if that’s the medication, or just how I actually feel. I cant drive, it pretty much ruined my life and no one understands cause they just think taking the drugs is doing the good. There’s more to it and I get it. I hope everything turns out alright and you’ll be okay, I think of this as more like a test that god (idk if you’re religious) is putting me through. To make me stronger. we’re fighters man don’t give up!
I have epilepsy and tried out a number of different seizure medications and they all made me feel not only like I was a different person but like I was always half sedated or half full of jittery energy not good at all.Once I tried Keppra all that went away and the Keppra helps with my epilepsy and doesn't make me feel like Doo Doo.Good video very informative thanks
Whats the best medicstion that youve tried apart from keppra (levetiracetam) because I have mood changes ftom keppraso I want to try something else
@@leventescurrah7758 only Keppra work's the rest were not good not even a little bit so I don't recommend any other medications for epilepsy
@@leventescurrah7758 p
I have been on Keppra for over 25 years and it seems to work well with no side effects
Thank you, Doctor! I just got diagnosed with Epilepsy 2 weeks ago at 20 years old. I've taking Keppra as one of my medications and it's really nice to kinda hear the run down on it in a much more comprehensive way than my neurologist has given me. This video was very insightful, once again, thank you!
You're very welcome, April, and best of luck with keeping seizures under control!
Hey, I started taking Keppra one year ago at 21 years old after I experienced the first seizures in my life. I’ve been seizure free since. I did experience mood swings for the first month or so, but not anymore.
i’m in the same situation! thank you!
Excelente video. I been on Keppra for almost a year. The first weeks I was really grouchy. Works great for me.
My mom takes that now twice a day it makes her sleepy though i have one question can a person who has eplisesy drink tea
@@samanthasims7123 Decaf. My Dr. told me to try to avoid Caffeinated drinks. However I can drink regular coffee every so often.
@@AlexRamirez-vq4gc funny thing my mom only drinks hot chocolate and ginger ale she wants to drink tea but im honestly doing things very safely now she has eplipsey now so being on the safe side
Oh wow I'm not alone, I've been on this medicine for 4 years morning and night, and I'm 20
@marissa15 great. 1 more year and God willing they will take me of it.
I'm on 2000MG/day. I was taking 3000MG. At the higher dose, I started getting really bad thoughts and depression. Not suicidal, exactly, but these moods woukd start where I would get all sad out of nowhere. Like as sad as I was when my daddy died. Then a random thought would pop into my head...like "if you just cut yourself, you'd feel much better". It sounds crazy, but it wasn't my normal subconscious voice, it was as if someone else was saying it to me, but in my head. It scared me horribly. I've never been a depressed person, even when I had plenty of reason to be. I've not had an easy life (grew up in an abusive home, watching my alcoholic father beat my mother, and much more), but never have I ever had thoughts like that before. So I talked to my neurologist about it and his first thought was to switch me to another seizure med. But I suggested maybe going back down on the dosage. I'd only been on 3000mg for maybe a month, and had taken the drug overall about 6 months. Never at the lower dosages did I have issues. I just had had 2 more seizures (after almost being seizure free for 3 months) but that (I believe at least) was bc I was missing too many doses. One thing Keppra has always done is slow my thinking and affect my memory. It wasn't until I set an alarm on my phone that I started taking every dose every time. I'm now seizure free since June 16 and not skipping doses. Depression has mostly gone away, I'm just more sensitive to what's going on around me, if that makes sense. Like I'm not getting sad out of nowhere or having bad thoughts, but if someone in my family is rude or upset, I'll get really down about it more than normal for me. Idk what to do. I hate this medication honestly, wish I could take nothing. I started having seizures suddenly at 34 years old. After a million tests, my neurologist has ruled out every cause except severe exhaustion, brought on by years of undiagnosed (I didn't even realize) severe sleep apnea. I now have a CPap machine and am getting real sleep. But he says I have to take this medication for 5 years no matter what. I don't like that at all. I've had about 15 seizures in all, between Nov 2018- Feb 16. Plus was having focal seizures inbetween. But now they've all stopped. I just want to be med free and back to my normal life. Who knows what this is doing to my liver? I'm not even quick to take pain meds for a headache unless absolutely necessary. I'm seriously considering giving it a year and then weaning myself off...assuming I stay seizure free. I'll be careful not to drive etc while I do it if I do, and I'll inform my doctors.
Thank you for sharing your story Jennifer snd your experience with this drug. I'm sorry you had such a rough road to travel. You are a strong person. Hoping you have a happier better road ahead, a complete remission and weaning. You can look into lifestyle (sleep, sun, exercise, positive and good company, quieter job..) and dietary changes (keeping off the common allergens and inflammatory foods). Wishing you all the wellness ahead 🌻🌻🌻
Wow! I was around 34 when mine began suddenly. I got better and got off of it... but then they came back and I can't seem to get them under control... :( Be very careful when you wean yourself and do like the other person suggested too! Good luck to you!
Thank you so much for sharing - my 17 year old brother had brain surgery last year and he has been taking keppra since then. He’s in the hospital right now after having 2 seizure last night they went from 1000 to 3000 per day we hope that they reduced it ones his back to normal. This is very scary.... sending love your way ❤️
I have heard that voice while on Keppra, scared the crap out of me.
Thanks for sharing that. My own experience mirrors that quite closely. Got up with my disabled son 2-3x/night for about 16 years. Hard to get back to sleep after dealing with messy bathroom issues. Had grand mal then keppra. Few partial onset focused seizing response to stress, missed dosage and lack of sleep. I despise the depression, anger, loss of self, memory problems. But no more grand mal, so I’m resistant to try something else. I’ll stick with the devil I know.
I have Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Had it from the age of 14. I got diagnosed with it at 21 years old. I am 22 now and the keppra has been working brilliantly for me. First few weeks I felt tired but now I'm fine. I'm seizure free.
Hi...how long do you have to take this medicine???
@@ramans7720 almost 2years maybe if you are not having a seizure .. it would be permanent tho if the seizure appears
how did you titrate down front he meds? are you still taking it? Im trying to get off of it and want to do it responsibly. Thank you!!!
As a kid I took Keppra and I was so angry all the time when I took it, I constantly got into arguments and was given detention at least once a week, I even attempted suicide a number of times because I was so overwhelmed with anger and frustration at the smallest things
I have been having trouble with with this drug the rage and confusion 😢 is horrible. Thank you for sharing your opinions
@@kieranmccrory3960 of course, I'd recommend talking to your doctor about alternatives as soon as you can.
It’s also a mood stabilizer. It also has a side disorder called Keppra rage. Vitamin b12 has been said to help.
I had Keppra done by vein at the ER and my seizures were gone for a week.
nice, how u feeling today?
I started having problems with being "absent" in grade school. Later had Eclampsia convulsions after my first delivery. Then had T I A s around menopause and seizures when falling asleep or being awakened suddenly. Complex Partial. Started on Dilantin and tried everything under the sun to keep them in check, to no avail. I had terrible and strange side effects as well. That was around 1999? Then the doctor decided to try Keppra and everything changed! All my life I have been a victim of crying issues. I cried easily and couldn't stop or control it. I even cried at the end of seizures. No emotion, just crying. Now all that has stopped! 750 mg three times a day. I can control my emotions and have no more seizures. Yes, I seem a little scrambled and my memory isn't great, but is far better than having the rest of it! I don't mind being thought of as a batty old grandma. I'm 72. 😆😜 Thanks for your channel! 💋💖
Thank you doc, you're a good one. You actually make me want to change my doctor.
Thank you so much for this video, my son has just been put on them and I pray he’ll be as successful on it as some of the people that’s commented 🙏🏼 he’s 19
Just jules bro may i chat with u pls ! I need information cos' my brother son also on levetiracetam !! How is your son ? How old is he ? How many mg ? My nephew is 11 and he is given 1000 mg a day is that enough ?
Oh i saw it he is 19 ok
What is his dose mg pls ?
Deepen Rai Hi Deepen
My son was first put on 250mg twice a day and then I think after a few weeks that went up to 1000mg. They have said everyone is different and because of the possible side effects this is the dose they start at and if the have any more seizures they increase it.
Deepen Rai ....and so far so good on the 1000mg, thank God 🙏🏼 always praying it stays that way. I wish your brother’s son all the best.
I had got on keppra this year in February it help but the side effects something else it make me sleepy and my mood be changing i don’t wish this on nobody but i can’t take no naps if I do it feel like I had a seizure in my sleep so I’m going make appointment for a sleep study
I’ve been on keppra for 6 years now. The first few months were very ruff! Break through simple partial seizures, lots of other side effects. But no tonic clinic seizures! So I stuck with it. I upped my dosage to 2000mg per day and I found two supplements that sure seemed to help mitigate side effects and maybe helped my epilepsy as well. That is of course unknown but when I take vitamin B6 it really helped my nervous system calm down. Than later I included omega 3 fatty acids. The omega 3 really seemed to help stop occasional days where I would suffer from dizziness or vertigo that could last sometimes all day. So to summarize the keppra seems to do an excellent job stopping my tonic clonic seizures. As well as greatly reducing my simple partial siezures in quantity and intensity. The B6 really controlled anxiety attacks and general sense of stress and anxiety I believe was already present but keppra made worse, and the omega 3 fatty acids has really seemed to help with dizziness and vertigo which was one of my seizure types. So over all I am a strong proponent of keppra with the clear understanding that one suit does not fit all. But I can not stress enough how these two supplements I take now has greatly stabalized some of the worse side effects I felt from keppra and additionally could potentially be having a positive impact on my epilepsy in general. So for everyone out there who’s trying to figure this stuff out these are my experiences I know they might not be yours but hopefully this information can help some people. Good luck out there trying to find seizure control! Stay strong, give yourself a lot of compassion and respect for what your going through❤️
Thank you for your post. I take vitamin B6, but not daily. Maybe I should try that... and I've never taken the other thing you mentioned. I also have major dizziness. I have an appointment today. I'll ask about it! Thanks again!
Dragonfly Intuition, Hi there, I just wanted to specify the omega 3 fatty acids I take are from fish oil. There are other plant and nut sources for omega 3’s but fish oils just have a lot of them.
I wish you the best and as much seizure control as possible!
Just remember that extremely high doses of vitamin B6 are toxic to sensory nerves in the arms and legs. Poor balance is usually the first sign.
God bless you so much
Am really blessed have this information or testimony. Iwill try it .on my daughter, she has been now on keppra one and half months. But seem not to do well. She gets very bad attacks and over stay plus fatigue , bad mood etc. So thanks going to try this by God's grace it will work out for us too. Be blessed once again🙏👏👏❤️
@@AndrewReevesNeurology
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😊
For me Keppra hasn't stopped the seizures at all and the side effects have been really bad. I would stop taking it, but I don't want to have any more seizures than I already do.
I know the feeling trust me. I have nocturnal epilepsy and keppra is doing me no good but I know I can't just stop taking it.
Try a therapy called ncr neuro cranial restructuring. Will make a huge difference to ur life trust me!
Hi I'm on Keppra hasn't stop mine either, mine comes from mine my Right hippocampus, recently I started reading about creatine as a food supplement taken with your Meds, so far I'm only on day 20 without any, but that good for me.
de ad sometimes. Depends on what seizure your having or how violent it is.
@de ad I have them at night. Sometimes I'm extremely sore afterwards, usually a day or so later. Sometimes I bite my tongue which can be extremely painful.
I just switched from phenytoin to keppra. So sincerely appreciated.
nice, how u feeling today?
I have been taking keppra from when it first came out. My seizures have never been fully under control I have about four seizures a month but if I have cluster seizures it will get up in the hundreds. God bless everyone with this it is hard real hard. Keppra has helped a lot I'm tired of being sick I have Suicide thoughts a lot and my wife and people do not understand it.
How are you now, how is your emotional state? Get well soon.
I always tell my Dr about the crazy roller coaster of emotions I go through, and I really just lost hope in any other options I can have ps I've always been a very positive person until I started keppra at first at thought it was just me going through the motions of realizing I was ill and I was going to stay like that for the rest of my life but everyone in my family noticed my changes, and were concerned, they asked my Dr of I was bipolar and he just said no.
Keppra sucks!
Get another neurologist and a mental health evaluation for your sake.
I been on keppra . Really bad side affects. My mom said when I was young I took this I was so angry and upset.
AutoMemoryDoll same here! I didn’t even realize it untill I stopped taking it
samee
I was on it in the hospital during my first seizure. After the first pill at home, I had horrible delusions. I ended up back in the hospital overnight. Praying the Rosary kept me sane until it wore off. I'm now on two other drugs. Keppra is off the list permanently for me.
I've have been on and off of levitracitam 250mgs for some time, because some doctors thought that I was just having fainting spells. Recently I was put on 500mgs twice a day. I can deal with these side effects, because the medication helps calm my body. It also helps with the migraine with aura. Topamax and Lamictal worked for me too, but the side effects were unbearable. I'm thankful for keppra. Dilantin was the first medication that worked for me as a teen.
Hi, my son was just recently diagnosed with JME when he was 14 yrs old I didn’t even know because it started happening while he was showering early mornings .And I though he was fainting in the shower due to maybe to showering with hot water I once had to break the bathroom door because I heard a loud noise and I called his name and he didn’t respond.Started in 3/2023 since last year his seizures have happened more often .He is having weekly seizures usually in morning between 7:00 am to 10:00am
He started taking Keppra but I honestly hear so many bad feed back I’m scared he gets his seizures controles but a worse health issues would raise due to this medication
I've only experienced numbness in my fingers and toes as well as loss of appetite and balance issues.
