Levetiracetam and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Say...
• September 29, 2015

For Seizures "I had every side effect, even pain in my temples, which was so painful that I thought they were going to bust and was ready to go to the ER. When I decided to look my meds up online, I found that Keppra was causing these side effects, and people were going to the ER for this. Also, I was having so many memory problems I couldn't remember anything from 2 minutes prior. I had agitation, anxiety, angry outbursts. I had to go. I mean go. I couldn't stay still. Sometimes I felt like I had to leave, it was crazy. I was losing my mind. I had no control. I was very angry, lots of outbursts, and I couldn't control it! When I looked up all of the side effects, I couldn't believe how I felt was right there. It was me right there."

• Anonymous
• August 26, 2011

For Seizures "I had my first grand mal at age 35. I started taking 500 mg of Keppra 1x a day and eventually worked down to 250 mg 1x a day without any seizures. My doctor and I decided to take me off the medicine as there has been no epilepsy detected in all the testing I have done. After being off the medicine for 30 days, I had another grand mal. So, I started taking the minimal dosage of 1/2 of a 250 mg pill once a day. It has been over a year now, and I have not had another seizure. I do experience dizziness at the beginning of my day before I take my pill. After a few hours, I feel fine. I also sometimes experience drowsiness, tiredness, agitation, anger, anxiety, depression, irritability, and occasional panic attacks. I'd rather have these than seizures!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 2, 2017

For Seizures "I have been taking levetiracetam for the last 5 years and, on average, have been having seizures once a year. I'm looking into changing my medication as I want 100% seizure control. I started with taking 500 mg daily and am now taking 2500 mg daily. I have suffered with some anxiety, and having more seizures does not help. Also, tiredness, and some days just not feeling like myself, feeling out of it and spaced out. But there are some days when I feel okay."

• ROY...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2022

For Epilepsy "Just wanted to do a follow-up to my comment @ 14 months ago. I am now on 400 mg daily of Vimpat. I am no longer on levetiracetam, however, I am still experiencing side effects of levetiracetam: cognitive issues, confusion, dizziness, lightheadedness, anxiety, depression. I worked corrections and was a go-getter and very good at my job, now I don't want to leave the house and struggle at jobs. I have had 3 EEGs and 1 MRI, I still have seizure activity and medical professionals I have discussed my side effects I had with levetiracetam state I may never get back to my normal self. My neurologist has never addressed this possibility and told me 14 months ago nobody has problems with Keppra/levetiracetam. Please advocate for yourself when encountering med change."

• Tre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 2, 2020

For Epilepsy "Was on Epilim 200 mg for 47 years. I am turning 51. It was the first medicine change when I was put on Levetiracetam 500 mg twice a day in December and gradually weaning off Epilim at the same time right up to June. In between April and September, my moods were all over the place. It was affecting me and I didn't know why. On July 20th, I ended up in the hospital first with a suspected stroke, ended up having a partial seizure. Back in again on August 9th, after taking three seizure medications, they upped my meds to 750 mg twice a day. A week later, I was having hallucinations, shaking, anxiety, seizures, suicidal thoughts, and even broke my marriage. The hospital says I have to come off meds, so now waiting to see a neurologist."

• roy...
• December 29, 2020

For Epilepsy "Question, question, question your doctor. I was on Dilantin for 35+ years, and my seizures were well under control. No seizures since 1988. This year (2020), my neurologist decided, as I am getting older, Dilantin will not be good for my bones. My neurologist put me on levetiracetam. I have never taken off-brand/generic because there is just the slightest difference. Well, where to begin with the issues I had with levetiracetam. I looked, literally, like the walking dead and could count every bone besides the anxiety, moodiness, loss of appetite, weight loss (30 lbs), snapping at my dogs, cats, and family for no reason. I checked off each and every side effect AND made my own additional list. Couldn't work because the side effects were so bad. Severe side effects. Worst med I have ever taken!!!!!"

• 210...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 26, 2022

For Seizures "The worst experience of my life. Never go on this drug even if it works the best. I lost 20 pounds and still losing weight. I can never eat, sleep, or feel relaxed. My anxiety got worse and worse. I’ve never been this depressed in my life. I’m always tired and angry. Even when I get enough sleep, it never works. I’ve also never had angry outbursts before. I’ve had full-on mental breakdowns I haven’t ever had before. Please never go on this drug."

• Jo4...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2023

For Epilepsy "I am currently taking a medication called levetiracetam at a dose of 750 mg combined with a 250 mg tablet, resulting in a total of 1000 mg, twice a day - once in the morning and once at night. Additionally, I am taking 400 mg of Tegretol. Since I started taking the increased dosage of 1000 mg, I have been feeling overwhelmed. I haven't experienced any mood swings or negative effects, but rather a general sense of being spaced out. Is it normal to feel this way while taking this medication? When I was only taking the 750 mg dose, I felt fine. However, due to an increase in seizures, I had to raise my dosage. Based on what I have read, feeling overwhelmed is not a common experience. Most of the information I came across described people having negative experiences. I'm just wondering if anyone else has felt similarly overwhelmed while taking this medication."

• kdo...
• November 6, 2009

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Increased anxiety and insomnia, did not control my SPS."