I appreciate the follow up and your experience with Zolpidem. Like you, if I take the whole pill at once, I might get 6 hrs sleep, max. I welcome the suggestions on the 2/3 & 1/3 split. It seems I'm only able to get the round pill version, but I'll try anyway.
Hi Lisa, we've communicated back to December 24th of last year regarding sleep. So, this is just an update. My insurance company finally agreed to partially pay for Ambien, the Brand name of Zolpidem, which I've been taking for years. I got a call from my pharmacist asking if I really want to make the change? Ambien cost is $120 for 30 tablets which includes my co-pay. With Zolpidem, I pay $11.18 with tax for 30 tablets. So, I guess it's still the Z for me. I hope you enjoy your weekend.
I find that if I take the entire 10mg of zolpidem at once I only sleep 5 or 6 hours. I’m anemic so I really need my rest, so what I do is take 2/3 of the pill at bedtime, then when I wake up I take the other 1/3 and catch a few more hours of sleep. This works well when the generic they give me is a long tablet and not a round one.
@hippele
Admittedly we don't know but I wouldn't stop my medication after only being seizure-free for one year. I doubt you’ll find any physician who would advocate your decision. Are you going to get a neurological exam or EEG & MRI before stopping?
One problem is if you ever start having again they my not be so easily controlled. Seems chancey to me.
Just don't stop it abruptly.
I hope it works out for the best but be prepared.
Take care,
Jake
@hippele
Admittedly we don't know but I wouldn't stop my medication after only being seizure-free for one year. I doubt you’ll find any physician who would advocate your decision. Are you going to get a neurological exam or EEG & MRI before stopping?
One problem is if you ever start having again they my not be so easily controlled. Seems chancey to me.
Just don't stop it abruptly.
I hope it works out for the best but be prepared.
Take care,
Jake
I have been taking keppra for a year now. My current dose is 3,000mg of extended release every day. I have had anywhere from mild seizues to a Grand mal seizure which nearly took my life. I also have advanced alzheimers. I have not had one seizure since starting keppra. My ability to function on my own again is all thanks to keppra. For me it has been a miracle drug ( with side effects). I don't know how much time the drug will buy me but I will enjoy the time I have been given back.
How many seizures have you had in total? When did they start? Seizures can be reoccurring or isolated. In my case, I had 2 seizures in a years time and now have not had one in another years time and am weening off Keppra. My point is we do not know if it is the pills stopping a person from having seizures or just the body itself just not having seizures anymore. The body heals itself sometimes and sometimes not. We just do not know. God Bless!
ray hippele
I have been taking keppra for a year now. My current dose is 3,000mg of extended release every day. I have had anywhere from mild seizues to a Grand mal seizure which nearly took my life. I also have advanced alzheimers. I have not had one seizure since starting keppra. My ability to function on my own again is all thanks to keppra. For me it has been a miracle drug ( with side effects). I don't know how much time the drug will buy me but I will enjoy the time I have been given back.
Being raged and angry is not uncommon for Keppra. This can be researched easily. The term I've always heard is "Keppra Rage" I don't think I've experienced such.
Keppra 500 x2 daily Dr. warns strict adherence necessary.
He also suggested that B6 mitigates the "rage" that manifested in me as an "edginess".
According to my spouse, it worked.
@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
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.
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.
Hi, @dooleysis - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sounds like you and your doctor found a dosage of levetiracetam (Keppra) that worked to minimize the lethargy, which is great. What impact on your symptoms have you seen with taking it for 5 years?
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I appreciate the follow up and your experience with Zolpidem. Like you, if I take the whole pill at once, I might get 6 hrs sleep, max. I welcome the suggestions on the 2/3 & 1/3 split. It seems I'm only able to get the round pill version, but I'll try anyway.
I find that if I take the entire 10mg of zolpidem at once I only sleep 5 or 6 hours. I’m anemic so I really need my rest, so what I do is take 2/3 of the pill at bedtime, then when I wake up I take the other 1/3 and catch a few more hours of sleep. This works well when the generic they give me is a long tablet and not a round one.
yes,I agree, thanks so much... still on it and so far so good.
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1 Reaction@hippele
Admittedly we don't know but I wouldn't stop my medication after only being seizure-free for one year. I doubt you’ll find any physician who would advocate your decision. Are you going to get a neurological exam or EEG & MRI before stopping?
One problem is if you ever start having again they my not be so easily controlled. Seems chancey to me.
Just don't stop it abruptly.
I hope it works out for the best but be prepared.
Take care,
Jake
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHow many seizures have you had in total? When did they start? Seizures can be reoccurring or isolated. In my case, I had 2 seizures in a years time and now have not had one in another years time and am weening off Keppra. My point is we do not know if it is the pills stopping a person from having seizures or just the body itself just not having seizures anymore. The body heals itself sometimes and sometimes not. We just do not know. God Bless!
ray hippele
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI have been taking keppra for a year now. My current dose is 3,000mg of extended release every day. I have had anywhere from mild seizues to a Grand mal seizure which nearly took my life. I also have advanced alzheimers. I have not had one seizure since starting keppra. My ability to function on my own again is all thanks to keppra. For me it has been a miracle drug ( with side effects). I don't know how much time the drug will buy me but I will enjoy the time I have been given back.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsKeppra 500 x2 daily Dr. warns strict adherence necessary.
He also suggested that B6 mitigates the "rage" that manifested in me as an "edginess".
According to my spouse, it worked.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 Reactions@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
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI’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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsHi, @dooleysis - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sounds like you and your doctor found a dosage of levetiracetam (Keppra) that worked to minimize the lethargy, which is great. What impact on your symptoms have you seen with taking it for 5 years?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions