Keppra for Epilepsy User Reviews (Page 3)

• mon...
• January 1, 2012

"I started having seizures about 3 years ago. Found out I had a tumor on my left temporal lobe. Started taking carbamazepine, it worked for about a month or two, but I started having seizures again. That's when my doctor put me on Keppra, and I haven't had a seizure since. Thanks, Keppra!"

• xar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2020

"I was always a very happy person with a lot of energy, but since I started Keppra, I became violent, with uncontrollable rage, depressed, tired, dizzy, and I attacked my cat for almost doing nothing. I don't recognize myself. I just want to lie down all the day and stay in bed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2020

"DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. I would give it zero stars if I could. I lost 4 years of my life because of Keppra. Did not help my seizures, I almost killed myself 3 different times. I had a personality disorder, extreme anxiety and paranoia, anxiety attacks daily, if not more than once a day. Anger, rage, I was a completely different person. The same thing happened to two other people I know that were on this drug as well. And the withdrawal seizures have been HORRIBLE and have almost gone into status epilepticus twice. But I am so thankful I found LAMICTAL. All of the Keppra symptoms are now gone, and it actually helps me be happy and joyful."

• Ben...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2023

"Let's just say that taking Keppra increased my aggression drastically, and it ended up with a lot of the people around me getting hurt, and it didn't help with my epilepsy in the slightest. This was back when I was 16."

• Bog...
• March 26, 2017

"Extreme rage. Angry a lot. Quick to snap at minor things. Seizures have stopped for 2 1/2 years with a price to pay. I'd just like to try something else, but this is the first medication that works after trying 3 others."

• Jew...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2017

"Keppra was fine for me at first (500 mg twice a day) for 2 months. I suffer from complex partial seizures and experienced a grand mal recently. Then I experienced extreme tiredness, confusion, headaches, greatly increased my depression, could barely go from my bedroom to the living room (never mind managing leaving my house). I had to go back to my neurologist to get switched off such a horrible drug for me. Aptiom (once a day!) so far is a better choice for me."

• CTI...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 9, 2018

"Keppra was terrible for me. The worst was the mood swings that were uncontrollable for me. I'm a nice guy, but I literally hated everyone. Fired from jobs for misconduct and anger issues. I had surgery in 2012, and it improved my situation, but I still take Vimpat, Lamotrigine, and have my medical marijuana license as well. Looking and feeling like the best meds combination for me."

• Abc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 13, 2023

"We had a great experience with Keppra treating my son's pediatric epilepsy. He began taking it right before his 4th birthday and he was able to stop by 9. We saw positive changes in his behavior immediately because he was actually able to sleep through the night. His seizures also stopped and we never had a breakthrough. We would have bouts of moodiness starting around 6 years. They happened during growth spurts. We had no academic or behavior problems at school. No one ever knew he had an issue except the school nurse. Our feedback from teachers has always been positive socially and academically. The doctor felt like he was an example of the 'kindling theory' of epilepsy, meaning the low dose kept him from developing lifelong epilepsy. He has a distant cousin whose epilepsy started the same way as my son's and he still has it as an adult and cannot drive. I would highly recommend this drug if your child has grand mal seizures and if your doctor prescribes."

• Daw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2017

"Neuro recently added Keppra to my seizure medication regimen. I have absence seizures, and the 600 mg (the recommended max) of Lamotrigine I'd been on for 16 years was no longer as effective. Being middle-aged and female, my seizures developed a catamenial (hormonal) aspect to them. My absences would skyrocket at certain times of the month, as many as 60 a day. Been on Keppra for 2 weeks and have only had 1 absence during that time! As for the side effects: near-constant irritability, sometimes a sense of hopelessness, apathy, and mood swings. More often than not, I feel detached from the world...like I'm just watching a movie and I'm not a part of what's going on around me. I'm weighing the trade-off: no seizures or constant crazy? Gonna give it a little more time."

• Emm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2022

"I first started taking Keppra after having a tonic-clonic seizure while 37 weeks pregnant. At first, Keppra was fine, it just made me feel very drowsy. As time went on, my moods were horrific. I nearly split up with my husband, it was that bad. I feel so low and suicidal. I couldn't bond with my newborn, my hormones and new tablets didn't work well. I was horrendous. I thought I got to nip this in the bud before I felt more and more worse. My neurologist weaned me off and put me on Lamotrigine 100 mg. I felt the difference straight away, have absolutely no side effects, feel amazing, and haven't had one suicidal thought since being on that. Also, it's a mood stabilizer, so that helps! Keppra needs stopping, it's like the devil's drug!"

