I accidentally self-titrated to a lower dose of Keppra, and I feel good about it

On Treatment
Written By Liz Salmi

I short-changed my Keppra dosing this week by mistake.

I'm supposed to take 1,500mg in the morning and 2,000mg in the evening, but I must have filled up “Old Man Pill Case” wrong. All week I've been taking 1,500mg in the evening. The good news is that I'm feeling fine.

I always told myself I'd be super careful with the seizure meds because... who wants a seizure? But deep down I've often questioned the reasoning behind the 3,500mg/day when the most people can absorb is 3,000mg--anything above that is pointless. (Or so I’ve been told.)

I once had an on-call neurologist express disbelief at my abnormally high dosage. He said he wouldn't even prescribe that much Keppra to a man who was six feet tall weighing 250 pounds.

I feel guilty having accidentally titrated myself to a lower dose without medical supervision.

Is it possible to have a “happy accident” with medications?

Liz Salmi

Liz Salmi is Communications & Patient Initiatives Director for OpenNotes at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Over the last 15 years Liz has been: a research subject; an advisor in patient stakeholder groups; a leader in “patient engagement” research initiatives; and an innovator, educator and investigator in national educational and research projects. Today her work focuses on involving patients and care partners in the co-design of research and research dissemination. It is rumored Liz was the drummer in a punk rock band.

https://thelizarmy.com
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