Anyone taking Keppra for seizures?

Hi, @royanthony - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thanks for sharing your experience with taking levetiracetam (Keppra).

You mentioned trouble sleeping connected to this medication. Has your doctor had any suggestions about how to counteract this sleep issue?

Good Morning Everyone!
In my last appointment with my doctor last week, he said that each person is unique and so is the patient's medication dosage. Medication side effects can vary greatly from person to person. Medication fine-tuning for each individual is something very important. It is a process of trial and error that demands patience and persistence from the patient and the doctor. I, for example, have been very sensible about medication since childhood, needing low dosages of it to have the desired effect, something my current doctor respects much, thankfully.
Wishing you all a great 2025 with no seizures, well-being, and peace.
Chris (@santosha)

I’ve been taking Keppra for 8 years. It does a great job controlling my seizures and so I don’t complain, but I think it makes me sleep more.

Yes. I have had to work with my GP who's prescribed Zolpidem ER, which is not as good as the name brand, Ambien. Insurance won't cover the cost. I've added an over the counter melatonin chewable tablet to the Zolpidem and that has worked great. Fast REM sleep, but I get only a maximum 6 hours and then I wake up, eat breakfast and go back to sleep for a couple hours. I really want off of the prescription med.

Yes, I know what you mean... It's so frustrating not to get a good sleep. Thanks so much.

thank you, I wish I could sleep more, you're lucky you do..

Hello Chris,
No, no other meds for my seizure.
Although I did have epilepsy the result of a car accident over 60 years ago, and nothing since this one seizure. Keppra seems to be working ok... twice day, and so far so good. I DID have tonic clonic which has been described as grand mal... so far I seem ok, but always worried that it could happen again.
Thanks for your letter, sorry it took me a while to respond.... Hope you are well.... Barbara.

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

Sorry Lisa, I accidentally did not responded to your question directed to me. But please see my answer above which provides you with more clarity and confirms that I have worked with my GP. However, I welcome any comments, suggestions from you in the future. Thanks for your interest and I wish you a safe and healthy New Year.