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Why Is Keppra Ineffective In Keepin OCD Under Control?
Question: was taking until some time ago 1000mg Keppra as mood stabilizer, Klonopin 1mg, Lexapro 2.5 mg and amisulpride (Solian) 100mg. My psychiatrist decided to change Keppra for Gabapentin, but this med didn't worked and suddenly an old OCD/phobia reappeared. It was under control until the change of Keppra for Gabapentin. But the most strange thing is that when my psychiatrist decided to go back to Keppra, the problem was not resolved as before and the symptom of OCD/phobia stayed and it's still here. My question is: why the problem was not there at the beginning, it appeared with the change of antiepileptic (to Gabapentin) BUT it NOT disappeared going back to Keppra, while Keppra was working BEFORE the change and for some four years? Is there any kind competition between meds (in the liver and kidneys) or receptor desensitization that could explain that Keppra was not able to do the same effect because it was retired for two weeks in the replacement by Gabapentin? A higher dosage of Keppra is needed? My psychiatrist told me that what happened is difficult to understand.
Thanks beforehand
Thanks beforehand
Brief Answer:
Brain chemistry is too complicated
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
Its very unfortunate that the medicine that you were previously on is not working any more for you. But let me tell you that yours is not the only case and the events are also not specially particular to the mood stabilizers as well. it happens with may different psychotropics including antidepressants, antipsychotics as well as mood stabilizers like in your case. Brain chemistry is too complicated and its stillnot deciphered completely. Ones a medicine acts on a chemical release, the chemical acts on the receptor and then 1000s of other secondary processes are involved there after. So its not possible to pinpoint why it has occured but it does occur. Infact the books also state that ones a drug is not effective (say drug A) then you may try drug B and if still not effective then you may again try drug A as now it may be effective.
The two options that you can opt is to give keppra some time again to start acting. You may give atleast 3-4 weeks time to see if its totally ineffective or elese the dose can be increased to 1500mg after 2 weeks and see if it works.
Otherwise you may consider all together different mood stabilizers like divalproex or lithium or carbamazepine etc.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Brain chemistry is too complicated
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
Its very unfortunate that the medicine that you were previously on is not working any more for you. But let me tell you that yours is not the only case and the events are also not specially particular to the mood stabilizers as well. it happens with may different psychotropics including antidepressants, antipsychotics as well as mood stabilizers like in your case. Brain chemistry is too complicated and its stillnot deciphered completely. Ones a medicine acts on a chemical release, the chemical acts on the receptor and then 1000s of other secondary processes are involved there after. So its not possible to pinpoint why it has occured but it does occur. Infact the books also state that ones a drug is not effective (say drug A) then you may try drug B and if still not effective then you may again try drug A as now it may be effective.
The two options that you can opt is to give keppra some time again to start acting. You may give atleast 3-4 weeks time to see if its totally ineffective or elese the dose can be increased to 1500mg after 2 weeks and see if it works.
Otherwise you may consider all together different mood stabilizers like divalproex or lithium or carbamazepine etc.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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