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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by elainen on October 1, 2004, at 14:28:03
Just wondering if anyone has tried Keppra and if so, what were the side effects, and did it work?
Posted by Dinah on October 1, 2004, at 16:37:29
In reply to Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???, posted by elainen on October 1, 2004, at 14:28:03
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010725/msgs/72416.html
What a coincidence! I just mentioned this last night!
Posted by theo on October 1, 2004, at 16:38:56
In reply to Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???, posted by elainen on October 1, 2004, at 14:28:03
Keppra is unique. I use it for anxiety after failure with Neurontin. It works good for me and also enhances mood. The best description I can relate to is at this link.
Posted by elainen on October 2, 2004, at 0:24:03
In reply to Re: Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer??? » elainen, posted by theo on October 1, 2004, at 16:38:56
I so sensitive to medicine.
How much are you taking and what has it done to you?
Do you get those dysphoric mania's? I just get so irritated and really icky mad, irrational.I did read the crazymeds.org info, it's helpful. I just wanted feedback from this site.
I am looking for some alternatives to here! Thanks so much!
E
Posted by SLS on October 2, 2004, at 9:52:43
In reply to Re: Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer??? » elainen, posted by theo on October 1, 2004, at 16:38:56
> Keppra is unique. I use it for anxiety after failure with Neurontin. It works good for me and also enhances mood. The best description I can relate to is at this link.
>
> http://www.crazymeds.org/
>It's interesting that this site claims Keppra to be a potent antimanic. In a correspondence with Ivan Goldberg, MD, he told me that he had only moderate success with it as a mood stabilizer. My doctor does not like it. I'll be curious to see what are others' experience with it.
- Scott
Posted by Ritch on October 2, 2004, at 9:53:51
In reply to Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???, posted by elainen on October 1, 2004, at 14:28:03
I tried Keppra along with Depakote two different times for several months in the last two years. The thing it helped with the most was sleep and it worked GREAT for that. 250mg at bedtime worked like a charm. 125mg wasn't enough. It does have anxiolytic properties, but if I took it at night just for sleep and didn't take a 2nd dose during the day I would get rebound anxiety. Unfortunately, there is a relatively common side effect of irritability and I had this simmering dysphoria that wouldn't go away and I had to stop it because of that (even with Depakote). It *did* improve my cognition, but I think it was primarily because my sleeping was so greatly enhanced. If I can sleep well I can think straight the next day. If it hadn't made me irritable I would have kept it just for the sleep benefits (better than Klonopin, diphenhydramine, etc.)...
Posted by theo on October 2, 2004, at 11:26:25
In reply to Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???theo, posted by elainen on October 2, 2004, at 0:24:03
Here's my experience. I started Keppra at 250mg at night for 4 days, then took 500mg for 4 nights, then added 250mg in the morning plus 500mg at night. Now I'm at 750mg total but take 250mg 3 times daily, 7:00am, 3:00pm and 10:00pm.
The first 4 days I was actually sleepy, then it was like an awakening of my brain and I felt great. Keppra clears your mind and you can stablize with dosage increases within about 4-5 days. For anxiety, it doesn't make you brain dead like Neurontin (for me at least) and has zero side effects. For me it kills the "fear" feeling of anxiety. You can easily experiment with the dosage with this med without feeling like crap except maybe a mild headache for 2-3 days when you increase or decrease the dose.
I did had a negative experience when I tried to take 500mg twice daily as the prescribing info states. The half life is 6-8 hours and in reality should be prescribed 3 times daily in my opinion.
Back to my negative experience. When I was at 250mg 3 times daily, my pdoc told me to go to 500mg twice daily and add 250mg midday if needed. What happened was the first morning I took 500mg, I felt aggitated and took another 250mg around noon. I litterally wanted to run someone off of the road or knock someones head off. I've only been in 2 fights in my life and knew this was totally out of character for me and that I moved up in dose to quick. I could probably go up from where I am now (250mg 3 times daily) but more is not always better.
I was prescribed the 500mg pills and they break in half easily. I don't know how you started Keppra dosing wise but the 250mg increase for 4 days until you reach a comfortable dose is the way to go. 250mg can make or break you with this med, but you have complete control over it because it stabilizes within about 2-4 days when playing with the dose. The prescribing info says you can take 500mg twice daily your first dose and if I would have tried that, you would have probably seen me on CNN running cars off of the road.
