Levetiracetam and Fatigue: What Users Say

• RJa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 23, 2019

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Over 2 years in now and Keppra is keeping my seizures away, but the 2500mg a day has made me a different person for sure. I don’t feel as excited to socialize as much. I feel fatigued a lot, can easily doze off if not doing anything that requires my attention. Old memories can bring on strong emotions that normally wouldn’t before, and my memory is not nearly as strong as it was. I am constantly setting reminders for things I should easily remember."

• Ren...
• November 20, 2013

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I had surgery for a benign brain tumor over 8 yrs. ago; Gamma Knife radiation surgery 3 yrs. ago. The Gamma Knife surgery left me with scar tissue that caused me to have my first partial seizure. This required me to remain on seizure medication, levetiracetam. To prevent recurrent seizures, I was on a dose of 1,000 mg. / 2x's day. I was on this dosage for over 2 yrs. No seizures, but side effects crept up slowly: bad memory loss, difficulty finding words, fatigue, weight gain. Then, the intolerable ones: deep depression, mood swings, crazy flip-out anger. It just kept getting worse, until I couldn't wait to get off of it! My doctor called it the 'Keppra Rage'. I guess this is a well-known side effect that I could not tolerate."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2017

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Although this drug has paused my seizure activity, I feel like a different person. The first month, my mood swings were unreal and almost indescribable. I'd wake up so happy in the morning and be depressed by around 4-5 pm. I was and still am fatigued all the time, and little things like walking up the stairs make me out of breath. I also let little things annoy me and unfortunately take it out on the people around me. I have lost 10 pounds since I've started this medication. I have no desire to eat even though I know my body needs food. I feel like Dory from Finding Nemo, and it embarrasses me at times. My friends will tell me something, and I'll completely forget what they said and ask them about it a few minutes later."

• 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."

• Dia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2015

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I had my first seizure in February 2014 and was prescribed Keppra. I took it for a while and experienced all the symptoms as everyone else: depression, fatigue, mood swings, hallucinations, etc. You name it, I had it. I had no energy, and all I could do was sleep. I got tired of living like that and one day decided to stop taking them, bad move. It was fine for 4 days, I was energized and happy, but on that day, I had another seizure. I told my doctor, and he changed my prescription to Trileptal. I have been on it since that day, and the only side effect I think I have would be hair thinning."

• blo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 1, 2025

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "I have been on Keppra for over 5 years now and have had over 15 seizures, a few really bad ones where I had to stay at the hospital. I struggle every day with mood swings, depression, Keppra rage, and always being fatigued and feeling worn out. I lowered my dose myself and can already feel a little bit of a difference in the rage and irritability department. I wish I didn't have to be on these meds for the rest of my life. But I do. Good luck everyone."

• Mar...
• April 12, 2015

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I began using generic Keppra in 10/14 after four seizures, 500 mg in the am and pm. There were abnormalities in my EEG. No seizures, but very sleepy and sluggish during the day and weight gain. Neurologist changed medication to one Keppra extended release three weeks ago, and now I'm losing my hair. I'm calling the neurologist to see what we can do."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• July 10, 2011

Levetiracetam for New Daily Persistent Headache "I have had chronic migraines for 16 years. Because of my hypersensitivity to many medications (antidepressants, Topamax, Depakote, and the list keeps going), I had a great deal of trouble finding a preventative medicine that my body could tolerate at a therapeutic dose. Keppra keeps my migraines to a minimum (about 8 per year, which is so much better than the every other day I was experiencing). I do have some fatigue and depression as side effects, but they are worth the trade-off."

• Gma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2021

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I was put on Keppra to supplement lamotrigine due to the pregnancy causing my lamotrigine to metabolize too fast. I immediately noticed an increase in exhaustion, which was crippling on top of the pregnancy exhaustion. I could sleep 14 plus hours a day if I had the opportunity. My husband commented on the change in my personality and how my mood changed for the worse. Keppra wasn’t added until I was 29 weeks, so the personality change was not pregnancy hormones. I reached a point where I started asking myself why I even thought getting pregnant was a good idea. What soon-to-be mother wants to think that! I experienced dry mouth and a general feeling of malaise. If it wasn’t for the fear of another seizure while pregnant, I would NOT take this medication. I can’t wait until I give birth to get off of this miserable 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)."

