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I can't sleep
Mon, 08/24/2009 - 12:56I have been diagnosed with epilepsy since May, 2008. I first started having partial seizures with deja vu aura about 20 years ago. I had them up to 2-3x/week or as infrequent as 1-2x/month, under a lot of stress, sometimes daily. I never knew what it was until I had a really big siezure in May 2008 and ended up in the ER. The neurologist put me on keppra 500mg 2x/day and I have had no more seizures since then. At first the side effects were a problem, but after a couple of months, I have been fine on the keppra.
Only one small problem: I don't sleep. I never sleep. I am pretty much always tired, drink coffee sometimes, so I am not a zombie, but at night I just can't fall asleep. I have been dealing with this for the last year and 3 months. The neurologist prescribed me xanex to take "as needed" but I don't like it. It does knock me out, but I just don't want to take it. I am not a big fan of medications of any kind
I also don't want to mess around with anything that will interfer with the effectiveness of the keppra. I would like some advice on something herbal or over the counter that can help a person to sleep, that does not have side effects or interfer with seizures or seizure medication. Nothing that is addictive. Any suggestions?
Comments
Re: I can't sleep
Submitted by densol on Tue, 2009-11-03 - 21:41
Yes, I am doing better. I read a suggestion about messing around with my medication dosage so that I would take less at night and more during the day. I read it on this site and discussed it with my neurologist and he said the worse thing that would happen was I might have a seizure, but most likely at night, so I would be relatively safe (safer than driving or at work or in the tub)
I switched from 500 mg keppra in the am and 500 mg in the pm, to 750 mg in the am and only 250 mg in the pm. This began working the first night. I have been slowly improving in my sleep over the last two weeks and now I just go to bed and fall asleep and stay asleep until my alarm goes off. It is heaven!!!
I have not had any changes in my siezures or any unpleasant side effects do to the change.
I hope this helps somebody else.
Yes, I am doing better. I read a suggestion about messing around with my medication dosage so that I would take less at night and more during the day. I read it on this site and discussed it with my neurologist and he said the worse thing that would happen was I might have a seizure, but most likely at night, so I would be relatively safe (safer than driving or at work or in the tub)
I switched from 500 mg keppra in the am and 500 mg in the pm, to 750 mg in the am and only 250 mg in the pm. This began working the first night. I have been slowly improving in my sleep over the last two weeks and now I just go to bed and fall asleep and stay asleep until my alarm goes off. It is heaven!!!
I have not had any changes in my siezures or any unpleasant side effects do to the change.
I hope this helps somebody else.
Re: I can't sleep
Submitted by aks91 on Tue, 2009-11-03 - 11:31
Hopefully you are doing better, you definitely need to find a way to sleep. Easier said than done but coffee does not help. How about trying some medication, and definitely de stress your life. I don't know what is causing you stress but if it is your career then maybe it is time for a change anyhow keep smiling.
Hopefully you are doing better, you definitely need to find a way to sleep. Easier said than done but coffee does not help. How about trying some medication, and definitely de stress your life. I don't know what is causing you stress but if it is your career then maybe it is time for a change anyhow keep smiling.