Again, since there is zero withdrawal, at least for me, I would try taking 250mg doses to titrate up and whatever your daily target dose is, divide it into 3 times daily versus 2 times daily.
Check with your doc of course, but I wouldn't give up yet because the ease of dosing with this med is great and if it weren't for my pdoc telling me to play with the dose, I wouldn't be taking it now and it has been the best anxiety, manic reducer I've taken. It's not an antideppressant but does have mood lifting qualities. It also doesn't poop out like Neurontin to where you are having to always increase the dose. Once you find your target dose, it doesn't poop out like other meds.
I'm SSRI free and the other med I'm taking with Keppra is Lamictal (125mg at bedtime) and the two work well together.
Again, I think you mentioned you saw the write up on Keppra at the crazy meds web site and whoever wrote that pretty much hit the nail on the head in their description.
Posted by elainen on October 2, 2004, at 12:00:14
In reply to Re: Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???theo » elainen, posted by theo on October 2, 2004, at 11:26:25
Thanks theo, I haven't started it...yet. Not sure if my military/civilian pdoc will give it to me. She does not like to go beyone the 'norm'. And, getting meds like this causes so much paperwork for them. It took reams for me to get a few Trileptal to try!
The only thing that concerns me if she did let me try it is that whole irritable thing, I get pretty irate and cranky when I am having a cycle.
You would see me on International CNN.....
If I reacted to Trileptal with the hives and throat swelling, what do you think the possiblity of the same happening with Keppra?
I loved having that *clarity* it gave me. Wow.
Thanks again,
E
Posted by theo on October 3, 2004, at 15:06:00
In reply to Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???theo, posted by elainen on October 2, 2004, at 12:00:14
I think the key is starting slow. I don't know how you started it before but I would get the 500mg tablets because they break so easily in equal halves and go only in 250mg increments going up every 4 days. As I said, I'm only taking 250mg 3 times daily which works great, but above that I feel like I'll have road rage.
Posted by SLS on October 3, 2004, at 16:04:55
In reply to Re: Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer??? » elainen, posted by theo on October 1, 2004, at 16:38:56
> Keppra is unique. I use it for anxiety after failure with Neurontin. It works good for me and also enhances mood. The best description I can relate to is at this link.
How would you describe the antidepressant properties of Keppra?- Scott
Posted by theo on October 3, 2004, at 16:40:36
In reply to Re: Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???, posted by SLS on October 3, 2004, at 16:04:55
It's hard to explain, mood lifting, assertive in a positive way.
I wouldn't use it as monotherapy by any means, but it works nice with Lamictal.
Posted by iris2 on October 5, 2004, at 14:33:01
In reply to Re: Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???, posted by SLS on October 2, 2004, at 9:52:43
Scott,
Since you mentioned corresponding with Dr. Goldberg I wanted to ask how? I have had an interest in making an appointment with him but one of the reasons I have not a of yet is that I wanted to know a few things about what type of therapy he would provide. For instance would he prescribe out of the country medications? Would he combine things unconventionally? Does he often prescribe off label?
Is there a way I can ask him some of this without spending all the money and travel I would have to for a first appointment? It seems fruitless to me to see him if he is not willing to work with me in a way that I would find meaningful.
Irene
Posted by SLS on October 5, 2004, at 16:13:56
In reply to Re: Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer??? » SLS, posted by iris2 on October 5, 2004, at 14:33:01
Hi Irene.
You can find the information on his website:
http://www.psycom.net/ikg8.html
- Scott
Posted by bipolarspectrum on October 5, 2004, at 19:31:18
In reply to Re: Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???, posted by SLS on October 2, 2004, at 9:52:43
Hi,
I just recently began keppra, 500 mg twice a day... I'm bipolar type II, mabye III... and i experience depression most of the time.. I began keppra and so far its getting me out and moving... but of course, there is a bad side - i experience dizziness and disorientation... I hope this goes away and leaves me with the boost... anywayz, id like to continue to correspond with those who have, or are currently, trying keppra..
thanx
bps
Posted by iris2 on October 5, 2004, at 20:26:09
In reply to Re: Keppra---anyone tried as a mood stablizer???, posted by SLS on October 5, 2004, at 16:13:56
This is the end of the thread.
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