Breathlessness while on Keppra

[heathermr]

I started with Epilepsy about 4 years ago and eventually the fits settled on Keppra having tried both Lamotragine and sodium valporate. After 3 years on 1000 mg per day split into 2 doses, I suffered a really bad reaction to the Keppra- intense nausea, bad back ache and dreadful confusion and the dose was halved to 500 mg. I also have chronic thyroid problems and have a very slow metabolic rate so it seemed I needed less of the Keppra as the fits were still being controlled. Five months ago I started with extreme breathlessness, so bad it was like a continual asthma attack, and I ended up on a large dose of steroids just to sit on the sofa all day and not move. I finally read the patient information leaflet with the Keppra and discovered that it can cause breathing problems. I have now dropped down to 250mg of the Keppra taken at night when I am asleep which has eased the breathing problems considerably and I have been able to slowly drop off the steroids. I now have to battle the Neuro as he says it can't be the Keppra causing the problem. I know I risk the fits starting up again by dropping the dose of Keppra but I can't spend the rest of my life gasping for breath while just sitting on the sofa.

Has anyone else suffered breathing problems when taking Keppra?

Heather

[EpilepsyAction1 Partner Epilepsy Action]

Dear Heathermr

Thank you for your post.

That sounds like a terrible experience.

There has been some very rare reports of respiratory problems been a side-effect of Keppra. You can find out more on the MHRA website info.mhra.gov.uk/drug-analy...

If you don’t hear from others on this platform, maybe you could put your request on our Facebook group.

facebook.com/epilepsyaction

Regards

Diane

Epilepsy Action Helpline Team