Keppra XR for Epilepsy User Reviews

• cra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 25, 2018

"I've been on Keppra XR 500 mg (taking 4 a day, 2 at night, 2 in the morning). It was great at first, but then I started to get really irritable. Then along came anxiety and depression. In 2016, I had a son (had 1 seizure during pregnancy) and in 2017, I had a daughter (same scenario). I also had postpartum depression from when I had my son, it's worsened over those two years. This will be my 5th year on it, and I'm not satisfied with it at all. I've tried changing my medicine, but they won't because it stopped my seizures (grand mal). I've tried telling them about the depression and anxiety, but all they asked is, 'Why didn't you tell us this before?' But most people deny the fact they have anxiety and depression (like me) to avoid being put on other meds. I've tried anxiety and depression medicine, but nothing worked. All I want is off this medicine to not feel like a zombie anymore."

• Han...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 19, 2017

"I was diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in 2010 and was started on Depakote. After gaining 40 lbs and still having seizures on that medication, my doc switched me to Keppra XR. Initially, I started out on 500 mg once a day and was feeling a little drowsy but okay. I was still having muscle jerks, so she upped the dose to 1500 mg once a day and started having severe fatigue. As a college student, this was affecting my studies severely. Now, on the same dosage for 3 years, I have memory loss, severe exhaustion and fatigue, headaches, and dizziness every day, and my schoolwork is being negatively affected. My doc refuses to change my medication since I haven't had a seizure while on Keppra XR."

• MCH...
• May 6, 2016

"I started having seizures after a car accident when I was 18 (now 28). I was told by neurologists that may be the reason for the 'trigger' of my epilepsy. I had 3 t-c seizures before being put on the max dosage of 1500 mg 2x daily of the Keppra. The side effects listed with the drugs usually happen to me, but it wasn't hard to handle. Keppra worked for 2 years for the most part. Then it stopped. I began to have nighttime seizures, then partials, auras, memory loss, anxiety, double vision. You name it, it was happening and it still is. I am now with a seizure specialist taking 3 different seizure medications and an anti-anxiety as needed. 15 pills. Still having t-c, complex-partials, and partials with all the side effects. Can't work now."

• lig...
• April 10, 2010

"I've been taking Keppra XR for 12 months. I have myoclonic epilepsy with tonic-clonic seizures. Jerking and instant blackouts are gone, but occasionally still having tonic-clonics. My dosage levels are still unclear, and time will tell if the current dosage will work. Side effects are not severe, and I function very well compared to past medication experiences."

• Jis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 15, 2012

"I have had grand mal seizures since age 7 due to an AVM in my brain. Previously, during childhood, I was on Dilantin (major rage problems) and Tegretol (caused liver damage). When the Tegretol caused liver disease and brain surgery was complete, I was switched to Keppra XR (2 pills 2x a day), and seizures have been under control for the most part."

• she...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2023

"My daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy. The neurologist was very confident about the diagnosis. My daughter had an EEG (no idea if it showed anything; we were tired and may have misunderstood what he said about that). The MRI was negative for problems. For the past 4 months or so, I have seen weekly occurrences of my daughter making strange faces (this involved cheek twitching and lip quivering). We did not realize it could be a serious problem until she had an obvious seizure (simple partial) last week. What is troubling about my daughter's condition is that we have seen many daytime seizures, and recently the seizures seem to cluster together. We have no idea if there are seizures occurring at night. We were given a prescription for Keppra, but we are still weighing the risks/rewards of giving the medication to a toddler. After returning from the hospital, my daughter experienced a round of vomiting lasting from 3 AM to 11 AM, followed by additional vomiting the following morning at around 2 AM."

• JME...
• July 24, 2011

"Keppra XR returned my life to normal. Excellent medication for epilepsy/seizures."

• sar...
• May 27, 2014

"Since I started on this medication, I stopped having seizures. It has been 2 years now. It is great medicine."