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Suggest Alternative Medication In Place Of Keppra

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Posted on Mon, 7 Nov 2016
Question: Hi, I was taking trileptal for 10 years before I started to become allergic to it. I am now on Keppra bid instead. It is not working well and I need to consider another change. I have an appointment in a week but I always check things first before a discussion. Is there a drug out now for partial seizures which I have, that may work better than keppra and be closer in function to trileptal that worked well, XXXXXXX XXXX
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Read below

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

The dosage of Keppra you are under is the smallest possible one. So I would say that it can't be said to have failed without trying an increase of the dosage. The dosage can go up to 3000 mg/day.

If increasing Keppra doesn't work the antiepileptic drug which I would try which has a similar mechanism of action to trileptal, blocking sodium channels, is Lamotrigine. It is an excellent drug in terms of efficacy and side effects profile. There are also carbamazepine and eslicarbazepine which are even more similar to Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) but there might be the risk of them causing allergic reactions as well.

I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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Suggest Alternative Medication In Place Of Keppra

Brief Answer: Read below Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. The dosage of Keppra you are under is the smallest possible one. So I would say that it can't be said to have failed without trying an increase of the dosage. The dosage can go up to 3000 mg/day. If increasing Keppra doesn't work the antiepileptic drug which I would try which has a similar mechanism of action to trileptal, blocking sodium channels, is Lamotrigine. It is an excellent drug in terms of efficacy and side effects profile. There are also carbamazepine and eslicarbazepine which are even more similar to Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) but there might be the risk of them causing allergic reactions as well. I hope to have been of help.