Levetiracetam and Suicidal Thoughts: What Users Say

• 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."

• Mtu...
• November 11, 2017

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I don't like using Keppra at all. Since the start of using Keppra, I keep on having suicidal thoughts every day, which I don't want to have. Keppra is making my life worse than ever. My mood is changing every minute. It has impacted my schoolwork so much. I have trouble remembering things and being happy. Sometimes I cry so hard and say to myself 'I can't take this drug anymore'. My self-esteem is getting very low every day. This drug is destroying my relationship with my friends and family. I just want to be able to tell them and my school what my feelings are and not pretend to put a mask of happiness over my face."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2018

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Would not recommend for elderly. Mom was sent home from the hospital with this med. She became very moody and talking suicidal (never in her 90+ life). She went downhill - no longer walking, couldn’t hold herself up, and dark urine. Happened over the weekend I stopped the med and she began coming back up to her normal self and is now better."

• 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."

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2014

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "Keppra seemed to stop my seizures for my mild epilepsy, however, the side effects were so bad that I stopped taking it after 3 weeks. The worst side effect was suicidal depression. Prior to taking Keppra, I did not suffer depression. I'm back on Epilim now."

• bee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 27, 2023

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "I have had a bad experience taking Keppra. The longer I took it, the worse my symptoms were. Aside from epilepsy, I have depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Keppra made me paranoid and suicidal, and I heard so many voices in my head. I thought these side effects were related to my bipolar disorder, it did not occur to me that the changes in my thoughts and behaviors were related to Keppra. It wasn't until I had a nervous breakdown and my parents told me I need to talk to my doctor about switching medications that I realized Keppra was only heightening my mental disorders. I do not recommend Keppra at all if you experience any mental health issues."

• Gra...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 18, 2023

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "I’m thankful for this drug. It allowed me to have two healthy children. I was originally on Depakote, my pediatric neurologist thought it was a good idea to put me on it, even though I was 17 and eventually wanted kids. I ended up with an autistic child with special needs. I vowed never to have children again as long as I was on Depakote. I wish my first neurologist had put me on Keppra. Keppra, I still have mixed feelings on. I’m thankful I was able to transition to it, and I’ve been seizure-free on it for several years. I had a few breakthrough seizures after having my last child, but an increase in dose resolved that. I absolutely experience the rage, however, and overwhelming emotions. I do have suicidal thoughts at times, but I am a single mom and not in a position to try a new drug since it is controlling my seizures. The rage is real, people aren’t exaggerating, but to me, I’d rather be seizure-free and live an independent life than risk my freedom for rage issues."

• nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2020

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "So far I have had a terrible experience with this drug, Keppra. They increased the dosage by 1500 mg a day. So now I'm taking 1500 mg 2x a day on top of Lamictal. I always feel tired, moody, and depressed. Most recently, I started having suicidal thoughts and feeling lonely. I hope these side effects end soon."

• Sha...
• June 28, 2009

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I have tonic-clonic seizures due to a malignant tumor in my frontal lobe. I was prescribed phenytoin, which controlled the seizures, but my doctors could not get my blood levels stable, so I was constantly oscillating from sub-therapeutic to toxic. After 6 months of trial and error with no success, I was switched to Keppra. Keppra failed to control the seizures, and I became hyperactive, easily agitated, and began having suicidal thoughts. My doctor made me switch back to phenytoin. The FDA recently required the manufacturer of Keppra to change the warning label to include these as known adverse reactions in some patients."

• Anonymous
• August 15, 2011

Levetiracetam for Seizures "I'd been having partial seizures every 2 weeks lasting a few days for about 3 years before having a tonic-clonic seizure and finally agreeing to go on medication. I started on Keppra and the seizures came once a month for about a week, similar to a girl's period, and I became very depressed, suicidal, and uninterested in anything. About 2 years later, I had another tonic-clonic seizure. Shortly after that, I switched to Lamictal and am no longer suicidal but am still depressed and uninterested in anything, and the seizures now come more frequently and randomly."