I didn't know balance issues were a side effect! I've been experiencing that so often!
same here i cant stand i feel so dizzy
oh my god the balance issues! i feel like im drunk and can’t stand up straight
I’ve been on the stuff pretty much ever since it first came out. It works great at keeping the seizures under control. I’ve never had the so-called “Keppra rage,” but the biggest thing for me is that it makes me as forgetful as $h!t. I feel like Dory from Finding Nemo. People often have to repeat themselves to me, and sometimes I’ll completely forget someone’s name or forget what I’m saying in the middle of a sentence. This became especially apparent when my neurologist upped my dose recently.
How old is Keppra?
@@PuffleFuzz It's been around for about 20 years
I had Keppra rage and I am very easy going. But during the first few weeks while adjusting I would get so angry so fast. It was that type of anger that almost starts in your chest? And the littlest of things would set it off
I experienced the rage at the beginning and as I increased the dose (max dosage) I kept forgetting things
@@luqmaanabdullah2550did it get better? How did you quit?
I mix Keppra with a CBD/THC 1:1 flower often.
I used to get very pissed off all the time when I was solely on Keppra.
I've had my license back almost a year, often feel irritable if I haven't gotten stoned in a couple days.
I'll smoke up at night for leg pain, walking around with a pulled ACL all day, don't get much sleep without it.
Not sure if this is safe, so far so good.
I don't feel safe smoking cigarettes, they hurt my head.
Totally dealing with the side effects you’ve mentioned from this drug
same. i have severe arm spasms and that jus jumpstarts me to having a seizure... i do NOT like Keppra at all!!
@@thedcuostylist6689 Yeah I stopped taking that medication and told my doctor I wouldn’t be it anymore another side effect they didn’t mention was and it is actually kind of funny I couldn’t keep a hard on cuz of those meds 😂🤣 wife wasn’t too happy about it 😂 Hell bro I hope you find something that works with you
@@masongauthier1998 hopefully.. this med jus makes my life worse.. i've had 2 seizures because it jumpstarted my muscle twitching from side affects
I have epilepsy. I've been on keppra since I was diagnosed. When I first started taking it everybody noticed my mood swings right away. I thought I was a little grumpy but my family thinks my mood hasn't been the same. My mood is better.
@marissa15 Eh. My body's use to it. I'm not as moody
@marissa15 quit caffeine and you'll get more energy
nice, how u feeling today?
@@bloodya2h773 Well better. Thanks for asking.
Thank you! I've been on Keppra for 4 months and seizures are controlled thankfully but I've been pretty angry lots so it's good to know this stuff.
Hopefully it'll settle down. If not, you should discuss it with your doctor.
@@AndrewReevesNeurology I am higher dose 4000 mg daily can I lower it down to 3000 mg a day .
I keep a diary and despite keppra I get seizures twice a month. Strange pattern is that it seems to be in tune with lunar cycles. Anyone else feel that?
Well, thanks for that. It's a thousand times more information than the Pill Pusher that prescribed it for me gave me. Since using it I have blurred vision. Cut the dosage?
Glad it was helpful! Blurred vision could be a side effect.
I’m 30 years old I started having seizures at 28 I’m on keppra and I hate this side effects I feel really woozy and dizzy I don’t feel like myself at all I can’t even have a cup of coffee thanx for sharing this video❤️
You cant take any other medicine?
@@elenikariolemou7363 not sure but next week I’m going to see my doctor and talk to him about it this shit sux I whatever it is he can fix it I don’t know what I started having them
@@ladyr3d1990 nice, how u feeling today?
@ I’m taking one lamotrigne 100mg once a day I still have those keppra side effects tho I don’t understand why I’ve been taking this medication for a few months now and still those side affects not as bad as they were but they are still here I want it to go away I thought it would by now
I have epilepsy and hated it. That and depakote were my least favorite. I’m on lamotrigine now and it seems to be ok. I’m still having seizures though it is only my 3rd week of taking it. My Xs bf was diagnosed with epilepsy and he started Keppra and you could literally see the difference in him. It may work on some people but the people I’ve seen it seems to wear them down hard.
My neurologist started me on a total of 1000 mg of Keppra (gradually increases me to 3000mg Keppra and 100mg B6 in 6 months). Blood tests show my Keppra level is 26. Isn’t that too much B6? I’m 44, and had my 1st grand mal seizure at work in September 2019, 2nd at home in December 2019, 3rd at home and 4th at work in March 2020, and most recently at work this past Friday on April 24, 2020. I’m so emotional, when before all of this I felt balanced...btw, I’m a counselor. I’m crying so much for just about everything...anxiety is high...and feel apathetic 😐. I’m just tired, and I’ve never been so sad and depressed.
