Keppra
The below information on Keppra has been taken from official FDA sources, but we cannot guarantee it's accuracy. Please use this site for educational purposes only. This site does not replace a proper discussion with your doctor.
| Brand Name: | Keppra |
| Generic: | Levetiracetam |
| Availability: | Prescription |
| This drug was approved by the FDA in one form or another on: 1999-11-30 ,2006-07-31 , | |
| This drug is made in one form or another by the following companies: UCB, Inc. | |
| This drug is available in the following forms: Injectables Tablets and Oral Solutions | |
| View the actual FDA approved label for this drug at the following links: PDF Label PDF Label |
About Keppra
Keppra is a medicine taken with other seizure medicines to treat:
- partial seizures in adults and children 4 years of age and older with epilepsy.
- myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
Precautions for Keppra
Keppra may cause drowsiness. Do not drive a car or operate complex machinery until you know how Keppra affects you.
Side Effects of Keppra
Some people taking Keppra can get serious reactions including:
- sleepiness or feeling tired
- weakness
- difficulty coordinating muscles normally, (e.g., abnormal walk)
- aggression, anger, and irritability
- agitation, anxiety, and other mood changes
- decreased ability to cope with daily life events
- feeling depressed or worsening depression
- thoughts of suicide
Talk to your doctor before stopping Keppra or any other seizure medicine. Stopping a seizure medicine all at once can cause status epilepticus, a serious problem.
The most common side effects are:
- drowsiness
- weakness
- dizziness
- infection
Recent Forum Posts on Keppra
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monthly cycle
Hello, I am a 31 year old (F) When I get my monthly period I experience at least one Simple partial seizure towards the end of my period. I am Taking Dilantin and Keppra. Has anyone experienced this.
Any feedback would be great.
Posted By Unregistered at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 1 Reply
No Subject
I am 22 years old with partial complex seizures, and they started when I was ten. I was having them almost everyday, a few times a day, and have been seizure free for a month since the day I started taking keppra! I was about to give up hope on medication since I have tried them all for many years without any luck- tegrotol, topomax, depakote, zonegran, trileptal, etc...and went through the weight gain, weight loss, anxiety, memory loss, and so on. so if you havent found one yet dont give up hope. and if you havent tried keppra you should deffinately ask! some things I have warn you about though are the side effects, of which I wasnt aware of until it was kind of too late. this medicine DOES cause depression, psychosis, attempted suicide, and deffinately anger and temper outbursts. I am on lexapro now to control these side effects and it has made all the difference. Its very relieving to know that i'm not really going crazy! so deffinately inform your family and loved ones.
Posted By Mimi at Sun 9 Sep 2007, 6:58 PM in Keppra || 0 Replies
seizures
I've been taking keppra for about a month. My seizures so far are STOPPED. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. THANK-YOU.
Posted By Claude Hodder at Thu 14 Aug 2003, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 2 Replies
No Subject
Over the summer I had passed out with sezuire-like symptons and I've recently come to find out that it was a seizure and i've been taking complex-partial seizures. I just started taking Keppra and the side effects are very intense.Extreme tiredness, very moody, I don't have problems saying what i want now and sometimes that's scary...I've read other comments on how people are reacting to keppra and it's almost reassuring that people are having similar effects. But, it can be very hard to deal with sometimes....
One good thing though, it seems like I'm not taking seizures anymore.
Posted By Diane at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies
tinnitus
I heares Keppra is used to cure tinnitus (in Germany and Blgium). Could anyone inform me?
Posted By Cor at Fri 12 Sep 2003, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 1 Reply
Keppra
I started Keppra 500 i wanted to know if it is a weight gain i will
be on 1 Keppra pill at night. I was taking dilantin and gaind a lot of
weight and feeling tired. Now i am getting use to taking Keppra mixing
it with dilantin to get in in my system then in June i go on 1 Keppra
pill at night instead of 4 dilantin pills.
Can anyone tell me the side affects about Keppra thanks. It is better
for me to take then be on four dilantin pills. I am just nervous taking
it. Something new i guess.
Signed
Joan
Ps. Does Keppra mess up your periods???
Posted By Joan at Tue 5 Jul 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 1 Reply
Keppra
I've been taking Keppra for six or seven months now, as for seizures go I have only had two but that was because I forgot to take a couple dosages. I have started to get very sleepy during the day and feel depressed all day long. Plus I am getting headaches in the mornings and throughout the day. I put a call into My Doctor today, but if anyone has experienced what I am going through please let me know.
