Keppra

[Scots_dad]

Hi guys looking for a bit of guidance here . As I've said in previous posts had encephalitis 8 weeks ago been on the keppra anti seizure drugs since . I've said in previous post was gonna come off them but ppl and doctor are saying it's too early. Iam willing to come off them again for good as the anxiety, depression and worse of all insomnia are killing me. I only had the seizures in hospital as that's when I had the infection and my temperature was sky high ,personally I think it's a one off as I know my body I've tried magnesium glycate but still feeling the same any advice will be appreciated

[kitnkaboodle]

I’ve never been on Keppra, but I’ve heard from others that it takes a very long time to wean off of it, mainly because doctors don’t want you to have more seizures, especially if you’re at risk for status epilepticus.

[HSE_Survivor]

8 weeks seen your diagnosis is really early days for your recovery. I found my first year very hard, too. It’s natural to feel very depressed at that stage, as you just want life to get back to normal .

Having said that , it sounds like your epilepsy meds need monitoring . I was told not to come off epilepsy meds until 2 years after the last seizure in hospital . When I suffered hair loss, bruising and severe depression in my first months of recovery, my GP was useless. She said these feelings couldn’t be a side effect of the meds I’d been given in hospital , the symptoms were just normal for encephalitis recovery . My husband then rang the hospital and managed to insist on an early review with a neuro specialist there. The specialist changed my epilepsy meds, and my symptoms improved .

Are you due for a review with your neuro specialist , soon? You can always ring and ask for one. You need to tell them your two key epilepsy symptoms which are:

- Deja vu / recognising people you don’t know when you look at them , as that can be an epilepsy seizure warning, which means meds need reviewing

- Depression is recognised as a negative side effect of Keppra for some people . If the depression is still severe/ hasn’t improved after several weeks on the Keppra, it definitely needs reviewing . You can say you’d like to try a different brand of epilepsy medication .

I hope I’m not repeating myself too much from my reply to your last post. I am happy to chat if I can be of any help at all. ❤️‍🩹

[Scots_dad in reply to HSE_Survivor]

Hi thanks for the reply , iam still waiting on an appointment for the seizures clinic so how do they even know I'd take anymore seizures as only ever had them that 1time when my temperature rocketed and was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with encephalitis. Physically iam fine but the biggest problem iam having now is insomnia which is one of the side effects and can dictate my moods the following day if had no or little sleep , again thank you for the reply really appreciate it