Hi, Sue:

I have epilepsy and I take Keppra (levetiracetam) at the dosage of two 500 mg tablets twice daily.

I have never been the kind of person that likes to take generic medications, as compared to brand name medications, because I noticed 1) they are less effective for me (Duragesic and MSIR more effective than their generic equivalents) and 2) they cause more side effects than their generic equivalents (much more nausea, vomiting, and constipation with the generic medications).

Quote: "I got a phone call from the company that is making the drug and they are sending out a report to the FDA how this drug is increasing sz. for me as well as causing a rapid heartbeat for me."

I am really sorry for all the problems that generic Keppra has been causing you. Hopefully, you can get the brand name Keppra back so these problems can be solved.

Do you, by any chance, know if there are documents on the Internet that show that generic Keppra can increase the number of seizures and cause a rapid heartbeat? If I had access to such documents, I could show them to my neurologist and pharmacist so they know I have valid reasons to refuse generic Keppra.

Quote: "I've had over 100 more sz. this yr. at this date compared to last yr." This is about a little more than eight seizures per month with generic Keppra, compared to brand name Keppra. This gives me the creeps. What will happen to my two-year-old baby boy if the number of my seizures increased with generic Keppra? I would not want CPS (Child Protective Services) to use this as an excuse to remove my beloved baby and I do not want to start going into hiding or moving regularly again because my child needs stability when it comes to his living place. This is reaaa-lly anno-ying! Oooh! I just do not know what to do anymore.

Thanks for letting me vent and thanks for informing us about these very important problems that can happen with generic Keppra.

Hi Kitty,

To get info. about any med check out FDA.gov/medwatch and you will be able to get info on any over the counter or persciption med and you can print out the info. There's at least 10 pages of documents on keppra.
I think you got the same phone call as I did on the keppra from the company making the drug. I haven't done it yet but go on line and just type in keppra lawsuits and see what's going on I've heard there's a lot of legal action going on with the drug just like there was with neurontin. I'm sorry to hear the the keppra increased your sz. I know it did the same thing to me. My advice to you is to try another AED (sz. med) because the more sz. you have the more chances of brain damage. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

I take the generic Levetiracetam for nerve pain and it works great for me . I have never gotten a phone call or nothing about it . If it aint broke dont fix it. good luck all . I take 1000mg 2 times a day . Roz

Hi razzle,

I'm glad to hear that the keppra has worked for you. I found out that I'm drug resistant to most seizure meds after I had a DNA test done to find what med would work the best for me. Just be sure and get blood tests done as well as have your liver checked because keppra and a few other seizure meds can mess up the liver and sometimes lower your white blood count. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue