Levetiracetam and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• JJH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2013

Levetiracetam 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."

• arc...
• March 20, 2011

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I have been on many anti-epileptic medicines over the course of 30 years: Dilantin, Mysoline, Klonopin, Depakote, Topamax, Lamictal, etc. While Keppra did a good job of controlling the myoclonic jerks, which I often experience, it was way too sedating when combined with Topamax. It wasn't uncommon for me to sleep twelve hours a day. The real problem with Keppra was the mood swings, depression, anger, and suicidal thoughts. It's no secret that a link exists between epilepsy/seizure disorders and some (all) of these issues; however, in my case, these feelings and emotions definitely intensified while taking Keppra."

• api...
• July 2, 2011

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I've been on 500 mg 2x/day for 5 years. Keppra controlled the seizures immediately the day I started it, but I did experience extreme drowsiness and can sleep for days. People always told me I looked tired and knew I was always sleepy. I also got very moody and am easily irritated to the point where no one wants to be around me. I didn't think that it could be linked to the medication until now. It's a terrible feeling, but it does control the seizures."

• Rya...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 16, 2016

Levetiracetam for Seizures "My brother had a tumor 15 years ago removed after having a seizure. Takes 1000 mg Keppra a day. He has mood swings, diarrhea if he does eat before, and delusional. Still effective. I started having anxiety attacks and seizures at 24 years of age. Neurologist prescribed me Keppra 500 mg daily and 2 mg Xanax a day when needed, usually, I break Xanax into pieces as you can because they have little bars to do so. I don't have any side effects besides feeling sleepy at the end of the day. I don't take Xanax until after work at the end of the day as Xanax does make me sleepy. Keppra deserves a 10 for me. But my brother rates it a 7. Everyone is different. I know this is for Keppra, but Xanax is not for anyone, a lot of people can't handle the drug and can't control themselves. Let the doctor determine."

• Luk...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 15, 2016

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I have had epilepsy from 18 months old, started on Epilim. By the time I turned 3, I was seizure-free till I was 16. Just before my math exam, I had a seizure, wasn't exactly sure what caused it. I went to my GP, I was put on 100 mg of lamotrigine, then went up to 250 mg of lamotrigine, finished on 300. The drug didn't work at all. I was then referred to see a neurologist, and we started off taking Keppra 500 mg alongside the lamotrigine. We then moved to 750 mg of Keppra with the lamotrigine BD. After all of that, we then moved to 1000 mg BD, since then to know, I'm now on 4 grams a day alongside 600 mg of oxcarbazepine and currently on 6 mg of Perampanel. I'm getting the drowsiness, tiredness, and from the Keppra, I'm turning aggressive."

• 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."

• Saa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 24, 2013

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "The only few problems consist of drowsiness, which is better than having seizures. Another important issue is dosing. You must take every day's worth, or it can lead to an aura or a full-fledged seizure, which can affect driver's licenses (loss of 2 years)."

• Mom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 17, 2020

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "Son was diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy at 12 years old after 2 tonic-clonic seizures. He was given 250 mg Keppra twice a day. He had a 3rd breakthrough seizure after forgetting to take 2 doses. After that, he was seizure-free for three years, including a trip from the USA to Europe. The doctor recommended a weaning process after a normal EEG, which we followed to a T. He relapsed and had a tonic-clonic seizure and is back on Keppra, 500 mg twice a day. He has a reminder to take it at 8 am and PM, and that helps moderate side effects. His side effects are mostly sleepiness and emotional swings, but being physically active helps a lot. We are hoping Keppra works as well the second time around as it did the first."

• 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."

• Dan...
• April 11, 2011

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I have only been on Keppra for about a month, but I'm noticing mood swings, shakiness, and the medicine makes me sleep a lot. I haven't had another seizure, thank God, but the mood swings are awful. I hope after I have my brain tumor removed, things get better."

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

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "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!"

• 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)."

• 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)."

• kri...
• July 15, 2008

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I was put on Keppra as a safer choice while being pregnant. While Lamictal has more studies done, I was allergic to it. I have loved being on Keppra. I was drowsy at first, but that side effect went away. But now I need to decide whether to breastfeed or not. So many places say not to, I am wondering if anybody has any advice."

• Lin...
• August 31, 2022

Levetiracetam for Seizures "In 2018, I had a successful surgery to remove a benign tumor on the lining of the brain; however, two months later, I developed a staph infection in the cavity left by the surgery. So I had two more surgeries after that. Four months later, I had my first hour-long blackout (evidently caused by scar tissue on the brain). I had three more in 8 months' time. Finally, I went to a neurologist. He put me on 250 mg of Keppra twice daily. That’s the lowest dose. Thankfully, I haven’t had any blackouts since I started taking it. However, I hate taking it! All I want to do is sleep. I have zero energy and no motivation to do anything. I’ve lost interest in life! This is not living. I don’t have any of the anger issues I see others have, so I’m thankful for that."

• Anonymous
• November 6, 2011

For Epilepsy "I began having simple partial seizures in my adolescent years, not knowing that they were actually a type of seizure but rather a result of lack of sleep and stress. I had two seizures in the last fifteen months and was terrified of ever having one again. So I started taking Keppra at 750 mg twice a day and have not had a grand mal or simple partial seizure since, which is a big plus. Was drowsy and slept a lot the first couple of weeks, but now I'm back to normal. The only major downside is the extreme mood swings; I was always a happy girl and found joy in everything, but now I can barely go a day without something upsetting, deeply upsetting, or angering me. Hoping to overcome this eventually; I guess it's the price I pay to be seizure-free."

• 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!"

• 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."

• Non...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 27, 2021

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Was on the highest dose (1 gram). Drowsy, sleeping way too much, eating one meal a day, irritated, lack of energy, and what was prescribed to me as a depressant. I'm currently on 500 mg with a bit more energy, but I'm being weaned off completely after 8 years of misery. I genuinely can't wait until the day when I don't have to take any more Keppra. I would advise anyone who is going on to Keppra/levetiracetam to ask questions to their neurologist or epileptic nurse before taking."

• Anonymous
• March 3, 2016

For Epilepsy "I had a heart attack and had a stent, which led to a stroke and the need for brain surgery. Miraculously, I was saved by a young neurological surgeon. Seizures followed, but the recovery the first 3 months on a lot of different medication made the outlook positive. Medication was lowered, and I started experiencing what we feared were TIAs but was finally diagnosed as a form of epilepsy. The first medications did not work well until I have been on levetiracetam for 6 months, and everything has improved a lot during that period, including memory and mood. I do have the sleepiness at night, but not a problem."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• May 27, 2009

For Seizures "I've had seizures on and off for about 12 years and have tried Dilantin, Depakote, and Tegretol. When my generalized seizures started up again this past year, I started back on Depakote, but that didn't do it. My doctor suggested Keppra and mentioned that it was filtered through the kidneys rather than the liver like the others, so I tried it. I've increased the dose from 1000 mg/day to 2000 mg/day, and so far it hasn't completely controlled my generalized seizures. Overall, this drug only seems to interfere with my concentration a little, and I'm just slightly drowsy."

• jam...
• March 13, 2023

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "Look, it does the job. I don't have seizures on it, but it also makes me mentally foggy, extremely sleepy, aggressive, depressed, and suicidal every now and then."

• Bos...
• July 31, 2009

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I took the regular Keppra, and it made me feel groggy and tired. Since taking the Keppra XR, I feel more normal and balanced."

• Joe...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 9, 2020

For Seizures "Levetiracetam in conjunction with Tegretol does a nice job in managing my seizures, but it has a tendency to make me drowsy almost every time I use it."