• Anonymous
• October 21, 2009

"I started on Keppra before I got pregnant. I was on a large dose of Epilim, and it would not be safe for me to be pregnant on such a large dose, therefore, my neurologist reduced my Epilim dose to 500 mg twice a day and introduced Keppra 500 mg twice a day. Thankfully, my son was born healthy. Next week, I am planning to start to come off Epilim gradually due to constant tiredness, irritability, and agitation that is made worse from being on two medications. I'll just be on Keppra, hope it works as I have been seizure-free for 2 1/2 years. I have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and I have had epilepsy for 14 years but have only been controlled for 2 1/2 years. Lamictal was a waste of time."

• Mik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 28, 2020

"I had my first seizure on October 19, then had 2 more seizures over the next 4 months. Was diagnosed with frontal lobe epilepsy, initially put on lamotrigine (didn’t work for me, plus sleep problems). I asked the neurologist if I could try Keppra. Wonder drug for me. I only take 500 mg a day, 250 mg in the morning, 250 mg in the evening. I’ve been seizure-free for 10 months with no side effects whatsoever, so thankful."

• Car...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 17, 2023

"I was 69 years old when I had my first ever seizure, it was completely out of the blue, and no cause could be found after multiple tests, etc. No medication was prescribed until I had a series of seizures 20 months later. During one of the seizures, I fractured my shoulder. I was prescribed Keppra 500 mg - 1 twice daily. I set my phone alarm to remind me! The side effects the first year were bad, and I consulted with my neurologist but decided to persevere. Now, 3 and a half years later, no more seizures. I do suffer from slow memory, feet and leg pains, low B12, D3, low iron, and recently osteoporosis. I have also been diagnosed with celiac disease. I will continue taking Keppra, at 74, the damage another seizure could do is not worth the risk. Plus, maybe I would have had those conditions anyway. It would be interesting to know if Keppra does cause vitamin deficiencies? At least they are easy to resolve! My UK GP is excellent and closely monitors my condition."

• Che...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 16, 2020

"I was diagnosed with GEFs (a type of epilepsy, Genetic Epilepsy with Febrile Seizures) a few months after I was born. My seizures occur very rarely (one in 5 years' time). However, until the age of 10, my seizures were at the times I had a fever. However, I have never taken any medicine. At the age of 15, I had 2 seizures in one month's period, and in both cases, I had my menstrual cycle. After that, the neurologist prescribed me Keppra of 500 mg twice a day. Apart from tiredness, I had no problem until the age of 19. I began to have diarrhea even 7 times a day, and I had some sort of medical analysis. The last option was the medicine: my neurologist only after several times understood this and changed the medicine. Now I take Matecer (750 mg a day) and have had no problems until now."

• Gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 28, 2023

"I have been taking Keppra for the past 3 years since a brain hemorrhage. I have not suffered further seizures, but do experience headaches every day (sometimes mild and sometimes severe with no predictability). The other experiences are irritability and variable instability in movement. I have successfully reduced my daily Keppra dosage from 2 grams per day to 1.375 grams (a 31% reduction) and this has improved my quality of life quite a lot. I'm now considering changing my drug from Keppra to Briviact and would really welcome any advice from anyone who has made this drug transition."

• Bad...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 1, 2022

"I see all the problems that are out there. Guess I am fortunate. Am on 500 mg Levetiracetam 2x a day and 200 mg Lamictal in the A.M. and 400 mg in the evening (Lamotrigine generic, of Lamictal). Like most of you, I could not afford the brand name. I eventually researched the manufacturer of the brand name of Lamictal and found that they supplied the drug for free if you qualify. I just had to prove I had spent $600.00 on prescription drugs that year, and they supplied me with the drug at no cost to me. If you are in the same situation on any of your medications, I would do some research to find out if the brand name company will supply it to you at no cost. As for natural oils, I tried that, and all it did was knot up my stomach. It took me a week to get rid of that problem and no help with my seizures. Needless to say, I went back to my prescribed meds and am feeling better. Beware what you read, what works for someone else may not work for you. The internet is full of help, but is it reliable?"

