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Keppra User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

Keppra has an average rating of 5.7 out of 10 from a total of 307 reviews on Drugs.com. 43% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 34% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Keppra

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Bol...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • March 14, 2019

For Seizures "I’ve been on Keppra for about 2 years for my seizures, and the side effects are on and off. My main problems are I’m extremely short-tempered, often very depressed, and most importantly, this medication causes so much plaque buildup in my mouth. Whenever they raise the dosage on me, I have to go to the dentist once a month with issues with my gums bleeding or a tooth being on the verge of being a cavity, and I brush twice a day and floss every night before bed. My dentist was very confused about why I had to keep coming in with mouth problems until I told him I was epileptic and on Keppra. My dentist told me of the oral side effects, dry mouth, etc."

2 / 10
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  • Tim...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 12, 2019

For Seizures "I experienced mood swings, including increased emotionality (crying, anger, etc.); I had difficulty falling asleep/restlessness (tired and wired feeling); muscle cramping and joint aches became more frequent, as well as general body fatigue and lethargy; my appetite was lowered and indigestion was common; dry mouth occurred regularly; and forgetfulness and attention problems were apparent. Seizures did not continue while on the 250 mg twice a day dose, but the side effects outweighed the benefits, especially considering I could not take the full 500 mg twice a day prescribed dosage."

4 / 10
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  • Jon...
  • January 31, 2014

For Seizures "I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 23. I am now 35. I was put on Tegretol 500mg twice a day. For 2 years, my life was a nightmare. I still got seizures and double vision every day. I was then prescribed 500mg of Keppra twice daily along with the Tegretol. The double vision went completely and I found that I only have 1 or 2 seizures max a year. This is usually because of lack of sleep or forgetting to take my medicines. Yes, I find my attention span is not great sometimes along with tiredness and mood swings. The positives for me outweigh the negatives. Good luck in finding what suits you best."

9 / 10
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90 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • ive...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 29, 2017

For Seizures "I had my first grand mal seizure on a boat and then a second in the middle of class. The neurologist prescribed me 500 mgs twice a day and then eventually bumped to 750 mgs. I don't think I've had any side effects from this medication and I haven't had a seizure since I've been on it (10 months). I feel extremely terrible for everyone on this review board with these tragic stories. Yet for me, I suppose my brain just accepted the chemical."

9 / 10
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65 Report
  • Dar...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 17, 2014

For Seizures "Started about 1 week ago. Was fine, then all of a sudden I started feeling really tired and restless. Nothing unusual. Now I have no appetite, spaced out majority of the day. My mood swings are through the roof, and tonight I had a nightmare. Calling my doctor to see what to do."

5 / 10
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80 Report

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  • Chr...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • July 11, 2015

For Seizures "I had my first seizure when I was 13 years old. It scared my parents and me to death. After that, I started experiencing seizures every month. Almost all of my seizures (except 3) have happened while I am asleep. I am 29 now, and all the EEGs and EKGs come back normal. I have been taking Keppra now for 6 months, and I have not had any Grand Mal seizures. I take 1000 mg every night after dinner, and I make it a point to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. I have not experienced any mood swings or depression. The good definitely outweighs the bad... Many blessings."

10 / 10
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69 Report
  • JJH...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 20, 2013

For Seizures "Started taking Keppra (750mg twice daily) alongside Lamictal (250mg twice daily) as the latter medicine was not 100% efficient to control partial seizures. Although the Keppra seems to have stopped the seizures completely, there are many side effects to be aware of. Drowsiness, tiredness, and irritability/moodiness are extremely common, so that is often a downer, especially when you're trying to enjoy yourself. Depression is difficult to identify as dwelling on the side effects on the leaflet only makes you feel worse! Overall, an effective medicine for treating epilepsy but I had many bad side effects."

7 / 10
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79 Report
  • Lif...
  • February 23, 2012

For Seizures "After a motor vehicle accident in 2008, I started having seizures (grand mal). I just started on Keppra 3 1/2 months ago, 1000mg in the morning and again in the evening. I also take Gabapentin, 300mg 3 times a day. I haven't had a seizure since (yay!). Not only that, but I feel alert and I don't feel tired. The Gabapentin can make me feel a little sleepy, but after taking it in the afternoon, I immediately take a walk outside or take a 20-minute power nap, and then I feel great. I haven't had the side effects of mood swings or feeling tired or depressed. I didn't even realize before I started taking Keppra how out of it I felt at times. I'd gotten so used to feeling tired and unclear in my head. Now that I'm on Keppra, I feel alive again!"

10 / 10
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85 Report
  • CBa...
  • June 9, 2020

For Epilepsy "I have been on levetiracetam (Keppra) for almost 6 years now, before that, I was on sodium valproate. In the beginning, it caused me confusion, a slow-mo kind of feeling, mood swings, and a typical pressure inside my head. But after 2-3 months, the effects started to fade away. And about cognitive ability, I didn't find any change, I sailed through a tough competitive exam and achieved my goal. I am more confident right now, and when I get stress or anxiety, I do breathing exercises, and it helps a lot. So it's not bad for everyone, I guess. Stay happy."