Posted By Virgilio at Sat 18 Oct 2003, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 1 Reply
Keppra
I think Keppra gives me problems. Suicide thinking, depression, too much emotional feelings, and many mood disorders. I had surgery in Mayo Clinic 7 years ago, had TLE left side. The doctors there said I was 90% likely to be free of epilepsy. Unfortunately I had to get through much stress after that as a divorce and I had many very bad seizures worse than before. Now I have been without seizures for more than a year, but depression is worse than before the surgery. I hope it will get better on Lamictal but nobody knows till about a year from taking Keppra out I think. But this is my last hope. Mayo Clinic is very great hospital, any way. My best greetings to all of you.
Posted By vigdis agustsdottir at Fri 9 May 2008, 8:47 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies
No Subject
I have been taking Keppra for about a month now. Seems to be working really well for me. When I started taking the Keppra I had really bad dizzy spells but eventually that went away when my body adjusted to the medication which took about a week. I had tiredness during the day in the beginning and still do. I still have frontal headaches almost every day in the morning. As far as going out and doing more things the Keppra has helped a lot as I am prescribed Keppra for epilepsy and migraines. Before I just wanted to sit home and do nothing as I didn't ever feel well. I plan to stay on the Keppra. Topamax didn't work for me at all or Lamictal. Tried one pill of Lamictal and woke up about 4:00 in the morning and felt like my mind was racing. Just have to find right medicine for you. Like I said, Keppra is the best one I found so far, less side effects too than other epilepsy medicines.
Kathryn
Posted By Kathryn at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies
migraines
I have been on Keppra for almost one year. I have severe chemical sensativity and hear on CNN that this medicine might help. I have taught for 15 years and dealt with horrible migraines, once exposed to any perfumes, smoke, cleaners,mold etc. I take imitrex for migraines,and that is a miracle drug in my opinion. With Keppra I can go to stores again and function much better. However; what I have noticed is that I am more lethargic and seem to tell it the way it is! I know the medicine has changed my moods and I am very bold now. (I've been an honost person all my life but I wish I could just not tell all) This medicine would make a great truth serum! Anyway, I've tried to get off of it because of the weakness in my body, and boldness in speech, but the migraines were right back. The smells have been horrible and I'm back on Keppra. Point in all of this. Keppra works for chemical sensativities, but the person taking it does not have control over how sensative they are when asked questions!
Posted By Unregistered at Mon 4 Aug 2003, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 7 Replies
No Subject
My daughter, 10 years old, was diagnosed with epilepsy in May. She's been on Keppra for about 6 weeks. Every site I've gone to says it's for adults. This is bothering me. Not to mention her moods have completely changed-she was always cheerful and pleasant, now she's yelling and just very difficult to live with; sometimes she seems so depressed. Does anyone have any information about this? Will these moods go away soon or should I look into having her medicine changed? Thanks! -Mel
Posted By Mel at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies
Keppra
My son is 5 years old and having seizures and taking different kinds of medicine all the time is very new to us since we just found out 1 year ago that he was having seizures. He starts taking the keppra today, (September 6), and after reading some of the other responses on this web-site, I'm very afraid for him. At 5 years old he doesn't, or can't always tell us what he's felling, for example, I don't think he will be able to tell us he's feeling depressed, or angry, so I'm very upset about giving him this medicine, I'm hoping for the best and he would be seizure free after taking this medicine and I hope that Keppra will make all of his seizures go away.
If there is anyone else out there who has a young child with seizures and would like to exchange e-mails, please e-mail me. It would be nice to have someone else to talk to about this because we don't know anyone else who has seizures and we can talk to. Thanks.
Posted By Tammy at Sun 7 Sep 2003, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 20 Replies
Keppra
I was on mostly all antiseizures medicine. ALL! I had left anterior temporal lobectomy and after most seizures were gone, just I had horrible limbic rage seizures. Keppra helps. Everyone who started take it should do dose up slowly and need have tolerance to wait when diziness and somnolence will be less. It'll be less, but need to be patient.
Insomnia... I have it too. Will be thanksful for any advice!
Maria
Posted By Maria at Tue 7 Jun 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies
mood swings keppra
I work with adults with learning difficulties. Some of the people I have been working with have epilepsy and have been tried on Keppra. In each case I have observed mood swings, violent outbursts,depression and paranoia. The psychiatrist involved in these cases thinks Keppra is wonderful and will not considor the adverse effects this drug is having on people. I am in a really difficult position as I am likely to be suspended if I challange the psychitrist over this issue. I believe this drug to be really dangerous in certain cases and at the moment is ruining peoples lives.
