Hi Liz
I post very seldom but I still read all the emails
In Mar 2002 I took my 1st dose of Keppra. From that day to this I have not
had a single seizure - and that was after 30 years or so of seizures. It's
not a large dose - like you 1000mg per day & small amount of tegretol.
I do have difficulty sleeping - despite the fact that Keppra is supposed to
make you sleepy. The problem did not start immediately - but after a few
months I could not sleep at all. I was terrified to sleep in the day for
fear of not sleeping during the night. I am sure it was - and still is - the
fear of not sleeping that is the problem as much as anything else.
I now drink decaffeinated coffee and no coffee at all after 1800, I take the
evening dose of Keppra at about 1800 as well. I go to bed at 2330 or so and
read til midnight to slow my brain down. I make my threshold 0200 - if I'm
not asleep by then I take 5mg of Zolpidem Tartrate. I take this about 4
times a month. I guess alcohol doesn't help as out of the 27 times I have
taken the Zolpidem this year 13 times have been on a Sunday when we usually
have wine with our lunch. Funnily enough while we are on holiday with no
worries the problem almost goes away.
This morning for some unknown reason I woke up at about 0500 but was asleep
again within the hour. If I wake up later then I get up to give me a better
chance of sleeping ok the following night
I would put up with a hell of a lot to hold the seizures at bay and would
gladly swap a few tablets for no seizures.
The only other side effects I have is the memory of course and just feeling
a little unsteady on my feet when I get out of bed first thing in the
morning.
Keppra has really put me back on my feet - let's hope it does the same for
you
Suzanne
Another Keppra insomnia question...
Posted by: "Liz Welker" lizard110366@
Sat Aug 1, 2009 5:31 pm (PDT)
Okay, so I'm comin' up on my third week with Keppra. My doc reduced my dose
last week to 1000 mg from 1500 and added Benadryl at night to help me sleep.
I can sleep 4-5 hour stretches now, and if I can sleep in, I immediately
take more Benadryl and fall back to sleep within about 15-20 min.
I would hate to do this forever, but I'm wondering...
have had this problem with it, when--if ever--did it actually stop? I would
hate to have to get off of it because I know it's working, and nothing else
I have taken has ever--and I mean ever--so much as touched my SPs. I have
not had a single one since starting it. :)
I welcome and appreciate any and all advice!
Thanks so much!
LIZARD :)
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