• Aly...
• August 4, 2023

"I have been treating grand mal epilepsy well with phenytoin for 40 years, and so I was skeptical of my neurologist’s decision to change to Keppra. Before, I was experiencing auras associated with having to perform certain tasks, read, or especially speak with others in the morning. (At this time, I have been increasing my Keppra intake by 250 mg every two weeks and will eventually reach 2000 mg daily.) At first, I was extremely groggy, but now I am leveling off. Though I have read reviews that it feels deleterious to one's health, Keppra is working very well for my epilepsy. I cannot say this with full certainty because I am still using phenytoin. We often see side effects described in negative reactions, but I am beginning to feel a more stable foundation without being anxious about minor auras. This allows me to now visit people and conduct business early in the morning. I am uncertain about how Keppra works, but I am certain it helps calm the synaptic overload common in epileptics. It is a beneficial medication."

• med...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 20, 2017

"I was on Keppra for about 6 months as an addition to oxcarbazepine. From the first week of taking Keppra, I had developed a horribly annoying eye twitch. At first, I thought it was from lack of sleep, but after about three months and the twitch being consistent on 3/4 days a week, after a little research online, I realized that Keppra was the culprit. Besides the physical side effect, my family told me I was just about unbearable with how moody I was while on it (I was on the dosage of 250 mg x2). My neurologist told me to give it 6 months to see if the side effects decreased over time. Before I reached the 6-month mark, I had a breakthrough seizure, and that ended my journey with Keppra."

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2010

"I've been taking Keppra for almost 3 years for JME. Fortunately, it has stopped the seizures, but I do get a lot of headaches, which my doctor dismisses whenever I mention them. Other than that, I am happy to continue using this medication."

• Win...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 7, 2016

"Good for epilepsy, but the feelings you get while taking them are so bad. I have a feeling in my back of burning and on the inside, also as if my tummy is burning. It is so good for fits if only on them a short while, but not so good to be taken too long. I wish my docs would understand what they are putting me through with this drug and how I feel, but they do not understand or do not want to! They just say, 'So you know better than the doctors?' I know these drugs are doing me in, and seeing the doctor about them, so wish me luck! Phew."

• Bgo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2017

"I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 13. Due to my cerebral palsy, I had been taking Zonegran since then. I had weaned myself off of my medication when I got pregnant and had been seizure-free for almost 7 years. I recently had a relapse and began seeing a different neurologist. She put me on Keppra. THE WORST three months of my life. My moods would go from 0-60 in a matter of seconds and for no valid reason. I had trouble remembering things, even trouble with communication. It’s true, I also began to have suicidal thoughts and became too much to handle, even for myself. I would randomly cry, then get angry. I recently was referred to another neurologist, who asked me about these symptoms, and then it clicked. I DO NOT recommend this medication to anyone."

• Sno...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 8, 2019

"Nothing out of the ordinary. Three years now on Keppra for epilepsy at a dose less than I'm supposed to be taking since we can't afford it at that dosage. 750 mg once a day seems to work. One aura that didn't go to seizure. No side effects... I'm always angry."

• Ken...
• August 29, 2011

"I have had grand mal seizures since I was 9 years old and was involved in a car accident. I have taken Dilantin for over 50 years, with good results. It has controlled my seizures pretty well until recently. I was diagnosed with COPD 2 years ago, and in that time, I have been having seizures every 3-6 months. My doctor switched me to Keppra 6 months ago, and in that time, I have had at least 1 seizure a month. I think it's time to switch back to what works."

• Kyl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2020

"I have sadly had a love/dislike relationship with Keppra. Almost right away after starting it after being diagnosed with simple partial seizure epilepsy, almost all symptoms I had been dealing with were gone. Within a week, it was amazing to have a day without constant headaches, feeling dizzy, seeing flashes of lights, etc. Starting Keppra, it was discussed between my doctor and me and my spouse that it has a common side effect of causing what she referred to as 'Keppra Rage.' Fortunately for me, I did not experience that. Unfortunately, it did cause me crippling anxiety to the point I couldn't sleep with a blanket and would commonly feel the urge to run outside because it felt like what I would guess a panic attack would feel like. Without that one side effect, Keppra would be my best friend. I would encourage people to try it if offered, however."

• Dr ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 20, 2017

"Developed epilepsy due to several strokes while fighting sepsis/septic shock about 4 years ago. I am in the middle of weaning off Keppra and moving to Lamictal. While I was seizure-free on Keppra, the Kepprage, depression, and suicidal thoughts made me think it might be better to take my chances with seizures. Hopefully, the Lamictal will be effective. I also wish there was more science behind cannabis, and I lived in a state that allows medical cannabis. CBD seems like an option to supplement the conventional medications, but I can't say I complain about the occasional 'buzz' via full-spectrum cannabis."