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 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
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.
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
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)
Hi @motobee
I know very well how frustrating this can be,
I have not taken Keppra, but other AEDs and some did not control my seizures, though it has worked for others. This medicine testing is very particular. Some might get good results with one drug, others not.
How long have you be taking Keppra? It takes some time for the medication to make its full effects. Are you having any side-effects on Keppra? Did you already try other medications before Keppra?
Curiosity, do you know your type of epilepsy? Do you have tonic clonic seizures or just focal/partial seizures (the ones you just get absence and does not have convulsions)?
Take care,
Chris (@santosha)
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.
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 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.
I've been taking it for 10+ years and have had no issues with anger. Reading comments on other support groups I've seen that it can affect sleep. I have trouble sleeping.
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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.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI 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
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionSorry 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.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI 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
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsGood 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)
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHello 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.
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Hug
1 Reactionthank you, I wish I could sleep more, you're lucky you do..
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1 ReactionYes, I know what you mean... It's so frustrating not to get a good sleep. Thanks so much.
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1 ReactionYes. 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.
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3 ReactionsI’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.
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2 Reactions