Hi I have just joined today the 10th june. I am getting off keppra and have been on it for 1 year. My name is grace and keppra can cause pyscosis and deppression and anxiety. The pyscosis is terrible because this feeling comes over you and you get thoughts in your head saying your dieing and all negative things. I see a counseller and she siad it could be panic anxiety attacks. Then I mentioned it to my neurologist and she referred me to see a physciatrist. She said what else are you on besides the keppra and I told her i Had restless legs syndrome and told her the name of the medication I was on she looked on the computer and said go off the meds you are taking for the legs and that should get rid of the Physcosis. It took alot of it away but not all. She then told me its the keppra and you need to get off it because I was getting suicidel thoughts of wishing I was dead rather than have this horrible feeling and it was worse during and before that time of the month. I was fine until they increased the keppra back in december 2007 then I woke during the night feeling like it was the end of my time. I was terrified. So it is the keppra makingyou feel depressed. I am on dilantin just to get off the keppra then they will try me on a different drug and wean me off the dillantin. Dillantin was the first drug I went on and it was good for 8 years then it stopped working. It did make me put on weight though and caused gingivitis. Hope this has helped you.

I was previously on Depakote. I had a lot of wieght loss, numbness and depression associated with that medicine. I got switched over to Keppra. I have not had any problems since then all though I do have my moments, I have no reason to assume its medicine related...

About 6 months ago my doctor suggested I tried taking Keppra, I am already taking Lamotrigine and Epilim Chrono. I mentioned it to my brother who has just finished training as a doctor - a GP. Whilst obviously his opinion should in no way over-rule a specialists, or even a more experienced doctor, I was taken aback by how violently he told me not to take it. He said that he had come across a patient of his who had come in saying to my brother he was having suicidal thoughts and a violent temper that he was worried would affect his family. Apparently he was then taken off Keppra and changed completely. Since hearing all this I've done more research and asked a couple of specialists who say that it is only meant to be taken as a secondary medicine for epilepsy.
I did make the decision to try taking the Keppra and have definately experienced a negative change in my temperement. Hope I've not made this to rambleing!

i been on keppra for 1-2 years now.... im currently 15 and on 500mg twice a day. since i been on them ive had anxiety problems and depression on and off <.< my doctor cant tell if its just teenage hormones or the tablets ect.... i only have depression ever now and then but when i do get it i have suicidal thoughts and think i have no purpose in life and should just die >.> so can anyone let me know if this is just teenage hormones you generally get?

I'm on both Tegretol and Keppra. My neurologist just put me on Keppra about 2 weeks ago, as I was still having petite mal seizures when I was just on Tegretol. Tegretol had no negative side effects for me, but since I've started Keppra I've been feeling really depressed and have had a loss in appetite, and loss of energy (probably due to loss of appetite). Anyway, I've been researching, and learned that depression can definitely be a side effect to Keppra. I'm a very optimistic, happy person in general, and have been on other medications that could have had the side effect of depresssion, but I never experienced it. I most certainly think that Keppra is having an effect on my moods.

So in response to littlen.. It could most certainly be the Keppra, or a combination of hormones and Keppra together, given your age. I'm 22, and in university. Of course I have stress in my life, Ex. exams, assignments, grades etc... but I could normally deal with that. I no longer can, and instead I just cry and get so depressed. I believe it's the Keppra.

I have been on keppra for a little over 3 years and I get depressed every once in a while. But I am angry and on edge most of the time. I have mood swings constantly. I can't seem to connect with my friends and family anymore. I researched keppra and it is also used for bipolar disorder. I wanted to know if it is because of the medication.

Willow19:

I don't know what your usual personality is, but what you've described since being on Keppra are classic symptoms. Since I last posted, I told my neurologist I was going off Keppra, and within a week I wasn't crazy and depressed any longer. I'm still crazy busy with school, but I'm dealing with it in a normal, non-depressed, non-crazy way.

Talk to your doctor. Question him/her. Just because they're a doctor, doesn't always mean they're right! If need be, go to a new doctor and get an opinion. If I hadn't researched Keppra, I would never have known that it was making me crazy/irrational/depressed. I didn't even question my neurologist when he put me on it. And he didn't give me any info on it. I've learned now: ALWAYS question your doctor.

So please, see if there is a different drug you can take!

If you were able to connect with friends family before you took the medication, and if you weren't always angry and on edge, then I bet it's Keppra.

Best of luck!

Thanks couscous. I have never questioned my neurologist either. I've had the same guy since I was 7. So me and my family have always gone by what he said. I have only been on keppra for a little over 3 yrs now. And there have been changes in me since then. I never put it together, because he never told me and side affects or problems I could have because of it. Thanks again.

Willow19:
No problem! If you figure it out, let us know how everything goes.

Does anyone else seem to blame their neurologist for the stuff they are going through. I do, I know he is just trying to help but I can't seem to like him. IDK. He hasn't done anything bad. He put so many restrictions on me, told me things I couldn't do. And told me I didn't know if I had a seizure. I know your not suppose to but I just get this feeling. I can't explain it.

couscous- I feel the same way you use to when you were on keppra. I can't seem to concentrate anymore and I get very emotional when I can't figure something out/ I get frustrated very easily. IDK if it's just me or the medication.

littlen- It's normal to get depressed as a teenager. especially in high school. It's a added pressure, believe me you will learn to handle it. It's college where it gets hard. As for the suicidal thoughts I've only had them twice. I'm not sure if it's common. But the keppra maybe making it worse. That's just a guess.

How do you guys cope with this. I can't talk to my friends about it and if I try talking to my parents my mom gets all gushy. I just wanted know how you guys live with it. I try to forget about it an avoid the conversations at all cost. But since you know how it feels I wanted your opinions.