Keppra and Growing

[bsoates]

Hello,
I am a teen male who entered puberty late and started to grow much later than the rest of my peers. I have been taking 1000 mg of keppra twice daily (1000 in AM, 1000 in PM) since November '07 ( I had 2 seizures in Oct. and Nov. '07). I have heard Keppra causes hair loss (which doesn't concern me but leads me to believe that it may effect hormonal levels) and I was wondering if Keppra disrupts the secretion and release of Growth Hormone from the pituitary gland in the brain. This may be a total ludicrous question, but I am still rather short (5'6") and would like to know if this drug would have any effect on this critical developmental stage in my life.

[clinicalguru3]

Stunting of growth is not an established side effect of Keppra.
How tall are your parents?
How old are you exactly?

[bsoates]

I am 17.
My parents are approximately 5'10" (father) and 5'2" (mother).

[MG (Admin)]

Do you have siblings?
If so how old are they and how tall are they?

[bsoates]

I have two triplet brothers. One is 5'9" and the other 5'6".

[MG (Admin)]

So you mean to say you are one of the triplets?
Do either of the others have epilepsy?

[bsoates]

Yes, I am one of the triplets. None of my siblings have epilepsy.

[MG (Admin)]

As one of your triplet siblings is the same height as you are (and is not taking keppra) I think there is is little reason to assume the keppra has influenced your growth.

Hope that helps.