Levetiracetam and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2016

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Worst drug I have ever taken. Been on it for 4 weeks. Not even sure I had a seizure to begin with. All tests, MRI, and EEG were negative. Trying to wean myself off. Dizzy, headache, depressed, severe mood swings, angry, then lethargic. Sorry I ever went to the doctor."

• Ban...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2020

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "Worst drug ever in my opinion!!! Here were my side effects- irritability, paranoia, anxiety, nausea, loss of appetite, numbness and tingling in my arms and legs, it would make my aura seizures come more often than they normally would without medication, felt dizzy and lightheaded, which would worsen during an aura seizure. Made me get aura seizures when I was still asleep and it would wake me up! Made me feel suicidal also. I took the medication for about six months and have had more than enough of it. Was tired each day, I could barely get up to do normal things, even to cook. I decided to wean off myself, I decreased dose to half a tablet in the morning, hoping it would stop at the very least my aura seizures in my sleep, but it didn’t help. I then thought after a few months - enough is enough. After taking half a tablet in the morning for a few months, I stopped taking it completely. Never felt better. Wouldn’t go back on it if my life depended on it."

• Des...
• September 16, 2009

Levetiracetam 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."

• top...
• May 13, 2016

Levetiracetam 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."

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2019

Levetiracetam for Seizures "My mom began post-stroke seizures and a 1000 mg Nokia was administered in the ER. I explained she was very sensitive to meds. She was admitted and given two more doses of 500 and 750. She was so lethargic, dizzy, and nauseous I asked if we could switch. They dropped the Keppra cold turkey and she seized 96 straight times every eight minutes. We are back on it to properly wean her, but with each dose she seizes like clockwork and has been in cardiac arrest 4x. We are between a rock and a hard place with this med, but I would advise anyone to choose this med knowing side effects can be severe. She is on comfort care now."

• New...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2013

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I was given one dose of Keppra as a precaution because I had a 'spell' that I'm not sure was a seizure or just a bad anxiety attack. It made me feel dreadful: dizzy, depressed, weepy, spaced out. It's been nearly 36 hours since I took it, and I'm still feeling not quite right. Horrible stuff. I had an EEG, and it was normal. I wish the doctor had waited with the med until the results of the EEG, CAT scan, and MRI."

• Bra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2014

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "I had my first seizure over 3 years ago at the age of 23. Upon receiving an MRI scan, I learned that I had a brain tumor called pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma. After having it removed, I was put on Keppra XR 1500 mg twice a day and have been seizure-free ever since. However, recently I have been having new side effects appear. At first, the only side effect I had was exhaustion and occasional insomnia, however, over the past two weeks, I have had tingling sensations on my scalp and bouts of vertigo, and I am very scared about what this could mean. I hope everyone else is doing well."

• JHo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 26, 2014

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "I have been on Keppra for 2 years, taking 3000 mg per day along with 400 mg a day of Vimpat, and I am still having at least 2 a week. They put in a VNS in Oct, 2013, and I am still having them. I just am having some side effects like... falling, dizziness, and being ill if something is said in the wrong tone. I hope that makes sense. I just get aggravated easily, and I just can't get rid of my headaches."

• Use...
• January 17, 2013

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "I had my first seizure when I was 17 (now 23). I always wanted to be on medications that were safe, so one day when I had a family. And now I have my family with a healthy boy. I do have to say I was having depression, I was having dizzy spells and really bad headaches. But I talked to my doctor, he lowered my dose and gave me Topamax to take with it. And now my headaches are gone. It is very hard to actually find the right medication for yourself. I wish you all the best!"

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

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "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."

• Twi...
• April 3, 2018

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "When my Keppra was wearing off, I would start to twitch! I couldn't stop twitching, and I was becoming more and more aggressive! My body felt more unbalanced, and I fell twice. I encourage you to speak to your doctor to thoroughly investigate what meds are out there that don't make you mean and walk like a twitchy drunk!"

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

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "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."

• mad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 19, 2017

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Sometimes I feel drowsy, sometimes I feel dizzy, sometimes I don't. I am not sure if it is really part of the medication, but I do know I don't seize on it. Compared to the first type of medication I tried (it sent me loopy), this is a lot better, but it could also be better. Over the years, start to analyze how your head processes, how much do you remember, and make sure you're not getting slowly cranky on it."

