
Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group
Epilepsy (often referred to as a seizure disorder) is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. It is commonly controlled with medication, although surgical methods are used as well. Seizures (or convulsions) are temporary abnormal electrophysiologic phenomena of the brain, resulting in abnormal synchronization of electrical neuronal...
All AED's have some mood sides effects---part of this is trying to find the ones that give YOU as an individual the best coverage with the least side effects--its a balancing act.
I'm on Keppra, and I've been on it for a little over a year now. To be honest, when I started, I started with 1500 mg a day...and I started having some weird, WEIRD thoughts...ie, thoughts of death, thinking of things I could do with knives, what it would be like to not be here any longer, feeling like an extreme burder on my hubby etc. But, since I knew about the side effects, before I started Keppra, I knew my thoughts were irrational, and I knew it wasn't me thinking those thoughts. It was so bizarre. I was sad at first, and I almost want to see that I could've gone into a deppression, but I kept communicating with my Neurologist, and with my hubby. My hubby helped me out alot. At first, there were days when I'd just come home from school, and go straight to bed. I'd cry, and cry, and I'd cry more. I'd eat meals..But after 1 week of that, I called my Neuro. She suggested that I go down to 1000 mg of Keppra. I did, and I felt a little better, the bizarre thoughts stopped, and I was coming around back to my old self. It seemed like it took forever to get my body used to the Keppra. I'd say it took about a good 6 months. Now, I'm still seizure free, and my Liver isn't being compromised, the way it was with Depakote. Keep up the fight with the medications...and dont worry too much about what the medications say they should be taken with. Keppra is the only med I take...and I'm still seizure free.
All my best to you bandj!