Keppra Users
 

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

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!

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

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

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.

Great to have you with us!!
 

37IW,

That is great news to hear, I am so happy you were able to get your medicine. I have been on Keppra for a long time. It is wonderful to have you come in and be a fellow member with us.

Hi tos8,

From what I have heard they are still having problems with the generic keppra because the sz. are increasing in many people and the FDA has wanted people to fill out reports on this and let them know. I was put on the generic form of keppra and my sz. increased like crazy. So far this yr. I've had over 200 sz. and I've seen a pattern where I have sz. every week but one week each month. Before the keppra it was just the opposite I would only have 1 week of sz. and be sz. free the next 3 wks. the drug also caused more brain damage on me now I have 3 different areas that are triggering sz. where before it was just 2. I'm not to happy with the drug co. and you might want to get your little brother off the med before it causes more problems like it did for me. If you are in the U.S. just go on line and type in FDA drug watch and then you can call them and they will send you a form in the mail to fill out. I wish you and your brother the best of luck and May God Bless You Both!

Sue

Levetricetam (Keppra Generic)
 

I have a doctor appointment this week and will discuss this with him.
I think I need a tad bit more though does anyone know about what the highest amount you can take per day?
Thanks!!

I take 1500mg in the morning and 1500mg in the evening (along with 75 mg lyrica 2x a day). After being on it and stable for years, I'd moved and a new neuro wanted to mess with it because he said that dose was too high (well, he'd done a blood test and said it was too high; I called the company and they said there was no established range), but I fought the change because I'd been stable and didn't want to go changing things. I was good on that, with only minor breakthrough partials once in a blue moon, for 6-7ys.

Porkette, your point is an interesting one. I've been on the same dose of my 2 AEDs for years, but this last year was extremely stressful and my health went into a tailspin. My minor breakthrough seizures used to be limited to during the night right before my period, but over the last few months, I've had a few daytime partials and some simple ones around bedtime. Plus heart-racing and all sorts of new problems. Still, for me, anyway, I don't think the change is related to the drug as much as my brain is continuing to fall apart. But I will keep your warning in mind! Thanks!

:(
 

I was re-reading this thread. I received my first (and only) order from a new mail-order insurance program-a three MONTH supply-and they sent me Levetiracetam. I took my last keppras tonight, which means all I have are the generics starting tomorrow.

The worst part is that I've been having a lot of heart racing and dizziness lately, which a new cardio diagnosed as dysautonomia. Whatever it is, I certainly don't need some faux drug making it worse! :(

Hi Friedbrain,

I know once I got off the darn keppra the rapid heartbeat stopped for me. I had to see a heart specialist while I was taking the keppra because they thought that there was a medical problem but since I'm off the keppra I've had fewer sz. and no more rapid heartbeats. Another good thing is that I can sleep because the keppra was causing insomnia which led to more sz. for me. I wish you the best of luck 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.

genric keppra users
 

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

The insurance did that to me one time to. Send the generic on Keppra. I callled my doctor and told them I have never taken generic before I always been on the brand. Your doctor as to write on the presipration brand only.

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