• 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!"

• Bgo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2017

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 13. Due to my cerebral palsy, I had been taking Zonegran since then. I had weaned myself off of my medication when I got pregnant and had been seizure-free for almost 7 years. I recently had a relapse and began seeing a different neurologist. She put me on Keppra. THE WORST three months of my life. My moods would go from 0-60 in a matter of seconds and for no valid reason. I had trouble remembering things, even trouble with communication. It’s true, I also began to have suicidal thoughts and became too much to handle, even for myself. I would randomly cry, then get angry. I recently was referred to another neurologist, who asked me about these symptoms, and then it clicked. I DO NOT recommend this medication to anyone."

• Dr ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 20, 2017

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy "Developed epilepsy due to several strokes while fighting sepsis/septic shock about 4 years ago. I am in the middle of weaning off Keppra and moving to Lamictal. While I was seizure-free on Keppra, the Kepprage, depression, and suicidal thoughts made me think it might be better to take my chances with seizures. Hopefully, the Lamictal will be effective. I also wish there was more science behind cannabis, and I lived in a state that allows medical cannabis. CBD seems like an option to supplement the conventional medications, but I can't say I complain about the occasional 'buzz' via full-spectrum cannabis."

• Zac...
• November 8, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with type 2 bipolar disorder in March of this year. A few months later, I had my first seizure, followed by a couple more in my sleep. I was then diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and prescribed a regimen of levetiracetam 750 mg tablets twice a day. Over the past 5 months, I've had positive results regarding my seizure disorder, although I have experienced an increase in irritability, hostility, depression, and suicidal ideation. I'm in the process of seeing my neurologist to determine whether this is the best treatment option."

• Lau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 4, 2016

For Epilepsy "I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 12 years old (I am now 27). I have been on lamotrigine and topiramate (separately) in the past, and they both worked to control my seizures. This year, my neurologist has changed, and she wanted me to try Keppra, but I was happy on the topiramate, so I said no until I had a grand mal seizure. However, the seizures have gotten worse since taking the Keppra, plus the side effects are awful. At the start, I was so tired I spent all day asleep. After the dosage has increased to 3000 mg per day, I have started to get mood swings, anger, depression, irritability, plus suicidal thoughts and have become a completely different person - I never used to cry, but now I don't stop."

• cry...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 29, 2015

For Epilepsy "I've been taking levetiracetam for 10 years now. I take 500 mg 2X daily. The first 4 years I experienced little side effects, like strange sleep patterns, always tired, and a slight disruption in my ability to concentrate. My seizures were reduced to only 3-4 a year vs. 1-2 a week. In the last five years, however, the long-term side effects have hit me hard: muscle and bone weakness, sciatica, migraines, hair loss, no energy, bouts of rage where I feel outside my body watching a mad woman (I have always been a calm, collected person who never yelled and rarely felt anger). The anger is overwhelming. Suicidal ideation, severe depression, complete lack of concentration, inability to think of words (which is devastating for my love of writing)."

• 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."

• Pba...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2020

For Epilepsy "I'm 22 years old. Had a brain hemorrhage at the age of 19, later had an open head surgery for AVM at 20. Been taking Levipill 500 mg twice a day since then. Thankfully, I had no seizures or epilepsy to date, but the side effects are worse. I have horrible mood swings, agitation, lack of finding words to speak, zoned out, not able to socialize with anyone, even family, prefer being alone, irritability, can't control emotions, crying a lot, suicidal thoughts. What I would easily sweep under the carpet, those things outrage me now. Really want to share my feelings, I'm not this, but I don't know why I can't. Want to get rid of this ASAP, but the doctor says I need to take this lifelong to avoid seizures. Can't get worse!!"

• Gen...
• February 16, 2020

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Been on Keppra for 10 days after second seizure. Have had thoughts of suicide."

• Kep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2016

Levetiracetam for Seizures "Within a week, suffered suicidal thoughts, psychosis, hallucinations, rages, and self-harming acts!"

• 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."