Levetiracetam for Epilepsy User Reviews (Page 2)

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

Levetiracetam "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."

• car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2019

Levetiracetam "I was tried on Keppra for a short period as a possible substitute for Dilantin, with the results that it did control my seizures, but after just two weeks, to borrow from the prescribing information, it produced 'hostile and aggressive behavior' over even the slightest thing. That was the first time. The second time that I was tried on Keppra, I spent a year on probation for assault. You can guess my opinion. It works well for some people, but I fear it's not as safe as the UCB and the FDA claim."

• ama...
• September 5, 2009

Levetiracetam "I have been epileptic since I was 5 years old. Now I am 24 years old. I started taking Keppra 2 years ago. In the beginning, I was so tired and sleepy-nearly lethargic. That wore off after the first 3 months of being on Keppra. Since I have been on Keppra for over two years, I only have had 1 seizure, and it was because I missed a dose. But sometimes I think there are other side effects due to Keppra, such as lack of concentration, frustration, irritability, and anger."

• Anonymous
• November 9, 2009

Levetiracetam "I took Dilantin for over 20 years and always felt tired. I regularly had seizures 2-3 times a year while taking this medicine. My doctor took me off Dilantin, and I transitioned to Levetiracetam (Keppra) because long-term use of Dilantin can promote osteoporosis. I have been seizure-free ever since and experience no side effects. I also feel more energy as a result of getting off Dilantin."

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2020

Levetiracetam "Keppra not only increased my seizures from 3 a year to 5-7 grand mal a week but also kept me conscious during them so that I was able to feel every excruciating moment. Normally, the human brain blacks out during a seizure. Thanks to this drug, I was able to feel and remember my muscles tightening and fighting against each other, my head trying to hit again the floor and my legs and arms trying to kick and beat the air. As soon as I was able, I switched doctors and medication. This needs to be pulled from the shelves!!"

• Use...
• January 17, 2013

Levetiracetam "I had my first seizure when I was 17 (now 23). I always wanted to be on medications that were safe, so one day when I had a family. And now I have my family with a healthy boy. I do have to say I was having depression, I was having dizzy spells and really bad headaches. But I talked to my doctor, he lowered my dose and gave me Topamax to take with it. And now my headaches are gone. It is very hard to actually find the right medication for yourself. I wish you all the best!"

• Out...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 4, 2023

Levetiracetam "Avoid. I am 24 years old, and I had my first seizure almost two years ago. I had another one a month after that. Grand mal seizures, to be exact. Both seizures were very violent, waking up to blood on my pillow, a black eye, and bitten tongue and lips. I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I got prescribed Keppra extended-release. I take 1000 mg at night. The side effects are horrible. Horrible mood swings, irritability, anger, rage, the list goes on. It has ruined relationships around me in my life. I am finally switching medications, there are better options out there. I advise you to look at the options. Take it at your own risk."

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 1, 2018

Levetiracetam "I've been struggling with seizures for seven years. A year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with epilepsy and put on Keppra. I currently take almost the max dosage, 1,750 mg twice a day. I struggled with grand mal seizures so much before starting Keppra. Ever since I started Keppra, I've only had one grand mal occur a year ago. Although Keppra helped my grand mal seizures, it didn't prevent my partial seizures or otherwise petit mal seizures. Keppra doesn't react badly with other meds or the body. Overall, satisfied with Keppra!"

• Mag...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 7, 2014

Levetiracetam "After having seizures for reg every 8 days or so for 55 years on many different anticonvulsants, I was given Keppra, 3000 mg daily, and for the last 10 years have been free from seizures with no side effects whatever. This medication has changed my life around."

• mac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 16, 2013

Levetiracetam "I have been on Keppra for 10 months. After 45 years on Dilantin, my liver was being poisoned. Dilantin worked as far as controlling seizures. Keppra has worked so far, but I have insomnia and no appetite."

• Nur...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2017

Levetiracetam "My experience on Keppra was awful. Partly responsible for me developing a state of encephalopathy. Mood was evil. I was threatening to strangers and family. I'd flip so suddenly from 0 to 100 without warning at the slightest word out of place. I'd say it's dangerous from a patient perspective and would not advocate it as a nurse. Thoughts of negative actions... prolific."

