Anyone on incressed meds during menses cycles?

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tinathesingergirl

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Hi people,

Saw my neuro today after a year of seeing him. Now he finally sees the connection and is willing to up my keppra meds 1 week before my period and also during my period to see if that helps any. I know he is worried about Hypertension because my BP has been high the last few times I have seen him so I am going to see a new GP next week to see what that can be done about that.

So that being said I am looking for some feedback to see if anyone has had some success with this plan of action with their meds. Currently I am on 1250mgs of keppra 2x a day this would increase to 1500mgs 1 week before and during the actual menses. I have been having pretty good luck with this dosage . I haven't had a gran mal since December 22nd.

Thanks for your feedback it is appreciated!

Tina
 
Hi Tina --

I can't help you with the monthly bump in Keppra dosage -- It sounds like a good idea, and I hope it works.

For the high blood pressure, you might want to consider taking a magnesium supplement. When I started on Lamictal, my blood pressure suddenly went up after always being in the low-normal range. Nothing seemed to help until I started taking the magnesium. The effect was almost instantaneous. I take one 140mg capsule of magnesium citrate in the morning in the morning, and my blood pressure is great now. (My brand is Thorne, from iHerb, but I'm sure others are fine too). So maybe it will work for you too. As always, check with your doc first before taking any supplements...
 
Well Im taking 1500mgs twice a day of Keppra XR now. I had a veeg done a couple of weeks ago and they took me off my carbotral and left me on the Keppra XR. Ive been on the Keppra XR now for almost two weeks, but during that time period, it went from having seizures to a numb feeling or tingling feeling, and then last night (the day i was suppose to start my period) which I still havnt got yet..... I had a seizure that started out feeling kind of funny, then I had a very sad feeling come over me. I remember looking directly at the tv at the time. But when I finally "came to" my head was turned to the right, and I was staring at the livingroom wall. I dont remember what took place between the time I remember staring at the tv and then at the wall?

I dont know if the timing is due to my menstrual cycle being here which could cause the seizure, or if just not being on enough medication caused the seizure. My dr decided to add Vimpat to the Keppra XR to try to control the seizures from coming.
 
I would wonder if it would make you more susceptible to seizures when dropping your dosage back to normal after your period.

I would suggest you ask the neurologist if that's a possibility or at least be careful when it's time to lower the dose.
 
My dr. has me take 125mg Acetazolamide (sp?) in the am and pm 3 days before I start my menstral cycle and continue throughout. He also said that if I felt I needed it I could take it while I am ovulating.
 
Hi, Tina,

Welcome!

This is just me, but changing my medication dose makes my body go crazy. Right up to not taking them on time. I try to change them as little as possible. If I changed them every month I think my body would just go nuts.

Potassium can help with high blood pressure. You can get supplements at the health food store. Eating a bananna isn't enough.

I'm on Diamox for another condition (IIH). The literature says it's also used for seizures. I dont know under what circumstances. I steadily take 30M per day (10m 3x per day). I also take furosamide for the same condition. You could say there isn't an ounce of water weight on me, lol...
 
Endless- thank you for the info on the potassium supplement. I will look into taking that as well. The list in Prescription for nutritional healing book is pretty long so looking at adding gradualy as well as with diet changes the last thing i need right now is lots of changes all at once.

I know the first time I had a seizure my potassium levels were all out of whack.
Next time in the ER they were fine. So who knows???

Tina
 
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