Posted by SLS on August 25, 2005, at 6:50:34
In reply to Re: Keppra pharmacological properties - Shawn T.? » SLS, posted by Shawn. T. on August 24, 2005, at 20:59:07
Hi Shawn.
Thank you so much for coming to my rescue! Levetiracetam is an atypical AED, and I wasn't sure if any mechanisms for its efficacy have been proposed. Of course, there might also be other observed properties that have not been allocated a therapeutic function.
You might like to take a look at this:
http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=15210974
I have spent the last two days muttering expletives because Keppra stopped working for me to treat my bipolar depression. I really wasn't expecting much from this drug, as it has not garnered many supporters for its use in affective disorders. The thing is, I started to respond to it towards the end of last week after being on it for only 10 days. Monday and Tuesday were particularly good days. The antidepressant effect that Keppra produced was broad, of significant magnitude, and unmistakable. This response began to fade by Tuesday night and practically disappeared entirely by last night. This has been my pattern of response to antidepressant psychotropics for over 20 years. I begin to respond robustly during the second week of treatment, and tachyphylaxis occurs within three or four days subsequent. Is a period of 3 days meaningful to you? Can you think of anything going on biologically that occurs in 3 days that might account for my development of tachyphylaxis to these drugs? I occurs with standard antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and atypical neuroleptics.
I had become particularly interested in Keppra after reading the following abstract:
I managed to consult with Dr. Kaufman. It was with great serendipity that he turned out to be the author of this paper. I had no knowledge of this man's work before going in to see him. How weird is that?
Thanks.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:545975
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050821/msgs/546453.html