• San...
• August 9, 2009

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I was placed on Keppra in January 2009 by an emergency room physician after a reported seizure, which had no professional diagnosis. A neurologist whom I saw post-emergency kept me on the medication as I reported no side effects. I had what I now believe to be a fainting spell related to an atrial fibrillation condition of my heart and a strenuous run, without a 'cool-down.' I am pushing to get off this drug, as I experience dizziness, light-headedness, sleepiness and somnolence, fatigue, and exhaustion most of the time. I am a 2008 heart valve transplant recipient and on diuretics and blood thinners, both required to avoid congestive heart failure and embolisms (artificial valve)."

• ica...
• January 29, 2010

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I've been on Keppra for around 4 months now. The only thing I like about it is that I don't feel like a zombie like I did while taking Tegretol. Apart from that, it does not really control my seizures and makes me dizzy and forgetful."

• ndi...
• November 6, 2012

Levetiracetam "My doctor put me on Keppra to see if it will help with my problems of completing sentences and being at a loss of words. I haven't been on the medicine long, but the side effects are very apparent. I feel almost drunk sometimes, I am nauseous and dizzy and have not noticed any change in my condition. I have to be very aware and on top of my game to do my job."

• JME...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2013

For Epilepsy "My son is 13 years old and has just been diagnosed with epilepsy. He takes 1750 mg of this medication daily along with 750 mg of Trileptal to control his gelastic seizures. He began the meds in May, and by August, he was seizure-free. He did complain of extreme dizziness and tiredness in the beginning, but after about 3 weeks, he was fine. Every person is different, though. Best of luck to everyone!"

• 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!"

• Fri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 5, 2013

For Seizures "Currently taking this medication also. Have told my doctor about side effects. Told me that 'I must be taking it at the wrong.' I had to show him issues from the manufacturer and from the pharmacy. Changed dosages from twice a day to only once, but I have to eat a lot to get rid of the dizziness each morning. Feel that my issues were caused by a drop in glucose levels, but the doctor has stated that would not cause this also...."

• Rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2015

For Seizures "If it was possible to give this a 0, I would. I've had the hiccups for almost a year. My neurologist thinks they're 'a strange presentation of clonic seizures in the brain stem.' Weird, but okay. I've been on 500 mg for four days. In that time, I've lost consciousness twice, had three nosebleeds, been dizzy and lightheaded, had constant trouble breathing, had ridiculous mood swings from angry to crying in the blink of an eye, and been unable to walk a straight line. I feel drunk. It's horrible."

• Fra...
• February 22, 2023

For Seizures "I took this medication for one year. At first, it worked for my seizures, but a year later, it started to give me the worst symptoms: really bad dizziness and even going unconscious and urinating on myself. I take 1000 mg 2 times a day, and all I can say is I hate this medicine."

• AJ0...
• March 8, 2009

For Seizures "I have been taking Keppra for 1 week now and have only had the side effect of drowsiness and dizziness, but there is one thing that's not on here that I have, and it's a bad taste in my mouth. All the time, a lot of things will make me sick if I eat them, like chicken and pork, they have a sewer taste in my mouth no matter how bad I brush my teeth. It won't go away. I don't take any other medicines besides Keppra. I have epilepsy and used to take Depakote but was taken off of it when I was 18 because of weight gain. I have not had a seizure in 5 years, then I got them again, and the doctor put me on Keppra and told me it will help."

• 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."

• Hur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 8, 2021

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Had first seizure at age 73. MRI didn't reveal anything. Dr. prescribed 750 mg twice a day. Questioned such a high dose, and he said some people take 3000 to 5000 mg a day. Have not had a seizure in 3 years, but side effects are horrible. Lightheadedness, weakness, anger, shortness of breath, loss of balance, drowsiness, ear infections. I am ready to reduce dosage and try to stop taking it altogether."

• Gin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 23, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "I have taken this medication on and off for many years. It was given to me for bipolar disorder, in my case, my hypervigilance that stems from BP. It helps, but now my doctor has paired it with lacosamide. This medication has helped with my chronic migraine with aura in the past, but this time, being paired with levetiracetam, I am having issues with my memory and my coordination. It brings out the transient aphasia that I deal with as part of my migraines and makes it worse. I work in a job where I must speak to people all day and be 'on,' so not being able to speak in the right order or not being able to find words at all while I'm speaking is embarrassing and threatens my employment. I do like Vimpat (lacosamide), but I may talk to my doctor about dropping Keppra for a bit to see how it does on its own."