Seizure medications are known to change mood and motivation in some people, even at low doses. Personally, I would discuss my mood changes with my doctor.
Andrew Reeves Neurology Thank you, I did. We had a telemedicine visit yesterday. He’s going to start me on Lamictal, as he believes my seizures are stress induced, because that’s the common denominator and for my depressed mood. Then he’d like to taper/titrate the Keppra to a lower dosage. I’m praying I don’t experience the rash with Lamictal. That’s all I’ve seen/heard magnified when doing research. I’m extremely appreciative of your videos and responses.
@@MissBeeMarie I pray that all people and animals with seizures will get control over it. To be RID of it all would be even BETTER!
Bless you. I hope the medication is working out for you.
Monkey Barrel I really appreciate your comment and prayers. The Lamictal has mellowed me out. I started feeling better emotionally after a couple of days. My doctor said I could start tapering off the Keppra. Part of me wants to, but I’m so scared to do it right now. I’ve just gotta fully trust God.
I can cope with Keppra, I still have the rare blackout which is putting a complete stop to my life. Several times I've collapsed, busting my head open, and as I live alone and am now in my seventies it gets to be bad news when I can't get into the car to go and see my doctor.
My daughter, 2 years old, has side effect when started Keppra. She is very agresive, sad, nervous, she cried half of the day. One hour after keppra I can tell she is in pain. She wakes up at night, she lost her apetite. Her neurologist said: " keppra is a great medicine, you must continue. She only has febrile seizures, and they are not frequent, once a month, when she has a virus. It happens during the day. Please help. What is another alternative? We only did short EEG, 10min, and while sleeping, a nurse dropped a heavy object. My child made sudden move with both arms. When I told this to her doctor, he said that it's possible that EEG register that as a sharp wave, but you must use Keppra. ?!?
I use a lot of lamotrigine in my practice. Also, all the EEG studies in our laboratory are done for 60 minutes. Also be aware that "febrile seizures" is a specific syndrome, and is not the same as "having seizures when there's a fever." It is confusing for many people, including doctors. Best of luck to you and your daughter!
@@andyreevesarchive528 Thank you very much. We are from Serbia, Europe, I'm still learning about epilepsy, types of seizures...our doctors are not so dedicated to patients, I wish I could take my child to any foreign clinic. They prescribe medications " just in case". I'm not a doctor, but I don't think that is enough to diagnoze epilepsy based on one EEG and no seizures without high fever.
My step brother has been givin keppra.
He was diagnosed 3 years ago with syncope at the royal children’s hospital with no medication as his seizures were always months apart.
They have become much more frequent, I sent him to hospital after having many a seizure every 3-4 hours after about 10 seizures in 24hrs I called the ambos.
He was put on a ventilator so they could do test and let him recover, I guess.
For the last few weeks he was taking keppra, but suffering from the side effects, headaches dopey ect.
He had a seizure couple weeks after leaving the hospital while still taking his keppra so he wanted to stop taking it.
2 days later he’s had 3 seizures in the one day.
His seizures are best compared to grand mal seizures.
Because of Coronavirus the neurologist won’t see him and cancelled his appointment, I don’t know what he actually has even worse I have no idea who to go to for help😔
This was SO helpful, thank you! Seriously ✌️
I have been on Keppra about a 1year now. And. It has help I haven’t had a seizure ever since the last one it’s a very good medication and I haven’t had any bad side effects
How much r u on?
@@viviananne4712 750
How are you now? Still taking it?
Anger at all?
@@yasminambriz6817 nice, how u feeling today ? and still using kepra?
I have been on keppra almost a year now. Every night i have insanely crazy dreams. When i wake up i feel like i didnt sleep at all. Some days I can sleep for 12+hours and still be tired. I have watched myself become increasingly hostile. I almost hit my girlfriend in a fit of rage and i have never come close to anything like this in my entire life. I really hate this drug but i am allergic to many others and my epilepsy is bad enough that i have to be on medication. I keep telling myself maybe ill get used to it but its just getting worse and worse.
The only side effect for me is that it makes me sleepy after taking it
Keppra certainly stopped my seizures but also made me extremely aggressive and short tempered, stopped within days after talking leviracitam and switching to depakote or divalproex. I struggle with some mental health disorder including depression and anxiety, and this was not taken into account. The “no reason to be mad” is very accurate. I had a repetitive argument that I would bring up on a regular basis without provocation.
