93 patient evaluations for Levetiracetam

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Nov 14, 2011 (Started Sep 15, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for sciatic neuralgia)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for herniated disc)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1500 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Levetiracetam (Keppra) was the only drug that provided relief from very unpleasant tingling sensations and feelings of 'electric shocks' due to sciatic pain (resulting from a herniated disk). Keppra did not help with the pain sensations but I estimate that it reduced the tingling sensations and the 'electric shocks' sensations by around 40%-50%, which was very significant for me. The drug led to dizziness/drowsiness that completely disappeared after 2 days. I tried to take more than 750 mg/twice daily, up to 1500 mg/twice daily. However, there were no additional benefits for me from taking the higher dose so I returned to the dose of 750 mg/twice daily. Most physiatrists are not very much familiar with this drug. If you suffer from sciatic pain or herniated disc disease and you want to try taking anti-convulsants, I advise to do it with a neurologist, and not a physiatrist. Many drugs for chronic pain are anti-convulsants and neurologists have plenty of experience in prescribing them.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Jan 15, 2006 (Started Sep 15, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (insomnia)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Unbearable insomnia and mental burden.
  • 0 helpful marks

Nov 11, 2011 (Started May 01, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (loss of feeling in feet)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1500 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Since the Keepra does make you drowsy I try and get a good nights sleep.I also take vitamins such as vitamin B Plus,C,and a Multi Vitamin.I have research and have tried to eliminate caffeine.sugar,pop,etc.Since four out of the five grand mal seizures I had were at night while asleep My Doctor prescribed that I take 2 500 mg at 7:00 AM and 1 500 mg at 7:00 PM.For awhile my loving wife had to remind me to take the medicine as I sort of blocked it out that I even had them at all.But the med is working and my Doctor has agreed that I could attempt to wean off the medicine in the spring of 2012 if I wanted to knowing I couldn't drive a car for quite some time if I do.
Cost: $25-49 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Oct 24, 2011 (Started Feb 08, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for spasms)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 2000 mg Daily

Oct 25, 2010 (Started Feb 08, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for spasms)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily

Sep 3, 2010 (Started Feb 08, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for spasms)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily

Jun 21, 2010 (Started Feb 08, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for spasms)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Still have hyperreflexes and will have spasms but not as severe
  • 0 helpful marks

Aug 3, 2011 (Started Sep 15, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for epilepsy)
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for seizures (complex partial))
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (balance problems, brain fog, abdominal pain, irritability, drowsiness, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: irritability, balance problems, drowsiness, brain fog, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes, abdominal pain

Jul 1, 2011 (Started Sep 15, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for epilepsy)
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for seizures (complex partial))
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (balance problems, brain fog, abdominal pain, irritability, drowsiness, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 500 mg Daily
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: irritability, balance problems, drowsiness, brain fog, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes, abdominal pain

Mar 10, 2011 (Started Sep 15, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for seizures (complex partial))
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (balance problems, brain fog, abdominal pain, irritability, drowsiness, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Can make you feel tired,slows thinking a little.May cause a little dizziness.Can cause you to feel angry easily.Can adjust to these things if you recognize and work on it.
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: irritability, balance problems, drowsiness, brain fog, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes, abdominal pain

Dec 2, 2010 (Started Sep 15, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for seizures (complex partial))
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (balance problems, brain fog, abdominal pain, irritability, drowsiness, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: This is an expensive medication.I tried the generic version which was much cheaper but also much less reliable on what it would do.Was on generic a few weeks and had break through seizures.Mail in pharmacy sent when it was released as generic.Have had difficulty with seizure control since then even when put back on name brand keppra.Pharmacy also sent generic trileptal in 2009 and since Nov.2009 have had poor seizure control.The FDA may obtain a large portion of tax dollars but due to the wide range of efficiency in generics there are many either above or below effeciency rating of brand named meds.My advice do not switch to generics if you can at all afford the high priced name brand of seizure meds.
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: irritability, balance problems, drowsiness, brain fog, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes, abdominal pain