• Fra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 11, 2020

Levetiracetam "Have been taking Keppra for more than 2 years now, and I have never noticed a problem when using it. It has completely stopped all of my seizures and gives me no side effects. On top of that, it is a water-soluble drug, meaning that I just urinate it out, leaving no way for it to do any damage to me. Currently, I am on 1500 mg a day of XR medication. The first time it was prescribed, I never took it for the sole reason that there were so many side effects listed. I had seizures because of my actions. After taking it, I have never had a seizure since and feel better than ever. I recommend the use of this medication if prescribed!!"

• Pac...
• November 18, 2017

Levetiracetam "As a 42-year-old female, I have had seizures my entire life. I have taken 14 anti-convulsants at one point or another in an attempt to control my complex partial seizures, but Keppra is the WORST medication I have EVER taken. The side effects are horrible. Although it's the only medication that has been able to stop my seizures, the side effects are so terrible that it's not worth taking it. I couldn't string together a coherent thought, had short-term memory loss, had awful mood swings, and suddenly hated life. Everything was difficult, I couldn't think straight and felt emotionally raw all the time. I could barely keep it together while on this medication. Every day of life was AWFUL while on this medication. I will NEVER take it again."

• Han...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 19, 2017

Levetiracetam "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 "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)."

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

Levetiracetam "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."

• Anonymous
• January 30, 2016

Levetiracetam "I was diagnosed at 13 years old with grand mal seizures due to my period. Was put on Keppra 250 mg twice a day. I'm 21 now and still take it. It does control my seizures (though I still get auras once in a while), and I have experienced all the side effects. My parents and friends will be the first to tell you how drastically I have changed from this medication. It makes you very irritable, tired, depressed, crazy mood swings, and short-tempered. Through the years, I've learned to handle it better. When I was 15, I stopped taking them to see if I grew out of it, suggested by my neuro, and had 3 seizures in 3 days. Have been taking it every day ever since. Keeps me living a normal life, like driving a car and going to school!"

• Pam...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 28, 2020

Levetiracetam "My son cannot take generics of Keppra, it works for him, and he is on a combination of Depakote, Keppra, and Vimpat. Nine of the generics are equivalent to the brand. Don't be fooled by doctors or pharmacies, because they will tell you they are the same."

• Anonymous
• December 21, 2013

Levetiracetam "My daughter is 4 and started having seizures 9 months ago. She has been on Keppra since then. Overall, it has worked to control but not completely prevent her seizures. It has stopped them from spreading to her whole body, but she still has them in her face about once a month, even though her dose has been increased several times, and she is now taking 7 mls twice a day. The side effects now are not as bad as when she first started this medicine. Since she has been on it, however, she has not had as good of an appetite, and some days she won't eat at all. Her sleeping habits have been irregular as well. Sometimes she freaks out and starts biting anything she can. She doesn't talk, so she can't tell me how she feels."

• Anonymous
• September 17, 2019

Levetiracetam "I have been taking 200 mg of Keppra twice a day after my second seizure, which was 4 months ago. For the first month, roughly, I had constant mood swings and almost no appetite. It wasn't uncommon for me to randomly start feeling depressed, and those phases could last up to multiple days on end. I would also have random anger that seemingly came from nowhere to the point where I would start fights with my family over the dumbest things. Even after that first month, which is supposed to be when your body gets used to the drug, I continually had mood swings and random depression. Although it has stopped me from seizing, I highly do not recommend."

• Van...
• March 10, 2012

Levetiracetam "I am on a very small dose for epilepsy, 250 mg twice a day. It has made me quite tired, but apart from that, there's been no problems. I only have a couple of seizures a year, so hopefully this low dose will keep me seizure-free."

• Twi...
• April 3, 2018

Levetiracetam "When my Keppra was wearing off, I would start to twitch! I couldn't stop twitching, and I was becoming more and more aggressive! My body felt more unbalanced, and I fell twice. I encourage you to speak to your doctor to thoroughly investigate what meds are out there that don't make you mean and walk like a twitchy drunk!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 30, 2019

"Horrible experience on this drug, yes, it works to stop seizures, but I don’t think that outweighs the cons of having mood swings, anger, depression, anxiety, and really dark thoughts that could put me in prison. And it also makes you lose your friends and family due to these side effects."

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

Levetiracetam "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."

• Rob...
• July 27, 2010

Levetiracetam "Started off using Keppra with Tegretol and at the regular 500 mg dose per day. Later upped to 1000 mg per day. Once they removed my Tegretol dose, I began to have violent seizures. Now I have Tegretol back, and my dosage of Keppra was doubled again. Now at 2000 mg per day. I'm now depressed, tired, nauseated, and don't really want to eat at all. I'll have to talk to my doctor about changing my medication."