Keppra Side Effects

[Scots_dad]

Hi has anyone on keppra getting really bad insomnia atm , I've been on it since the start of November but since Xmas its been getting worse waking up an hour after falling asleep thinking I've had a full night's sleep then struggle to get back to sleep 🙈 also get vey emotional when I'm on my own listening to my music 😭

[Wygella]

Hi. Are you taking Keppra post Encephalitis or for another reason? If it’s for encephalitis then I also had insomnia and other unpleasant side effects like extreme dizziness. I was fortunate to only be on it for 3 months. This was six and half years ago. I continued I’m afraid with insomnia for a long time and learnt strategies to manage it. After all this time though I do sleep much better you will be pleased to hear. Good luck if you are just starting this journey.

[Scots_dad in reply to Wygella]

Ah that's good everyone else saying I will be on them for years, i had encephalitis back in early November had 3 seizures at that time but nothing since got a phone consultation with the neurologist on 10th a Feb to see where I go from here, thanks for the reply

[Wygella in reply to Scots_dad]

That’s exactly what happened to me six and half years ago. Like you I had the 3 seizure in 24 hours. Back then no one seemed to know much about encephalitis. I was very lucky to have a doctor at the hospital who recognised it straight away. Neurologist took me off 3 months later but it seems that the norm now is to keep people on them. I felt awful when I was taking them. Permanent,y nauseous and dizzy too. You need to really check out your options but you can request to come off. I reckon Feb may be a bit early though. You don’t want to come off too early either. Good luck. Let me know how you get on. It’s still quite a journey you’re on by the way. Don’t push yourself. Wear yourself out etc. and look for Letter to my Brain on the Encephalitis Society website. Really helpful.

[Scots_dad in reply to Wygella]

Thanks for the reply again , when I had my seizures my temperature was sky high and not experienced anything since. I've got a notepad ready with a tonne of questions for the neurologist would have preferred face to face but it's a phone consultation, can I ask has it left you with any lasting affects?