Can anyone help with side effects,nau... - Epilepsy Research...
Can anyone help with side effects,nausea,light headedness and headaches 24 hours a day.I take Keppra 2 x 500mg tablets a day.Peter.
How long have you had epilepsy & how long have you been on Keppra for?
Hi Carley,3 years now since my first of 3 seizures.Two in 2010 and one in Feb this year when they tried to change me to Epilim.
Hi Peter, as Carley as requested, please advise how long you have had epilepsy, and also how long you have been on Keppra. This will give us a better understanding of your seizure pattern. It is difficult to give answers until we know the facts. Have a good day today.
Thanks Lesmal,been on Keppra for 3 years and have had 3 grand mal ie total seizures.
Hi Peter,
I was on Keppra and had the same side effects you are suffering with now.
I was advised to keep active and maybe the sickness and headiness would be forgotten.
For me this didn't help and I tried to take the tablets for a decent amount of time, the side effects didn't fade. sorry to be negative but some drugs just don't work for some people.
Depending on how long you have been taking this set dose I would advise seeing your doctor and weighing out the benefits of Keppra, ie has it improved seizure frequency and the side effects you are facing. Are they having an impact on day to day life?
For now i would suggest anti-sickness pills and ibuprofen.
But as Carley pointed out, it is good to know how long you have been on Keppra, if only for a short time, then side effects may subside but by the sounds of things you've probably been on it for a while to work your way up to 500!
good luck! Take care!
Ellie 
Hi,thanks for your comments.Keppra seems to be doing the job re seizures and i have tried lots of anti sickness pills.I will try the ibuprofen and keep myself active.I've been on Keppra for 3 years,starting off on the dose I;m still on.24hr sickness is so depressing.
Hi Peter, thanks for that info. I agree with Ellie. I think you should def see your consultant or Doc as soon as possible. Although they are stopping your seizures, you have to weigh up your quality of life whilst taking Keppra. I was diognosed with epilepsy 5 years ago & similar to you have had 3 grand mal seizures but also some partial seizures. It took a year & half to wean me on & off 5 different medications. I tried Keppra which unfortunately made me v depressed. I now take pregabalin which has completely stopped my seizures. I still get tired easily & my memory is not as good as it used to be but it's the best anti-epileptic drug I've taken. The complex thing is that we all respond so differently to different medications, as we know all drugs have side effects but you can't go on feeling like this. I also occasionally suffer with headaches when I am v tired, only thing that works for me is Solphadeine plus from behind counter or stronger paracetomal & codeine perscribed by doc. Speak to your doc ASAP. Good luck & keep us posted
Hi Peter - Like some of the others, I was surprised to hear the dosage of Keppra you were on and now to hear you have been on that amount from the very beginning! It took over 4 years for my docs to find the right drug for me - I had to try about 6 until we found the one that worked - for me it is Lamotrigine -but each time, I was started on a low dose and it was built up until we could see a) if it was working and b) if it had unwelcome side effects! I DO have side effects from Lamotrigine - mainly short/medium term memory problems, a "not so good" sense of balance and getting easily tired- but these kind of things, in my case, are definitely bearable when it comes to the fact that I have not had a day time seizure for 3 years now - I was having up to 8 major tonic/clonic seizures plus minor episodes/absences a week for several years until I went on to Lamotrigine . With the kind side effects you are having, which sound pretty unbearable, you definitely need to go back to your GP and ask to see your consultant again. Also, can you find out if your consultant is actually an epilepsy specialist as opposed to "just" a neurologist? I was getting nowhere until my GP did some research and found me a neurologist who concentrated almost exclusively on Epilepsy - what a difference - he really understood exactly what I was talking about and had unlimited patience when it came to getting my seizures under control. Good luck - and don't give up.
Thank you for your reply.Brilliant advice about my neurologist.I will check him out.
Thanks for your reply.I'm worried about changing meds as I have my own business and need to drive.As I had a seizure changing from Keppra to Epilim the thought of another seizure whilst changing is daunting.In theory I get my license back from the DVLA in a couple of weeks.I will try the Solphadeine plus and possibly Paracetomal & Codeine.
Hi Peter, I agree with all above... Please see your Neurologist and explain all that is happening. As Ecossaise says above, it took me about 5/6 years of trying different types of medication, until we found one that was compatible. After 40 years with epilepsy, I have managed to stabilize on Carbamazapine and Phenytoin, which obviously has its side effects too. I won't change now as I know this is controlling my seizures, but have been on this medication for many, many years.
Good luck and keep us all posted!
Thanks for your reply.I think all I can do is wait and see.I'm frightened about changing medication as at present I seem to be seizure free,perhaps the side effects are worth living with.I know though that as soon as I feel unwell again I will question my medication.I am checking to see if my neurologist is in fact an epilepsy specialist or just deals in general with neurological issues.
Hi Peter - I'm not sure of what I am about to say, but I THINK I remember reading somewhere that there are "special" guidelines about driving licenses if you have a seizure which is deemed to be purely due to a change in medication. Please don't rely on that but it could be worth checking up on?!
Hi you are correct it's 6mths no license when change of meds.My 6 is up next Friday so hope to be on the road in a few weeks.
I hope you have managed to find some answers....
My son has lived with all the symptoms you describe, as well as overwhelming fatigue since he caught a virus 3 years ago which then developed into post viralchronic fatigue (ME/CFS) If you experience fatigue as well it is worth bearing this in mind. Definitely have conversations with your doctor.
Thanks for your reply,I hope your son is ok.I'm no further forward.Somebody must know of a drug which can combine with Keppra,I feel bad at constantly moaning to my GP and of course the neurologist at £????'s a time.I am loathe to completely change the medication which I did in February which lead to a big seizure and 6 months of no driving,I am a "one man band estate agent" so cant exist without a car although my family have been great.Peter.
My son takes Omerpazole for nausea and other digestive problems... He also takes Keprra for epilepsy and it seems ok with this combination and it does help. Don't forget to check out chronic fatigue symptoms incase you have both, as dizziness and nausea are both part of the equation.
Thank you very much for your help.I will look at Omerpazole and let you know how I get on.
I take keppra 1500mg and carbamazapine 2000mg daily - both big doses of the tablets. I chopped and changed tablets, and consultants, for 12 years before trying these two together, that have (touch wood...!) controlled my seizures for nearly 2 and 1/2 yrs now. I do suffer from a very poor memory, am always tired, and have regular headaches from the medication, but like you describe, I am so reliant on my car and driving for my job that unfortunately I just have to put up with it! Its not ideal, and the changes I've been forced to make to my life are frustrating, but controlling my seizures has to be priority for me.
Thanks for your reply.I will speak to my doctor and neurologist about Carbamazapine.Its so frustrating when you need to drive.It sounds like your dosage is massive,I'm only on 500mg of Keppra twice a day..Good luck in the future and thanks for your advice.
Hi Peter. I know this is an old post but I was just wondering if you ever found a solution? I have been suffering from light-headedness for around 10 years now and am also taking Keppra 500mg twice a day.
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