• 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."

• cam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 28, 2022

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I've been on Keppra for about 9 years. I started having grand mal seizures at 13. They could never figure out what triggered it until now. I finally started reading side effects to this med, and so many questions have been suddenly answered. I've felt so just worn out and drained. Even after sleeping almost all day, I still have seizures. Now, the last two times I stopped breathing completely. I wouldn't suggest this to anyone."

• Bec...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 10, 2016

For Epilepsy "I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 25 and have been taking generic Keppra for 2.5 years. I started the drug to control grand mal seizures. It has been largely effective at controlling the seizures (I've only experienced two since starting the meds). However, the side effects are less than ideal. I originally experienced intense feelings of anger and depression and would break down on a nightly basis. I tried taking the recommended B6 supplement and experienced little to no relief. My short-term memory suffered horribly, and I'm able to recall very little of the first year in which I started taking the medication. I now take Zoloft to combat some of the side effects but still experience feelings of anger, depression, fatigue, and memory loss."

• lab...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 7, 2016

For Epilepsy "Have reduced my seizures from about 15 a year to only 3-4 a year, however, the side effects greatly outweigh the benefits. Currently suffering and have been for about 6 years now... extreme fatigue, mood swings, high up and down rapid changing moods, anger with extreme anger outbursts where never in my life was I an angry person, shaky hands, extreme memory loss like 2-4 month gaps, unable to concentrate, irritability, can't even remember simple names of things like cup or brush, which is very frustrating because I used to be a grant writer and loved to write poetry, can't anymore. Stuffy nose, exaggerated fears, swollen glands, depressed, social anxiety, I rarely leave my home anymore, I don't answer the phone, Dr. doesn't care."

• Liv...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 26, 2021

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "I started Keppra XR in 2010, 2250 mg daily, and have been seizure-free to date. The first month was a bit rough as I felt disoriented and fatigued. I had a bit of a hiccup when my not-so-usual doctor switched me to immediate release generic. That was terrible! Suicide ideation, anger, and hostility. Life was really awful within 24 hours on that crap! I even got in trouble with the law by day two! Knowing that wasn’t me, I went back to my regular and much-loved doctor. Although not covered under my HMO, I needed my doctor and Keppra XR brand. I have no side effects other than I sometimes feel a little euphoric about an hour after my morning dose. Very satisfied with the results and living my best life."

• A N...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 8, 2021

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "Keppra has been the only thing that controls my seizures. It is dangerous at higher doses. It gave me suicidal fantasies and a bipolar-like personality. When I lowered the dose, I feel more stable with a joy for life, but I am so fatigued 24/7. After taking it for 20 years, my memory is shot, and I am scared I am going to get early onset dementia. However, an epileptic has to think about surviving each day without having a seizure in a dangerous circumstance that could kill or seriously injure themselves and others. So although Keppra is not perfect by any means and it will take a lot of experimentation for the right dose, it gave me the best chance at a normal life, seizure-free."

• 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."

• jay...
• November 8, 2015

For Epilepsy "I am on Keppra 1000 mg and 100 mg Topamax daily. Combination very effective, but I am experiencing severe side effects like tiredness, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Difficult to attend to my daily needs."

• Ted...
• July 21, 2016

For Epilepsy "I now suffer from excessive tiredness and lack of energy, and I am consulting my GP about an alternative treatment."

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 5, 2025

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I started Keppra in 2019 for seizure control (due to meningioma). Definitely experienced side effects of irritability, memory loss, fatigue, dizziness. Hard to know if meningioma, surgery, or medications caused side effects. Switched to Lamotrigine but felt much angrier, went back to Keppra and have been on it since 2021, no seizures and feeling good on a maintenance dose of 500 mg BID for the past 2 years."