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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Keppra
        
(Message started by: apverbin on May 7^th, 2003, 7:35pm)

Title: Keppra
Post by apverbin on May 7^th, 2003, 7:35pm

I have been a CH sufferer for 25 years. Following a three-year break I have been reintroduced to my old friend. I have been on almost every drug regimen there is. Some helped, some didn't. Nothing just flat out stopped them, until now. My Doc put me a regimen of Keppra, Verapamil, and Amerge. I take the Keppra twice/day, Verapamil at night, and Amerge before going to sleep. This is the first time I can say that something actually works for me. I tried Verapamil with Topomax before but the results were nowhere near as dramatic. Without the Amerge I get minor ones (just enough to wake you up) 1 1/2 hours after falling asleep. The Amerge seems to shut them down.

Title: Re: Keppra
Post by clavers on May 8^th, 2003, 11:55am

I am glad that you are having some success with keppra, I was recently prescribed it by my neurologist. It had a similar effect as topamax, it made me insane for a few days, then made me feel horrible, like I had the flu, and did nothing to help my CH. It is strange how one drug will help one person and have no or even a bad effect on another with the same disease.

Title: Re: Keppra
Post by apverbin on May 9^th, 2003, 2:42pm

I agree, it is amazing how different drugs have a different effect on different people. For me, the Keppra/Verapamil has worked much better than anything else. It may be it is effective for only for this attack. I think drug treatment effectiveness varies from one CH period to another.

Title: Re: Keppra
Post by UnsolvedEquation on Jun 28^th, 2003, 12:07am

Keppra...Lions and tigers and bears oh my ! Lions and tigers and bears oh my ! The nightmares would not stop! I WOULD NEVER DO THAT TRIP AGAIN !! :o :'(

Title: Re: Keppra
Post by NotH20 on Jun 30^th, 2003, 1:12pm

I too was on Keppra during my last cycle. Seems to be a very innocent drug to the internal organs (except for Unsolved's brain ;) ) The good thing about Keppra is that you can increase the dosage very rapidly - which is the total opposite of Topomax.....

Sounds like you've got a great combination working for you....keep up the good work.

Mia

Title: Re: Keppra
Post by NRA1871 on Oct 21^st, 2003, 5:03pm

I just started a regimen of Keppra and Amerge. It seemed to take a week or so to fully kick in. I have gone down to one or two big CH's a week, down from every night. Funny thing is that before taking this, I would get them at about 12am, 3am, or 5am, and now I get them typically around 8pm, and sleep soundly though the night. This is my first cluster cycle, luckily my primary diagnosed me correctly immediately, and after trying prednisone (which worked great till I tapered down) sent me to a neuro. Much better than my third CH, when I was in the ER thinking I was going to die of an anyeurism (the hospital's diagnosis was 'headache'...thanks a-holes, I didnt know that)
I havent seen much about the use of keppra, so I had to respond to this.

Title: Re: Keppra
Post by violet on Oct 21^st, 2003, 8:28pm

I heard that Keppra makes people grouchy and angry. Is this true?

Title: Re: Keppra
Post by NotH20 on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 7:54am

Violet - I didn't experience any of those symptons.....maybe it's the Beast thats makes us that way ;)

Mia

Title: Re: Keppra
Post by NRA1871 on Oct 22^nd, 2003, 4:03pm

Never made me grumpy. The most noticeable side effects were woozyness/lightheadedness, made me tired some, but those effects lessened over time.
I think my first cluster may be coming to an end...it's been almost a full week since I've had one...I'd love to stop the meds and enjoy a beer, but I'm terrified of reawakening the beast. How do you know when the episode is truely over?