7 / 10
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38 Report
  • Bro...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 10, 2023

For Seizures "I feel betrayed by everyone who was supposed to be knowledgeable and help me. I had my first seizure at 30 after taking amoxicillin for a tooth infection. My family doctor retired during Covid, so I had to go to hospital doctors who prescribed me Keppra before any test results came back. Then every single 'professional' I've talked to has known little to nothing about Keppra (one told me I could wean off in a couple of days. That's a good way to trigger seizures). I have gotten almost every side effect except coma and random bleeding, but I feel like a horrible person. I feel like I'm dying, and I can't tell if something is wrong with me or if it's side effects. I feel like I'm living in a haze. People are getting annoyed at repeating everything. I can't write down info fast enough to keep it. So I feel like there's no point in talking to my husband because I'll forget most of what he says and make us both depressed. I've forgotten years' worth of routines I built up. I hate this."

1 / 10
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  • mrb...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • September 3, 2012

For Seizures "I have a brain tumor. I've been on 1500mg/day since Feb 2011. I had a grand-mal seizure in the middle of the night. First seizure, first indication of the brain tumor. Haven't had a seizure since. Radiation took care of the tumor. Have not experienced any of the side effects that most other people comment on other than occasional constipation. My dreams seem to be more vivid and realistic than before. I'm 50 in two months."

9 / 10
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75 Report
  • CJ ...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 24, 2016

For Seizures "I have had epilepsy all my life. I am 48 and have been on Dilantin all my life except for the last 5 months. About 5 months ago, I had a grand mal seizure, and my family doctor wanted me to see a neurologist since I haven't seen one for a while. Well, after seeing my neurologist, she changed my medication to Keppra. I really hate this drug. I would maybe have a few to maybe 4 to 5 seizures a year that I could feel coming on, now I have had too many to count in the last 5 months than I have had since I was on Dilantin. All the seizures I have had since I have been on Keppra, I have not felt coming on. I am very moody, I feel like crap all the time, and overall, I hate my life. I just want to get back to myself and go back to work, but right now I can't."

1 / 10
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  • Tay...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • April 7, 2018

For Seizures "I have been seizure-free since 2014. It was two weeks before starting Keppra that I had my last seizure, so it's been three and a half years seizure-free. As far as bad side effects, it could possibly have given me attention and memory issues, it's hard to say because I don't remember having that great of a memory to begin with, but other than that, it's been good. I got my license back three years ago, as I had my second seizure at age 19 and had my license taken away, so now at the age of 25 I couldn't be happier. I never look back and think I will have another, but I will probably take Keppra the rest of my life if it is what is helping me and my epilepsy. I also had allergic reactions to two types of antiepileptic medications and then was placed on a drug that wasn't helping my seizures at all, so Keppra was a godsend."

10 / 10
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  • Des...
  • September 16, 2009

For Epilepsy "I started having seizures when I was 16 (I'm now 23), with no past family history. The cause of them are still unknown, and without medication I have one every 4-5 months while sleeping. My first anti-epileptic medication was Lamictal from which I suffered a severe rash. I started Keppra (500mg 2x daily) and haven't had a seizure since taking it (knock on wood). After two years of treatment, I came off from Keppra and had a seizure after 5 months without the medication. I'm back on it, and have been seizure-free for almost two years now. I do have side effects from Keppra though. I'm tired a lot, have mood swings, experience bouts of insomnia, headaches, and dizziness. Overall the medicine works well, but obviously would like to be off it."

8 / 10
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  • Ant...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 19, 2016

For Seizures "I had my first seizure on 6/12/16, and it was a grand mal seizure. The EEG found scarring on the brain from a fall a few years ago. I was prescribed Keppra 250 mg twice daily, and it was awful. I had loss of memory, which the pharmacist says was due to mini seizures. I had to lock myself into my room on several days because I was in horrible form. I was so angry. After 7 days, I moved up to 500 mg twice daily, and I must say I have never felt so good, not in years. I am in fantastic humor all the time. I am full of energy. Even my doctor is shocked. I know it's very early days for me to give a review, but I think it's worth sharing a good experience after reading so many bad ones. I'm a 34-year-old male if that makes a difference to anyone."

10 / 10
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52 Report
  • Wor...
  • June 5, 2015

For Seizures "My husband is 35 yrs old and had his first seizure in 03/15 right before a medical procedure for a shot in his back due to pain. He has an extreme phobia of needles and seized before they did the procedure for his back. The doctors believe it was due to extreme stress, but then a month and a half later, while at work, he had another seizure. The neurologist started him on Keppra, and he has been on it for a little over a month. He hasn't experienced another seizure, but the medication is making him extremely depressed, he seems drunk/high from it, can't walk straight, speech is slurred, eyes glossy, memory loss. I don't even feel like he is even my husband anymore because it has made him so spacey."