How about Briviact? How long does someone need to be on these medications? Pharmacy says its a Schedule V (?) (don't know exactly, but a Schedule "?" drug (as a controlled substance)😬
the book brain beat by doctor Michael J Hoffman is very interesting and an interesting point of view of the neurological response to the blood that is pumped to the main vein inside the brain
I currently take Lamotrigine for my seizures. I recently had an appointment with my neurologist, and we were possibly looking into adding something else to my medication. I had a car accident last year, and while in the hospital the doctor also looked into adding this to the lamotrigine. He said a side effect of it was anger or aggressive mood. We immediately said no to that. I was on Dilantin when I was first diagnosed with seizures, and that caused my mood to change my mood. We just stuck to the lamotrigine which has helped me quite a bit
Thank you for the insight.
I've been taking Keppra & simultaneously for the passed 13 years. A random switch to depikote by a doctor without notification put me in the emergency room everyday for an entire week because of the lack of professionalism
nice, how u feeling today ? and still using kepra?
I've been on it since February. I'm naggered all the time. I feel so flat. Hate it. Am considering swapping out but my Dr isn't keen.
Thanks Brother, now I know why Ive been pissy.. Hope youve gotten your amp fixed. Take care man.. P.S. I hit a semi head on ,broke every limb but one arm. lost one leg steel rods in the 3 limbs I had left. But thank God so much when I woke up a month or so later I was still able to play guitar after a little Rock& Roll therapy.. Peace out man... I take my meds now and just play angry riffs...lol LIfe is So Good .. Loving every minute..
Makes me realise how luck I am, best of luck to you!
Blessings to you fam🙏🏾
nice, how u feeling today about epilepsy with kepra?
My dad been on this since 2012 and no seizures since then
Damn lucky, first got mine in 2015 and ive had over a dozen
Depends on the person not all people will react the same to the same medication it took since 1986 to find him the right medicine
No problems for me as far as I have motoced, and it has stopped the “deja vu’s” which caused my seizures, sp I’m very happy.
HI, my seizures also started with the Deja Vu Warning...been on Keppra for 3 days now. did you know the root cause of your deja vus, their relations to your current life, and so on... I'm looking to understand what is happening to my body as my neurologist can't explain to me in a manner that I can understand.
The "Deja vu's" didn't cause your seizures, it's the other way around, your seizures caused the "Deja vu's". Glad they worked for you however, that's what my seizures are like mostly, focal aware seizures however I had a Grand Mal seizure recently... So hoping Keppra I'm on now keeps me seizure free.
It was real bad for me I was depressed couldn't eat or sleep and bad anxiety
I got mostly good control with Keppra at 3g a day but when it was pushed to 4g a day it became intolerable. Once it got put back to 3g with added lamictal the combination became the best I've had in 35 years.
I have a question I've been taking 2000mg for 21 years are you taking 3000mg or 4000mg a day ? I've been taking aed's for 62 years .
@@zzombada I take 3000mg Keppra a day and 100mg of Lamictal a day. When I took 4000mg of Keppra I either was or thought I was crazy because of it if that makes sense.
Quick question......I just switched to keppra......ive only taken 3 doses so far.......is it normal to feel wobbly, of balance,etc.? Cause when I turn a corner I feel kinda like I'm swinging around the corner like a drifting race car.....
Same here I just taking it and I don't feel the same no more
Hope you went back and switched off keppra
I took this medication for quite a long time it caused anger, depression, ad some other side effects, as well as more seizures, I don't recommend it. I switched to depakote for my specific type of epilepsy, ever since i've rarely had seizures. Make sure whatever medication you get espeacially this medication matches your specific type of epilepsy (DVA, JME,etc). If your wondering about seizure meds, let me just say there's meds way better than keppra.
what are the better meds ?? everything ive read are all bad!!
Please discuss Kepp-rage, I was swapped to briviact after 6 months due to anger issues, it does control seizures but my aggression was crazy.
What effect does marijuana have with the keppra ???
Marijuana is the only thing that saves me from Keppra, it just takes away the bad emotion side effects.
I’m new to Keppra. 62 years old. Looking like epilepsy is being ruled out. Cause of seizure not determined just yet. I did get a severe rash but it’s fading away now. My concern is insomnia. Anyone else affected with insomnia? It’s torture to be up all night
Hello doctor, i have been diagnosed as unclassified epilepsy and my eeg report suggested right anterior temporal lobe epilepsy. I have been prescribed levetiracetam 500 mg for a week and to continue with 1000mg daily. I’m 44yrs old female. I just started the medicine and i feel dizzy and tired always. Do i have to increase the dose or should 500mg be enough for me? My mri report is okay, i have no family history of epilepsy.
