How quickly can you see results from Keppra?

[lindsayschu2]

In the past week I've been shooting off seizures like a Pez dispenser and they are worrying me--I'm probably going to be starting Keppra as soon as the dr. calls me back since that was our plan if the last med gave me myoclonics and boy did it. Has anyone seen a reduction soon after starting it? I'm in worry mode because I had a hard time getting them to stop last night even with clonazepam and they were downright weird. Any input would be hugely appreciated.

 

[masterjen]

Unfortunately everyone is different, so it is very hard to tell how long it will take for the Keppra to be effective. And adding to that is the fact that your doctor will probably have you increase the dose gradually, although the increases do not have to be as gradual as for a lot of medications.
I, too, have been on medication that aggravated myoclonics, and I was put on Keppra. At 750 mg the myclonics were 50% under control, and by 1500 mg I was only getting myoclonics that were directly related to another seizure (either leading into one or just coming out of one). In my case the 50% control was achieved by 3-4 weeks. Given that keppra can have rotten side effects for many people, I feel lucky that I had none (at least not at 1500 mg; I did when we tried to go higher, to get better control of partial seizures), and that I was able to get good control of the myoclonics at such a low dose.
Both lamictal and tegretol aggravated my myoclonics; what one are you one that aggravates yours, lindsay?

 

[lindsayschu2]

Lamictal, gabapentin and on Friday night, Tegretol, which was discontinued after one night, but they are really aggravated now and won't settle down. Jen, what do you mean myclonics that were related to another seizure? What kind of seizure? TC only, or do you have them associated with partials? I'm super confused by what happened last night--the frozen hand thing sounds more like a partial thing but it ended up with a myclonic type thing.

 

[masterjen]

My seizures are virtually all at night. Sometimes a brief myoclonic will be the first thing that kind of wakes me at night, and then within a couple of seconds I will go into a partial or tonic seizure, although I can have a partial or tonic without the myoclonic first. Sometimes I wake to a couple of myoclonics during the night, and then closer to morning the partial or tonic seizure(s) occur. If the partials or tonics were particularly bad, it will end in myoclonic jerking of my left arm for a couple of seconds, or a couple of strong jumps of whole body.
When you have myoclonics, do they only affect one limb at time or both? Do you get them in your legs as well as arms/shoulders? This is the case for me; generally they affect both shoulders at the same time, causing my arms to jump, or much less often the origin can be from my hips or something, as both legs jerk out when I'm in bed. Sometimes only one arm or leg is affected. Have you ever had full body "jumps"?

 

[walkerjm3]

In the past week I've been shooting off seizures like a Pez dispenser and they are worrying me--I'm probably going to be starting Keppra as soon as the dr. calls me back since that was our plan if the last med gave me myoclonics and boy did it. Has anyone seen a reduction soon after starting it? I'm in worry mode because I had a hard time getting them to stop last night even with clonazepam and they were downright weird. Any input would be hugely appreciated.

I'm sorry and I know I shouldn't be laughing...but the comment about shooting off seizures like a pez dispenser made me chuckle.
But if it makes you feel any better, I had one at work today. I ended up repeatedly slamming keys on my keyboard with my hand and arm.

 

[lindsayschu2]

LOL and no it doesn't make me feel any better than you had a seizure!! She is starting me on 1000 mg a day of Keppra. Seems steep but I'm just going with the flow.

 

[walkerjm3]

That's the amount I take. I take it in two doses of 500 though.

 

[lindsayschu2]

I'm starting 1000 XR my first week, 2000 second week, but am on 150 Topamax and 200 lamictal. Seems like a lot of meds for that first week but I will buck up and deal Lamictal will slowly reduce the second week and over 5 weeks thereafter.

 

[walkerjm3]

I had to take one of the weekly pill boxes from work to keep in my bag for work to remember to take it in the morning. The one at night isn't so much a problem since I take my other meds then. I just never thought I'd end up having so many daily medications.

 

[lindsayschu2]

Jen mine are all lower body--abdominals, lower back, hips, legs, ankles, feet. Sometimes they are one sided only but when that is the case it's always the right side only. Mostly though they are both sides at the same time. When I'm having them badly, they often start at my abs and work their way down my thighs, calves, ankles, feet, then toes. I will really get going, but usually no limb really kicks out. Sometimes one individual foot will go back and forth side to side super fast and that one really looks funny They are usually when I am in bed and really relaxed, but they also happen in light stages of sleep and wake me up.

 

[walkerjm3]

How long do yours usually last? Mine are mostly in my head and arms. Once in a while either leg or foot. They last less than a minute but it's still embarassing when I'm at work.

 

[lindsayschu2]

When I have what I call the big ones they last about 10 seconds, I get a break, then it happens again, and goes on for about 30 minutes, otherwise I'll have isolated jerks off and on, here and there all night. But it only happens if I'm on a med that aggravates it, or maybe every month or two just on its own. Curious about Jen's frequency too?

 

[masterjen]

I seldom have them go on for minutes at a time, but they can recur during the night. Each jump lasts maybe 1/4 second, and I get two or three in a row. If the myoclonics follow a tonic or partial seizure, I will get several rapid jumps of my left arm only and that will go on for maybe 5-10 seconds. I'll generally have a "spell" of them (over 2-3 nights) every couple of weeks.
I have also had them affect my face, and only the left side. I'll wake from sleep having felt my face do sort of a clench-twitch a couple of times. Anyone have this?

 

[lindsayschu2]

Yes each jerk of mine is a micro second too, but the whole series from abdominals downward is about 5-10 seconds (just to clarify) and the whole episode of them happening over and over with breaks in between is about 30. My face never gets involved except to twitch. Do your toes ever get involved? That part can be kind of funny to watch!

 

[masterjen]

I agree with the toe part. My toes make movements I could never dream of making intentionally!

 

[denverboz]

I have been seizure free since I added 500mg keppra twice a day, in addition to the 200mg lamotrigine twice a day I was already taking. That was 5 1/2 months ago, the longest span without a seizure in 5 years.