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While Keppra is highly effective at preventing seizures, it may cause a side effect in some individuals that is commonly called Keppra-rage.
There are several anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) available today; the drug Keppra, generically known as Levetiracetam, is one of the newer drugs on the market. Choosing an AED is completely up to the individual and his doctor. Many people choose Keppra over some of the older drugs because of the safety factor associated with it.
Certain AEDs, such as Dilantin or Phenobarbital, can build up in the individual's system, and cause toxicity or liver damage. This is not true with Keppra; Keppra is completely processed and excreted through the kidneys. For this reason there is no need for the monthly, or bi-monthly lab work to check levels. However, it is thought that this very safety feature of the drug is what can cause the all-feared “Keppra-rage”.
The theory behind this is that the individual’s body dumps all residue of the drug from his system, and this in turn can cause the individual to develop a vitamin B6 deficiency. Vitamin B6 has a direct effect on serotonin levels, which has an effect on a person’s mood. Taking a B6 supplement can be helpful if you experience Keppra-rage, however, you should always talk to your doctor before starting any type of supplement in conjunction with your prescription therapy.
While the evidence is clear that Keppra can and does in many cases cause a disturbance in the emotional state of some individuals, it is merely a side effect of the drug, meaning it does not occur in everyone. All side effects should be discussed with your doctor; this is because the severity of the disturbances can differ from one person to the next. While one individual may become agitated at the smallest thing, another may have thoughts of suicide, and this MUST be reported right away!
All drugs, whether they are intended for seizures or stomach aches, have side effects. In a perfect world, there would be one drug that worked for everyone, but then again, in a perfect world we would not need these drugs… would we?
Keppra truly is a safe drug that has proven effective for many people; for this very reason many people continue to use the drug… side effects or not. With drugs as powerful as AEDs you must weigh the options and possible side effects…is the safety of the drug worth the occasional outburst?
Unfortunately, the only way to tell if a drug is going to cause a reaction is to take the drug and give it a chance. If the side effects prove to be tolerable, and the drug is working in all other areas, by all means continue therapy. However, if you feel irritable, moody and find it difficult to function through out the day, you should speak to your doctor about a medication change. There are far too many drugs designed to treat epilepsy to stick with one that does not mix well with your body. It may take some time, but you will find the right drug to control your epilepsy.
The copyright of the article Side Effects of Keppra in Epilepsy is owned by Brandy Widner. Permission to republish Side Effects of Keppra in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Aug 23, 2008 2:42 PM
Guest :
My son had been taking Keppra for two years, with-in the first month his
seizures stopped. Recently he has been playing a Nintendo DS quite a bit
and all of a sudden he is hearing songs in his head that last about 3 to 6
seconds. (this is how he explained it)The Keppra is a great drug for him,
but I am wondering if it is the video games that are starting all of his
seizures. He was diagnosed with partial complex seizures and I need to know
if there is any other mother that has a child with this simmilar
situation.
In need of help or support
mtmamusement@bellsouth.net
Madeline McCormick
Aug 23, 2008 5:54 PM
Guest :
Dear Mom:
Although doctors are not sure what triggers my
seizures, I have been told to stay away from strobe lights, huge theme
parks and video games. I am much older and do not play video games, but
strobe lights at concerts due throw me off and I usually close my eyes and
look down when they do come on. I have heard that video games due cause
seizures due to photosensitivity. Here is a website to check out:
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1718 or even just Google video
games and seizures.
I think the best test is to actually test it on
your son and try to engage him in sports instead of playing video games. I
am also a Keppra patient for about 5 years. I have noticed that it still
makes me a bit lethargic and that my attentive levels increase, and my mood
is much better when I accidentally miss a dosage. Not sure if your child
has mood swings, but an increase in B6 may help. I have been having hair
loss issues due to Keppra so I have increased all of my B vitamins. Not
sure if this helps, but wish you the best of luck with your son.
Oct 15, 2008 7:31 AM
Guest :
Keppra works wonders for my seizures.
I started to become angry a lot
last year. But at the same time a lot of bad things were happening. So
there was no way to blame just on the keppra. I went to a therapist and
psych. They diagnosed me with mood disorder and ptsd. So how am I supposed
to know if its the med? Probably never. And last time I went off the
keppra, I have a seizure on the shower.
So after to psych hospital
stays (I was suicidal and hearing voices) I decided whatever is causing it
(keppra or problems from my past) I am not quitting the keppra. I don't
want to die having a seizure like I almost did.
So to cover my mental
status, I take a few psych drugs. That's that. You have to outweigh the
risks and benefits..."Which is worse" scenario.
Oct 24, 2008 12:06 PM
Guest :
I have been living with epilepsy all my life and have been on just about
every anticonvulsive medication on the market without complete control of
my seizures. I was also evaluated for epilepsy surgery but was not a
candidate.I was put on Keppra,alone over a year ago with a
profound,although temporary decrease of my daily seizures. After nearly 3
months my seizure activity gradually increased again and then worsened,
becoming more generalized. I was taken off of Keppra and placed back on the
anticonvulsive I was taking prior. 4 months ago I asked my physician if I
could be placed on Keppra again but with another medication to try to
control my seizures. I was placed on Keppra 1000mg 2x daily and dilantin
200mg 2x daily with, again, a significant decrease of my seizures. So far
so good! I still have roughly 2-4 seizures daily compaired to 8-10 daily
and without generalization.I am a critical care nurse now and I can
confidently state that Keppra has made a world of difference in my
treatment.
Oct 28, 2008 3:40 AM
Guest :
hi,
i've been on lamitcal for 6yrs and been totally fine. then i
started to suffer brain tremors and this has been happening since jan this
yr. i'm slowly decreasing my lamitcal and tried topamax and that was
horrific. i'm now on 1500mg of keppra however i feel like i'm getting
worse. the brain tremors won't stop and i'm suffering severe mood swings.
is anyone out there suffering brain tremors. i'm awake but my brain is
shaking. my neuro is trying all sorts of meds to control it and nothing is
working. any ideas?
5 Comments
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