My 9 month old daughter just got put on this drug. She was the happiest, most loving, full of life little baby you'd ever meet. Now she's a little zombie, seems so emotionless and numb. She's so angry all the time. All I do is cry and cry. What drug would YOU personally, Dr Reeves, put a 9 month old on who has suffered from 4 seizures. Generalized focal seizures, lasting about 2 minutes each time.
I’ll say experiment with cannabis bro, start small doses
It helps with any other medications( keppra 750} bro at least for Me it does,
Hope helps god bless!
Thanks Doc for the very educative video.
How long is it advisable to take keppra?
I seem to suffer convulsions at night only after an intense weight lifting workouts (SPECIFICALLY ONE ARM ROWS).
Mris and all the other tests showed nothing wrong.
Can it(keppra) be a lifelong medication..so I can be taking once a week 250mg twice a day each time after heavy lifting?
The people around me I feel like they don’t want to associate my behaviour to my meds because every time I bring it up they say I have anger issues and I’m looking for a excuse ( 750mg kepra) ( 150mglemotragine) twice a day. and it is almost starting to make me feel depressed and I’m just seeking for help. Who would I go see?
Well, sometimes I have had to take patients off Keppra to see if it was causing problems. You might want to discuss all that with your neurologist.
Andrew Reeves Neurology ok will do 👍🏻
I can't remember short-term when I'm on this drug and I still have seizures and it makes me have bad mood swings I tore up my house and broke everything at least three times. They're still trying to find a medicine to help me. I can't believe all the money we have in the world to ship they spend money on in this country and they can't figure out how to stop a fucking seizure. I'm praying for myself everyday and everyone out there who has seizures and they cannot find the diagnosis
I've been taking this for 1 1/2 year. Goodnews the seizure has stopped but there are so many bad effects like losing my short memory most of the time. I feel dizzy most of the time, it always took a while to grasp a very basic info. like I was staring at a table but it took me more than 10 seconds to figure out that it was a table. I'm really scared. I feel like losing my life anytime of the day. I feel hopeless.
There are lots of different seizure medicines, so you may want to discuss other possibilities with your neurologist.
@@AndrewReevesNeurology yeah I will. thanks could you help me on what questions must I raise to my doctor? cause all I know is I am an epelipetic, my meds is keppra and it will take 3 yrs. for me to be possibly feel okay.
Very informative. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
The anger thing is very real. It’s kinda worked to keep the auras away but like he said “ dont need a reason to be angry “
its bad but like everyone else in the comments i feel like i cant just stop taking it..
They tried to give it to me for a cause for a conclusion on my head when I went into a seizure for that reason I begin begin to have a reaction I went into a seizure And they also apply to continue to prescribe it to me afterwards and it was unnecessary
ive been taking keppra 1000 for 18 years now combined with carbamezapine 400 twice a day theyv done well
I don't know why I was put on this first, considering how common this side effect is.
I'm taking five hundred twice a day and it's never effected me badly. My nurologist keeps changing my meds but won't add more keppra instead of experimenting with other drugs. This really pisses me off, I've been epileptic for over forty years and I'm sick of being experimented with. Now I've been give fycompa and it's putting me to sleep all day.
Generally I consider 500 mg twice a day to be a starter dose.
Thanx boss this video has been so helpful.
Hi Dr.! I have a 8 yr son on Levetiracetam 3ml twice a day. I see that he has slowed thinking as a reaction after taking the meds. What other drugs should I discuss with my Dr, I heard that Lamotrigine may be better for slowed thinking. He had seizure a related to Occipital eplepsy "Gastaut Type" with sudden bilateral loss of vision. Thanks!
I could not take it. I had every side effect it says. And every bad side effect.
What is best other than. This (keppra)
Please help.
Love,
🙏 epileptic in KY
Hello Andrew I’ve been on Keppra for many years now and I think since August 2021 I realize that it started developing rashes I was taking lamotrigine 200 mg pills twice a day and Keppra 500 mg pills two tablets twice a day I stopped taking lamotrigine because it started developing rashes and I saw that he had a side effect of Steven Johnson syndrome but after having stopped in it I still have rashes. is it something that keeps going after you have it stop taking lamotrigine or would it be Keppra causing it.
What is the max dose for Keppra?
3000mg....what I'm at right now. And definitely experience the "Keppra Rage".
Doesn't work for me I still have seizures every 3 weeks. Sometimes every two weeks
i’ve been on Keppra for about 4 to 5 months. the first few days of taking it i was extremely tired and angry at literally everything.
My mom takes that now she gets sleepy
nice, how u feeling today ? and still using kepra?
