Good Morning Barbara - @motobee
First of all, let me wish you a very healthy 2025 and good nights of sleep.
Not being able to sleep is terrible, I well know it. Epilepsy and medications can interfere with our sleep.
While I was having sleep problems, I used to practice yoga nidra (known as yoga of sleep which gives us up to 3 hours of deep sleep) 3 times a day. It was my savior when I had severe sleep problems. Even after my sleep became more regulated, I continued with my daily yoga nidra practice after lunch and I feel so renewed after it. For that, I use the app Luminosity (it is for free) and also some practices on YouTube. Here, I share one of my preferred yoga nidra practices on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8IWltctlbs&t=1373s. Give it a try! Yoga in general has been of much help since the diagnosis of my epilepsy in 2019.
Another thing that I am taking again to help me with anxiety and sleep is a natural medicine (homeopathy). It is called Bryophyllum Argento Cultum. I buy the one from the Weleda brand. My mother being German has always treated her children with homeopathy. I know that homeopathy is not much used in the United States, so check if it is available in your country. It has no contraindications and my doctor thankfully has no opposition to natural medicine.
I have also taken Alprazolam for some months while I could not sleep and had a terrible experience. Though I could sleep again at the beginning, I had terrible dreams every night and woke up feeling tired. But then my insomnia came back and the doctor at that time wanted to increase the dosage, but I did not agree and stopped using this medication little by little. According to personal research, those sleep medications help for some time and then stop working, requiring an increase in the dosage. So it is addicting! I do not recommend it!
Have a great start in 2025 and a beautiful day!
Chris (@santosha)

I started on keppra with seizures but developed what they called functional tremors-my body was like the balloon guy at the used car lot! I don’t know how that is functional! I certainly wasn’t! So now I am on lacosiminde and very happy with it. And doing well controlling all seizure activity

I was put on Keppra because I had a diabetic seizure. Never had one before but my blood sugar has never been that high. I was taken off of Metformin due to upcoming cataract surgery and another doctor put me on prednisone because of a lung infection. Therefore my blood sugar spiked. Getting my blood sugar down but this 500 mg 2x day Keppra is giving me fits. Sleepiness, fatigue, backache, hard to walk. Neurologist is putting me on Keppra XR 750 1x day. Looks like it had the same side effects. Your thoughts

Have you seen an endocrinologist? Do you use a Dexom continuous glucose monitor? My wife has been type 1 diabetic for 60 years, she's had a few bad seizures caused by low blood sugar. Her "secret" to avoiding seizures is blood sugar control through diet and physical activity. I fail to see how Keepra helps.

You don't have a seizure disorder, you may have a poor medical advice disorder. I suggest you get a second opinion. Keep in mind, suddenly stopping seziure medication can bring on a seizure regardless of why you've been taking it.

BTW, I take Keepra for epilepsy, that medication can be challenging. my advice is to avoid it if at all possible.

I tried to take it twice but it turned me into the hulk. Raged and angry. Mad for no reason. Finding the right drugs is like a game.

Hi @baa
I have not heard from you for a while. How have you been doing?
Kind regards,
Chris (@santosha)

My daughter was just removed from Keppra because we were concerned it was worsening her mood/suicidality. Lacosamide did not control her seizures alone but when they added Briviact, she improved. Briviact is similar to Keppra and we are hoping for less side effects.

Taking it 5 years and lethargy at highest dose but better at lower dose (4000 daily vs 2000 daily). Am on two other meds as well and still trying to get seizure-free.

I’ve been on Keppra 2x a day for four months. Originally started at 250 2x a day. Doubled to 500 2x a day, and currently sitting at 750 2x mg wise. I’ve had four grand mal seizures since the beginning of this year, every month. I’m grateful to the meds for maybe keeping me somewhat at bay but I wish there was something to stop these major ones that keep on landing me in the hospital and out of work.

@boymama93
Has your physician mentioned increasing the dose again? It may not help until you are taking 1500 mg twice a day. If it doesn't help at an increased dose the doctor may want to add on another medication. I took 5 different meds at one time.
Do you have any type of focal seizures or other generalized seizures?
Have you tried any other seizure meds?
If they decide you have drug resistant epilepsy going to an epilepsy and treated by a team of doctors, lead by an epileptologist would probably be your best option.
Wishing you the best,
Jake