2 / 10
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  • Gre...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 4, 2015

For Seizures "I'm 55/male and recently experienced a seizure during a visit at an MD clinic. Upon falling from the cart I was on and striking my head, I then had a subsequent episode two weeks later. I was started on Keppra 500 mg twice daily. It has now been almost a week and since starting, my appetite has tanked. I have had profound anxiety attacks, and insomnia along with occasional emotional lability. Also, ataxia when walking. Don't know if I want to continue this, but will speak with my neurologist next week."

3 / 10
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  • Rev...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 24, 2020

For Epilepsy "Being on Keppra gave me side effects like living a real-life nightmare. I heard voices in my head. I saw demons. People's faces shifted, and everyone was out to get me. This drug twisted reality and turned my world upside down in only 11 days. Now my seizures are out of control, and my life will never be the same."

1 / 10
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36 Report
  • bal...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • December 7, 2016

For Seizures "First, I had partial seizures (after a head injury in 2004), and after a grand mal in 2014, I almost died because of status epilepticus. After that, I have been on Keppra 1000 mg a day (500 mg morning, 500 mg evening) for 2 years now. The first month or two, I had headaches and double vision, sometimes I was a bit aggressive, but after a few months, it was okay. For me, it is good medicine, now I have 10 petit mals a year, and I think that bad heavy weather changes are causing them. I want to tell you that after the first or second month, side effects went away. For me, it is important that I take Keppra with a good meal in the morning and evening. It is good medicine, just do not give up. Love you all."

9 / 10
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50 Report
  • Jon...
  • June 18, 2015

For Seizures "I've been on Keppra for about a year now. I am not the same person I used to be. I have lost motivation to do anything. I can't retain information. I introduce myself to people I already know because I can't remember anything, even things I learned years ago. The worst part is I still have seizures. They just keep increasing the dose. I'm up to 1500 mg twice a day."

2 / 10
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57 Report
  • Nes...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • September 29, 2019

For Seizures "I was taking Xanax 10 mg for severe anxiety and Ambien 10 mg from suffering from insomnia after having my daughter (10 years ago). I've never had issues with sleep, but unfortunately, anxiety runs in my family. Both stopped working for a while, so I decided to take 1 ½ bars a day and 1 ½ of Ambien a night. One day I decided to stop taking my Xanax and had run out of my Ambien for about a week. That's where the nightmare began! Horrible withdrawals, feeling useless, hallucinating, kept myself locked up for days, then suddenly I began to have seizures and ended up admitted to the hospital about 7 different times. After trying several different anti-seizure meds, Keppra finally worked for me, and I haven't had a seizure since. Thank God!"

10 / 10
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37 Report
  • top...
  • May 13, 2016

For Seizures "I was prescribed Keppra on 5/3/16 after a grand mal at work and an abnormal EEG. I had been having absence seizures for many years, this was my first major one. I am having some pretty bad side effects, including dizziness, weakness, extreme fatigue, anger, agitation, and depression. It is tough because I am a single mom and have to work, but I go to work and just sit there because I can't concentrate and don't feel like moving. I am still only taking 250 mg in the morning and 250 mg in the evening. I was directed to move to 500 mg in the morning and 500 mg in the evening after 3 days, but I just don't feel like I can handle it. I feel so hopeless and hope that the side effects will subside."

5 / 10
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51 Report
  • Swe...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • September 2, 2018

For Epilepsy "I started having seizures as a teenager. I have simple and complex partial. I have found that taking Keppra along with Tegretol XR has kept me stable. Another part is making sure you know your triggers (stress, flashing lights, hormonal changes, illness, alcohol, roller coasters, lack of sleep or food, dehydration, etc.) and avoiding, or at least trying to minimize, them. The combination of the right medication and knowing yourself and your illness goes a long way."

10 / 10
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41 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 28, 2016

For Seizures "I wish I could tell you what it is like after my husband stops taking Keppra. For my husband and me, this has been worse than his hit to the head. Major mood swings, can't sleep, can't eat, anxiety, and more. It has been horrible. The thing is everybody is different, but if you are taking Keppra and these are happening to you, speak with your doctor ASAP and try something else. It has been hard!!!!"

1 / 10
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46 Report
  • tay...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • January 12, 2016

For Seizures "My last seizure was less than a month before starting Keppra. I was having very bad seizures on and off for three years, and the only thing coming up in scans done on my brain was a bit of slowing on the left side. I had tried other antiepileptic medications that weren't working, and my neurologist recommended I start using Keppra, which was newer to the market at the time. I've been seizure-free for over a year, and I couldn't be happier. I got my license back a few months ago and have returned to living normally."

10 / 10
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46 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.