Posted By steve at Tue 5 Jul 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 1 Reply
I am due to start on keppra today but am unsure now
Hi my name is dave im 27 years old and was diagnosed with grand mal juvenile epilepsie last year 2004 many people havnt heard of it as my doctor says its a very rare source of epilepsie but also high risk i am starting keppra today 1000mg after failed attempts of other medications mri scans eeg scans and other tests the neurolagist doesnt want to head towards doing surgery if it can be helped at all and now is sticking me on these tablets what am i to do now after reading about all the side affects and the way it reacts to a person i was quite willing to start this medication but now im not so sure ive tried epilim chrono, Diamox, Carbamazepine, Frisium, Rivotril, Emeside, Neurontin, Lamictal, Trileptal, Phenobarbitone, Topiramate, and Diazepam which i had to take as an emergancy drug i dont know if im being told the truth about my medication or just plane darn messed around by my doctors its depressing me so bad i cant sleep at night some times i stay awake for a week or so with no sleep and end up with blackness under my eyes i cant eat properly as they have taken me off dairy products as they reckon thats having an affect on my seizures occuring to i am tottaly upset and confused please any help would be appreciated as im going out of my mind now :(
Posted By dave at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 1 Reply
keppra & or vns
Hi my name is Debbie.I have been taking care of a girl wiyh Lennox Gaustaut Syndrome for 15 yrs. She is now 23. She has been on every seizure med there is, plus the Ketoginic Diet( which caused her kidney stones)She's been on keppra for about a yr.& half. Her seizures just kept getting worse, she was implanted with Vagal Nerve Stimulator about 2 months ago.Has had it increase 3 times, but seizures still bad.I'm thinking it could be her meds. She also takes depakote & clonipin.She doesn't talk( has mentality of nine month old) which makes it even harder to know how she feels.Any replies from anyone that has a similar situation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Posted By Debbie at Fri 2 Dec 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies
tiredness
I have taken Keppra for a few years now but I get very tired in the afternoon. I am 58 and if I walk down town and come back I am very tired. The tablets have stopped the attacks but the after effects are not very good. Also I do not sleep through the night much and the usual dizzyness. I have tried other tablets but these seem alright but its the tiredness that gets me.
Posted By Chris at Tue 5 Jul 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies
No Subject
I take 4,500 mg of keppra daily. 2,000 in the am, then 2,500 in the pm. It controls the seizures very well !! but my ankles are pretty sore. when I go down stairs. I have an appt. with my doctor this Wed. to maybe change my meds ? I been doing this Keppra & zonegran for 3 & 1/2 years. I'm very tired at the end of the day to. & I have a 14 year old kid. My memory is kinda dead. alot. kinda embarrassing to . It erases your memory. I'm always thinking um...um...um.. in my head..out there at my work, or in public. & its embarrassing. its from my Keppra . ahhh well...
Posted By scott at Mon 26 Sep 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies
MigraineFM, and Keppra
my 17 year old daughter was just put on Keppra for chronic migraine and chronic daily headache. She is dosing 2x daily @500mg. THis past year she has also had severe leg and arm pain/cramping in addition to migraines. Keppra was suggested as it is also used to treat Fibro Mylagia muscle pain, according to the doctor. In the past she has had adverse reactions to Topomax, Depakote, a narcotic pain patch, and DHE infusion. SIde effects of depression and anxiety have been severe in the past so we watch for them early on in new medications. what have others experiences with Keppra been with migraine treatment and FM pain reduction? Seizures have been ruled out for her in the past. I was surprised to see other comments of increased leg cramping as a personal side effect of Keppra. Also to see headche as a side effect mentioned by others, when this is what we are using the Keppra to treat. Please feel free to comment back to my email address. Thanks Jan
Posted By Janet Smith at Mon 26 Sep 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies
Keppra
Hi'
My name is Donna and I am on keppra.I've been an epileptic since 9 mos. old.I've been on ALOT of different meds and nothing works. I am now on Phenobarb(3rd time)lamictol(2nd time) and keppra. I am coming off Tegretol.I am convinced that it isnt working for me.This is only the third week for Keppra. If anyone would like to respond, my email is sissy_too@hotmail.com.
Posted By Donna at Mon 6 Jun 2005, 12:00 AM in Keppra || 0 Replies