Keppra Rage
There are many different types of medications for epilepsy. Some I love and others I find to be completely unfortunate. In this article, I want to focus on my love/hate relationship with the medication Keppra.
Transitioning my epilepsy meds
When I was about 21 years old, I was first introduced to Keppra. My amazing Alaskan neurologist helped me transition from Depakote (in my experience, the worst medication for me) to Lamictal and Keppra. As a supporting medication, Keppra was used until I could become seizure-free with meds. I LOVED the combination. I would occasionally get migraines, but in the grand scheme of things, that is not a big deal. Some Tylenol, water, and a nap (who doesn’t love an excuse for a nap), and I was good.
Eventually, I became seizure-free and moved from Lamictal and Keppra to solely Lamictal. Life was wonderful. I rarely had "glitches," migraines, and dizziness. I was living the dream of being seizure-free. I couldn’t be more grateful for Keppra and its part in getting me seizure-free.
Mood swings on Keppra
Fast forward to about a year ago, my "glitching" was getting bad. My current neurologist spoke to me about some options to get me back on track. One of the options was to go on Keppra as a secondary medication. I was all for this idea. However, my neurologist did warn me that Keppra can cause mood swings. To be honest, I blew off this warning since the medication worked so well for me before.
About 2 weeks into taking Keppra, I was hit with incredibly strong mood swings. Small issues now felt like the end of the world. A casual joke was now something I took to heart. During this time, I remembered my neurologist talking about mood swings with Keppra. I started doing research and reaching out to others who are taking or have taken Keppra. This is where I learned about "Keppra rage."
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Keppra rage?!
I had no idea that this side effect was so common that it’s given its own angry-vibe name. Finally, after about 4 weeks, I asked to be taken off Keppra. Once Keppra and I parted ways I moved on to another helper medication and my mood leveled out.
In the end, my Keppra love/hate relationship taught me 2 great lessons.
- I should expect the best but show compassion for myself when I don't get optimal results.
- Mental health is just as important as physical health.
Have you experienced Keppra rage? Or maybe you have a family member with epilepsy who experiences mood swings due to medication? Share in the comments below. And always remember, you are not alone.
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