Aug 9, 2010 (Started Sep 15, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for seizures (complex partial))
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (balance problems, brain fog, abdominal pain, irritability, drowsiness, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: These pills can make me have flashes of anger.This is not my typical personality or usual mood. I have almost missed a dose but got up and took in the night.I feel they cause a great deal of somnelence probably due to other AEDS also.Trouble with stuttoring,word repetition and phrase repetion,poor spelling,problem with gait/Balance,falls.Brain fog.
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: irritability, balance problems, drowsiness, brain fog, morning sleepiness, fluid retention weight gain, lesion like rashes, abdominal pain
  • 0 helpful marks

Aug 2, 2011 (Started Aug 08, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for Support brain health)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
  • 0 helpful marks

Jul 10, 2011 (Started Mar 01, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (depressed mood)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 3000 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Keppra XR is working much better for me than regular Keppra.
Cost: $25-49 monthly
Side effects: depressed mood
  • 0 helpful marks

Jun 2, 2011 (Started Apr 01, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (anxious mood, brain fog, tiredness, difficulty eating, excessive sleeping (hypersomnia))
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: excessive sleeping (hypersomnia), tiredness, anxious mood, brain fog, difficulty eating

May 23, 2011 (Started Apr 01, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (anxious mood, brain fog, difficulty eating, excessive sleeping (hypersomnia))
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: -Get into a routine taking it, I take it multiple times a day and make sure I take them roughly the same time each day. -Keppra has leveled out my night sleeping pattern nicely! -Keppra makes me very very tired so I find it hard to concentrate and "join in" activities sometimes because I am tired.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: excessive sleeping (hypersomnia), tiredness, anxious mood, brain fog, difficulty eating
  • 0 helpful marks

May 15, 2011 (Started Jan 10, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), tremor in hands, pain in fingers, nightmares, bad dreams)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Advice & Tips: Taking Levetiracetam is not difficult. My neuro replaced it for Topamax. I've not seen any benefits from it. Unlike the Topamax that kept me seizure free for 6 months, Levetiracetam did not improve or change the sz activity. The side effects are bothersome. I have nightmares nightly. It makes me extremely sleepy around midday. I try to fight it but sometimes I can't win. I feel over medicated. So it has disrupted my night sleep now and it makes me nervous when I go to bed and when I'm not feeling well. Also something I never experienced with any drug, sometimes I have audio hallucinations. Random strange noises that don't last long. My appetite has increased. I'll be fine then all of a sudden I'm starving! I don't know if I'm eating from nervousness but it's consumption is constant and I'm gaining weight.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: nightmares, pain in fingers, tremor in hands, excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), bad dreams

May 1, 2011 (Started Jan 10, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), tremor in hands, pain in fingers, nightmares, bad dreams)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: It didn't improve my seizure activity. I gained weight with this drug. It made me increasingly nervous. It was hard to stay awake during the day. At night I dreaded going to sleep because of nightmares. I heard sounds with this drug. Not voices, but sounds. Unidentifiable sounds. I was taking the generic form of Keppra.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: nightmares, pain in fingers, tremor in hands, excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), bad dreams

Mar 1, 2011 (Started Jan 10, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), tremor in hands, pain in fingers, nightmares, bad dreams)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Advice & Tips: 1. I take this treatment with food twice daily. 1 in the morning and 1 at night. 2. I had hoped it would stop the sz but just like everything else it's not been effective. 3. Experiencing nightmares or bad dreams. Excessive sleepiness around midday. Increase in appetite. I wish I could afford brand name Keppra (and Dilantin) if nothing else to compare them with the generic brands and see if the results differ.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: nightmares, pain in fingers, tremor in hands, excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), bad dreams

Feb 2, 2011 (Started Jan 10, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (nightmares)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1500 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I think this is Keppra by generic name. and it had too many side effects for me. It made me nervous and bad dreams.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: nightmares, pain in fingers, tremor in hands, excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), bad dreams
  • 1 helpful mark

Mar 23, 2011 (Started Jun 03, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (sleepiness)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Advice & Tips: This has been a great product. The side effects are minimal - it tends to make me a bit more tired, and I seem to be more ADD, but I would recommend it in a heartbeat.
Side effects: sleepiness

Oct 10, 2010 (Started Jun 03, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (sleepiness)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: Great - just stay on it consistently.
Side effects: sleepiness
  • 0 helpful marks
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