So I Have Been On Keppra For A Few Months Now && It Really Makes Me Angry. I Really Don’t Like Keppra So I Take It Maybe Twice A Month Instead of Everyday. Maybe More Depending On My Epilepsy. Is There Anything Else That Is Available Other Than Keppra? TIA
Yes. Lots of options. Talk with your neurologist, please.
Just started and man it feels like I’m drunk I even stumble around like if I was drunk
My aggression has doubled when i started taking keppra.
It’s really an awesome review..
By the way, is it a safe drug in pregnancy. My wife is gradually switching from carbamazapine to Keppra recently. It’s almost the end her 1st trimester. I see her a neurologist recently. She actually suffering from breathlessness in sleep..
I recently started having seizures and have panic attacks but feel like I am dying. I am on keppra, Gabapentin, and clonazepam. I have a 17x22mm cyst I didn't have a year ago on my paramedian dorsal. I been having mood swings and been extremely suicidal, and am overlooked cause I am an addict. I also don't have epilepsy. Just wake up in extreme leg pain and feel like I am giving up
Its similar to my daughter side effect ; panic attack and leg pain
How did i become epileptic later in life??🙏🏾🥺🤷🏽
I had a seizure in July 2022 I'm 79 Dr's just say a seizure not a definite explanation. I'm on Keppra 500mg twice daily. No driving 6 months I am going for counseling this month very depressed and want to drive for my needs. Have headaches through the night. The hospital and Dr who treated me are Dr's too far from where I live. I live alone help please
I’ll say experiment with cannabis bro, start small doses
It helps with any other medications bro at least for Me it does,
Hope helps god bless!
@@roxieharsha4033 how are you doing so far?
Is everything ok?
It does work , but for me boost my anger rage . I can turn something im mad about into full of anger.
Does Kibbra have effects on the fetus?
Doctor how it works
Epitam tablet. Places talk me
Works great so far for my GSD.
No problem for hair loss ? Answer me please
Can mirtazpine and flouxtine have bad reactions when taken together?
I take 2,500 Keppra 3 times a day. I hardy feel hungry and this will be 5th year. My memory is horrible.. Plus, with Keppra I’m on 4 different seizure medications. I was in and out of different hospitals for three years. It all started when I was 17...
That sounds like a world record for Keppra dosing....!
nice, how u feeling today ? and still using kepra?
Love the bowling shirt!
I've been on keppra and dilantin thanks to a high grade brain tumor that led to grand mal seizures. I know keppra made me feel very easily agitated
I've been on it for a while but got bumped to 1k 2x daily a few days ago after an apparent seizure. I also have a GBM diagnosis and now I'm worried it's coming back. I remember waking up getting put on the stretcher, lol.
@@InfectedChris I'm praying for you I hate seizures been through both simple partial and grand mal. Praying for strength and healing 🙏
@@55098 Thank you! Been worried about another happening. Pretty banged up from hitting the ground on the last one.
@@InfectedChris yeah I hear you your in my thoughts let us keep strong 👊 and we shall kick it in the ass
@@InfectedChris nice, how u feeling today ? and still using kepra?
I drink quite a bit with my friends cause I'm in my 20s. Probably every other day I drink. How bad is that while taking Kepra?
STOP DRINKING DUDE, ELSE YOU WILL CONTINUE HAVING SEIZURES!
im switching to brivact soon. supposed to be similar to keppra with less mood disorder.
Only day 2 and my anxiety is significantly better. I'm on half my dose of keppra right now and full briviact. I'll try to remember to update later when I'm on briviact only in case anyone sees this
@@ROFL_661 update?
@@sweetine777 overall I am much better. My anxiety is only at a 2 at most instead of the 8-10 it would usually be at. But I feel like I could only attribute 10-15% of that to switching to briviact. After a few weeks of briviact I started taking ashwagandha 470mg once a day that I picked up in GNC. Also no seizures, however those were already very under control on keppra and I am fortunate. Also more consistant CBD usage. I started taking a 25mg CBD oil pill from flower of life CBD every night. I'd say 10% briviact, 75% ashwagandha, 15% CBD have been the difference. In my anxiety and depression. Briviact is $40 a month my keppra used to only be 5. The CBD was 70 for a month. The ashwagandha was a much better deal but don't remember specific price. All of it worth it to me because I was in a really bad spot.
@@ROFL_661 Thank you so much, I'll talk to my mom about adding those and switching from keppra because she's really going through it with all the side effects of keppra. Quick question, did you have any paranoia while on keppra?
@@sweetine777 yes. More of a health anxiety OCD thing. I always felt like I was out of breath or going to pass out. So I was always googling symptoms or thinking I had some health issue. Completely unable to relax and difficulty sleeping.