[Porkette]

Hi Folks,

I wanted to let all of you know that are using the generic form of keppra called Levetiracetam that 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 was suprised when I got the phone call today and they told me they were putting this on report as well as letting my Epi know what's going on.
I certainly hope that none of you have the same problems as I have had on the drug. I'm greatful I will be seeing my Epi next Monday to get off the drug and then hopefully the sz. will reduce. I've had over 100 more sz. this yr. at this date compared to last yr.
Here's wishing All of You Well and May God Bless You!

Sue

[vodpop]

Thanks Sue,
thats good info to have. I've recently started taking this generic form of Keppra (matter of fact was just searching on side effects before coming to check the boards).
I hope everything works out well for you and god bless!

[Porkette]

Hi Stef,

I hope the keppra works better for you than it has for me. I just found out from my pharmacist that both the brand name and generic form of keppra have been put on report with the FDA. If you notice you have insomnia, or you are always tired no matter how much sleep you get, along with an increase of sz. call your neuro/Epi and let them know what's going on. I started taking 2000 mg. a day but now I only take 500 mg. a day and it's still causing problems. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

[37IW]

The Keppra worked wonders for me and I was on the road to no seizures until the insurance company changed my medication to the generic form of keppra, Levetiracetam. It only took a short while that my seizures began and after numerous attempts from my doctor to have my medication switched back to the Keppra it was done. It has taken a few months to re adjust back to the Keppra but its been a month since my last episode so were praying that things will get back to normal and that the insurance company doesn't intervene again in the name of the almighty $ versus a patients health!!

[Porkette]

Originally Posted by 37IW

The Keppra worked wonders for me and I was on the road to no seizures until the insurance company changed my medication to the generic form of keppra, Levetiracetam. It only took a short while that my seizures began and after numerous attempts from my doctor to have my medication switched back to the Keppra it was done. It has taken a few months to re adjust back to the Keppra but its been a month since my last episode so were praying that things will get back to normal and that the insurance company doesn't intervene again in the name of the almighty $ versus a patients health!!

Hi 37IW,

I'm sorry to hear that your insurance gave you a hard time about the keppra but I'm glad to hear that things have worked out and that the keppra is working for you now. If for some reason the insurance co. gives you a hard time turn them into the state insurance agency where you are living and they will do an investigation as to why they won't cover the drug. Also get a note from your neuro stating that this drug is the only drug that has helped you control your seizures and have them send it to your ins. co. and be sure you get a copy of the note. Then the state will do an investigation that won't cost you any money and if your insurance. co. is in the wrong they will have to correct everything so you can keep getting the keppra at their cost.
I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

[tos8]

Hey Porkett, do you know if this is still a problem? My little brother is on keppra, the generic version and he started having increase sz. around that time and his nuero increased the med more and the sz. increased more.

[johnston1]

Originally Posted by Porkette

Hi Folks,

I wanted to let all of you know that are using the generic form of keppra called Levetiracetam that 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 was suprised when I got the phone call today and they told me they were putting this on report as well as letting my Epi know what's going on.
I certainly hope that none of you have the same problems as I have had on the drug. I'm greatful I will be seeing my Epi next Monday to get off the drug and then hopefully the sz. will reduce. I've had over 100 more sz. this yr. at this date compared to last yr.
Here's wishing All of You Well and May God Bless You!

Sue

I've been eplictic since I was 3 years old. I've been on brand my whole life. I've been on Keppra for a while. I've been seizure free for 11 years. My husband health insurnace is going up next month I pay $60 for 3 months supply next month it will go up $100 every 3 months I was thinking about going generic keppra. It will be $20 every 3 months. I'm not sure about the genric of keppra. After I read your post that scares me even more. Have you went back to the brand. It sounds like it is not worth it I do drive and I don't want to loose my job. Please get back with me. Thank you.

[johnston1]

I take the brand Keppra and I was thinking about going to the genric because our health insurance is going up. $60 every 3 months next month it will be $100 every 3 month. I've been taking brand since I was 3 years old and haven't had a siezure in 11 years. After reading about the genric keppra I'm going to stick with the brand and hope that the insurance will still let me take the brand.

[Porkette]

Originally Posted by johnston1

I take the brand Keppra and I was thinking about going to the genric because our health insurance is going up. $60 every 3 months next month it will be $100 every 3 month. I've been taking brand since I was 3 years old and haven't had a siezure in 11 years. After reading about the genric keppra I'm going to stick with the brand and hope that the insurance will still let me take the brand.

Hi johnston1,

I am completely off the keppra since last April and since that time my seizures have been under control much better. So far this yr. I've had 96 fewer seizures than last yr. My best advice to you is to have your Dr. do a DNA test on you to find out what seizure med will help you the most and will have the least side effects. I went on vimpat after I got off the keppra and it has done wonders reducing my absence (petit mal), complex partial, and simple partial seizures. I haven't had a single tonic clonic seizure since I've been on the drug vimpat and I sure can sleep much better and my heart isn't bothering me anymore like it did with the keppra. Another thing you can try that won't cost you much money is vitamin B12 1000 mcg. once a day and try goine on the ketogenic diet I am on this diet and the diet is high in fat but low in carbs and starch foods. The diet has been around since 1927 and it builds up ketones in a persons system that helps reduce and in some cases stop seizures. If your insurance co. is giving you a hard time getting meds. You should report them to the state insurance co. in your area so they can find out why they won't cover you especially since you are having seizures. Also if you live in the U.S. report them to the Epilepsy Foundation of America at 1-800-332-1000 and they will help you out at no cost. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

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.