Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Epilepsy and Restless Leg Syndrome
Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:36I have Complex Partial Seizures in the Left Temporal lobe and have yet to respond to any of the medications prescribed (lamictal, keppra, trileptal, carbatrol). I am currently taking tegretol and participating in a study for ganaxalone, which has also not been successful. I average 2-4 seizures a week every 2 weeks. I also suffer from restless legs syndrome, and have for years. I have not been taking medication for quite a few years for RLS as it comes and goes and in the last few months the RLS has kicked back in. I decided to start taking Mirpaex again. Since taking Mirapex, I have not had a seizure in 4 weeks. This is the longest I have gone without a seizure in over a year. Knock on wood, I will not have another......
My questions is has anyone ever heard of any relationship between either RLS and seizures or the efficacy of mirapex/requip or other parkinsons related medications on seizure control?
I am certainly not complaining, I am thrilled, just confused!!
Thanks - CC
Comments
Re: Epilepsy and Restless Leg Syndrome
Submitted by wizcrone8 on Sat, 2009-05-09 - 03:46
I'm not the RLS sufferer, but I do suffer collatoral damage. My husband has tried Requip, which didn't help and Mirapex, which did. However, since it is too expensive without medical coverage he stopped taking Mirapex. I have wondered, since we were first married, if he doesn't have some kind of more serious sleep disorder than RLS is generally thought to be, like partial seizures, or if that's what RLS really is. It wasn't just his legs that thrashed when I first noticed his night fits and when it seriously flared up about 10 years ago, it was his hands that bothered him most. He is also diagnosed bi-polar and takes depacote, or valproic acid, which is an anti-epileptic. I'm up typing this now, because he kept waking me up. Yet he drifts right back into deep and instant sleep, between bouts of restlessness, that border on violent. If I say anything to him, in frustration, like"Stop it" his reaction is irrationally defensive, as if he is oblivious to what just went on. He says, "Leave me alone. Let me sleep.". I'm thinking, what sleep?!
In my midnight, enforced, sleep deprivation, I decided to look and see if there is any new info about a possible missed diagnosis, or other useful medications. I see that Lyrica is another epileptic medication adjunct that is now, also used for RLS. I need to get to the bottom of this, after 28 years, for both our sakes, or at least mine!
I'm not the RLS sufferer, but I do suffer collatoral damage. My husband has tried Requip, which didn't help and Mirapex, which did. However, since it is too expensive without medical coverage he stopped taking Mirapex. I have wondered, since we were first married, if he doesn't have some kind of more serious sleep disorder than RLS is generally thought to be, like partial seizures, or if that's what RLS really is. It wasn't just his legs that thrashed when I first noticed his night fits and when it seriously flared up about 10 years ago, it was his hands that bothered him most. He is also diagnosed bi-polar and takes depacote, or valproic acid, which is an anti-epileptic. I'm up typing this now, because he kept waking me up. Yet he drifts right back into deep and instant sleep, between bouts of restlessness, that border on violent. If I say anything to him, in frustration, like"Stop it" his reaction is irrationally defensive, as if he is oblivious to what just went on. He says, "Leave me alone. Let me sleep.". I'm thinking, what sleep?!
In my midnight, enforced, sleep deprivation, I decided to look and see if there is any new info about a possible missed diagnosis, or other useful medications. I see that Lyrica is another epileptic medication adjunct that is now, also used for RLS. I need to get to the bottom of this, after 28 years, for both our sakes, or at least mine!
Re: Epilepsy and Restless Leg Syndrome
Submitted by bgill14 on Fri, 2008-11-28 - 23:53
CC I was diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome and Partial-Complex Temporal Lobe siezures(right side from childhood trauma TBI) I started Requip and Keppra at the same time Oct. 06. WOW. This is great! If I forget my REQUIP I will wake-up jerking. I take 1mg. of Requip and can go back to sleep for the rest of the night. Keppra mono-therapy is working for me. I take generic of both for $260/mo via Canada and cash. I think that I have always had small seizures, but the RLS and a premature baby,(he is better than great), got me so fatigued over a 3-4 year period of no sleep, that my seizures worsened and became more severe. I suppose middle-age with slowing nueral activity may have something to do with this all as well. I sleep alot and nap every day when I can, but no more disabling seizures. good luck.