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Keppra
Apr 24, 2009 7:33:22 GMT -5
Post by Tina Heuchan on Apr 24, 2009 7:33:22 GMT -5
Our son Nick has 2 seizures. One Friday april 10 lasted about 4 min took him to ER they watched him and sent him home to follow up with Neuro on Monday. then almost 24 hours later he had another one april 11 that one lasted almost 10 min. Could not get him to respond to us to called 911 they took him by ambo to ER. Talked to neuro and started him on keppra. was sent home and was to follow up with Neuro. anyway the first week he was fine then Tuesday april 21 it was like someone flipped a switch. He has been just a bear and unbearable to be around Fights to go to bed fights to get up. Mean and hateful all day. I was doing some reading on the drug and it says side effects are anger outbursts (Yeah) just what we need. and behavior problems...all the things we are been trying to control. Now its all out the window. and he is fighting with us all the time. will do nothing we ask. not even get dressed. I try not to feed into the behavior but if I touch him he will become very agitated and hit or bite me.. So I back off I have a call into neuro and psyc and Behavior person but as of yet no one has called me back and we have to get to school some how. has anyone experienced this with Keppra? I think its the med.. if it is we need to change but I cannot just stop it I need to replace it with another drug. He is making everyone in the house a little crazy all he does is yell at us and wont do anything Thanks Tina
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Keppra
Apr 24, 2009 8:14:17 GMT -5
Post by nikkiv on Apr 24, 2009 8:14:17 GMT -5
That is probably the most well know side effect of Keppra; however, it is also one of the newest drugs with the best side effect profile so ALOT of neurologists start with it. My daughter has taken it from day one with no real behavioral problems.
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Keppra
Apr 24, 2009 16:50:34 GMT -5
Post by corrina on Apr 24, 2009 16:50:34 GMT -5
We haven't tried Keppra, Clifford's only ever been on depakote for his seizures. I hope you get it resolved soon though.
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Keppra
Apr 25, 2009 9:16:04 GMT -5
Post by maroon40 on Apr 25, 2009 9:16:04 GMT -5
Aaron JNCL started off with High doses of Depakote when he started with siezures @ 9 yrs-(now 13yrs) he gained tons of wieght and had increased behaviors fighting, biting, throwing things. Took him off that tried Lamictal worked with decreasing behaviors but couldn't control siezures. Put him back on lower dose of depakote and lamictal and has been working well. He was seizure free for 9 months before he broke through in January and has only had two siezures since. Unforunately it seems that it may be a trial and error until you find the right meds. Behaviors are not as bad now- we're able to deal with them. He is also on Respirdal for them. Good luck and our prayers are with you. P. S. my niece was on Keppra for Abscent siezures not realated to battens and did well on it with no side affects.
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Keppra
Apr 25, 2009 18:53:33 GMT -5
Post by irena on Apr 25, 2009 18:53:33 GMT -5
I have heard of many young people who take Keppra with good control and no side effects. However when we tried it we found that it made our daughter very beligerant and when it was stopped that improved too.
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Keppra
Apr 26, 2009 12:54:24 GMT -5
Post by Janie in NJ on Apr 26, 2009 12:54:24 GMT -5
Chris (18) is on Depakote, Lamictal and Keppra. The only time he has acted up was around age 12 with crying fits. You do have to watch what you feed your child as Depakote does make them hungry. The lamictal decreased the amount of time of the seizure and Keppra decreased the intensity (I may have this backwards). But he still has a very small seizure every 2 weeks, and at the same time (8am). It turns out to be a pattern with him that we have never controlled. He is still mobile and talking. But this year he has taken a down turn and needs constant monitoring.
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Keppra
Apr 28, 2009 13:36:46 GMT -5
Post by Les Chappell on Apr 28, 2009 13:36:46 GMT -5
We have 3 children currently using Keppra -
Chris - Son (12) - Keppra only Elizabeth - Daughter (10) - Keppra and Lamictal James - Son (7) - Keppra only
The only one that has had symptoms similar to what you are describing is James. The keppra has really controlled the seizures, but he does struggle with mood swings and is generally unhappy, unkind, etc. Reading your posting made me wonder if we need to take another look at the Keppra for him.
However, I have not seen that same reaction with Keppra on my older children and it has been more effective, particularly in Chris's case, of stopping seizures.
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Keppra
Apr 30, 2009 18:35:21 GMT -5
Post by sherryhatchett on Apr 30, 2009 18:35:21 GMT -5
Stephen has been on Depakote forever, and has always done well with it. At 23 years old, he still just has about 1 seizure a month. However, our neurologist doesn't want to increase the Depakote any, so we started adding Keppra two weeks ago. So far, so good; nothing bad, but no real change in him at all, but no seizures, either. He is fairly unresponsive, so it wouldn't affect his behavior any, but physically his bowels, appetite, etc. seem unaffected by it, which is good.
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Keppra
May 8, 2009 14:42:43 GMT -5
Post by Jo Ann on May 8, 2009 14:42:43 GMT -5
My daughter Jenna Marie has been on Keppra since 2006, she experienced severe, severe temper tantrums when first started, she almost stabbed my niece. She was 14 at the time. After some time this should definetly diminish though. Since then she has not had a seizure.
Sometimes I find when even at her nastiest state, I try and be the opposite, kind and friendly and compassionate, the mood changes for them. You know they cannot control their behaviors. They know it and they regret how they've acted afterward.
Sometimes its not just the Keppra but slight dementia settling in, I know this sounds terrible, but perhaps you should call Nancy Carney, she was very good at explaining things to me.
Pray for patience and try to look past the aggression.
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Keppra
May 12, 2009 12:13:14 GMT -5
Post by johnheuch on May 12, 2009 12:13:14 GMT -5
Our neuro has put Nick on some vitamins b6. She was expecting the call in case this happened. She said some do and some donot get agressive and aggitated.
It seem to be a difference. Don't get me wrong we had seven good and then a bad morning this morning, but it is a great improvement. We also have been looking at other factors too...
John
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Keppra
May 13, 2009 8:34:20 GMT -5
Post by Tina Heuchan on May 13, 2009 8:34:20 GMT -5
Just wanted to say thanks to all... John posted that dr. added b6 and it has helped so far.. everyone was very helpful once again...
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Keppra
May 13, 2009 17:44:25 GMT -5
Post by corrina on May 13, 2009 17:44:25 GMT -5
I'm so glad the B6 is helping.
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Keppra
May 26, 2009 9:54:42 GMT -5
Post by katarina calderon on May 26, 2009 9:54:42 GMT -5
Just wanted to say that regarding the side effects of keppra or any drug, they are usually at their worst in the beginning, before the body and the brain gets used to them. My daughter was on keppra for years. It was a great drug for her providing very good seizure control. In the beginning though, she had terrible nightmares. we actually lessend the dose, and the nightmares went away.
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Keppra
Jun 12, 2009 9:48:23 GMT -5
Post by John Heuchan on Jun 12, 2009 9:48:23 GMT -5
Just to keep everyone up to date. Nick has been changed to depakote and will be wiened of the keppra. Neuro felt that the behaviors are from Keprra and we would have to increase as time and weight increases which will cause more problems. Even Pysc want to see what is going to happen and then wien him off of the Abilify to see if behaviors stay or if he needs it. He has been more under control with the depakote. Still has to be a boy with his opinion though.
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Keppra
Jun 12, 2009 11:28:09 GMT -5
Post by corrina on Jun 12, 2009 11:28:09 GMT -5
Don't they all. We've been quite pleased with depakote. I hope it works as well for Nick.
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