Keppra for Spasticity

[monkeybus]

Hello folks. I really thought I knew it all. I was prescribed Keppra after my seizure, this is on top of my Gabapentin and Lyrica.

I wasn't too sure about continuing, not another drug, how many more drugs?? Also, my friend takes Keppra, and it gives him shocking headaches, though he is an alcoholic, so who knows?

But, I'll say this. 500mg of Keppra an hour before bed, and muscle spasms are a thing of the past. I love it.

I went and Googled it. Very little information out there, but:

Open-label pilot trial of levetiracetam for cramps and spasticity in patients with motor neuron disease.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/188...

Levetiracetam for Phasic Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis

jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

Levetiracetam for phasic spasticity in multiple sclerosis.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/146...

I had to Google phasic spasticity, that's muscle spasms/clonus in English.

I'll point out as well that Keppra is Levetiracetam. One of the Racetam family of drugs. Piracetam was the first drug I ever took that actually improved my spasticity. Now I have worsened, it doesn't work so well. I took plenty of Racetams over the years - Phenylpiracetam, Oxyracetam, Aniracetam, loads more. Half-way decent stimulants, but I stopped taking them once I discovered the miracle that is Modafinil. I still take Piracetam from time to time.

Anyway, I'll recommend Keppra for spasms and clonus.

[SongStream]

My new neurologist, formerly from Stanford, (I was so lucky she knew the doctors there in the clinical trial to consult about AMN.) and prescribed me Keppra for my nighttime spasms after carbidopa/levodopa (sounds like sisters) stopped working. Keppra has continued to control my nighttime spasms since January. I am so relieved! By the way, one of our AMN family members here had recommended it when I was in dire need (again) of treating these spasms. I need a pipeline of drugs when the others start failing.

[monkeybus in reply to SongStream]

A pipeline is right, A real p*sser when they stop working. I used to love Piracetam. What it did for my spasticity was nothing short of a miracle. Well, perhaps not, but it did work.

Keppra means I can take less Gabapentin, a lot less. Has to be good.

What is your Keppra dose, SongStream ? 500mg, me.

[SongStream]

500 m.g. up to 4x's a night. I've been averaging about 3 doses.

[DeanLM]

Be aware, Keppra is a double-edged sword. Gave me bad reactions, which at present, happened so long ago I forgot just what they were. Swore it off.

Won't say this will happen to you, but when taking Keppra, but watch carefully.

[monkeybus in reply to DeanLM]

Seems bad reactions and AMN drugs go hand in glove. Can't be having no more seizures though. Keppra stays (for now).

[SongStream]

That is I can sleep medication. It works.

[monkeybus]

I had forgotten all about Keppra. Certainly forgot this post. My seizures never came back, so I eased off all the pills.

A chance to get my head together, man.

I had found that the simple fact of emptying my bowels and bladder before bed (a lot easier said than done, as we all know) gets me 80% of the way there. 600mg of Gabapentin and hour before bed, and some Melatonin and I am good to go.

Course, if the constipation, urine retention kicks in (always does). I have to dose up properly again.

Haven't taken any Keppra for half a year, I shall get some more. The Gabapentin is losing it's edge, like all the drugs do eventually.

[Aaron98]

I saw my neurologist on Monday for my annual visit, and he mentioned Keppra.

He said that it is effective for myoclonus (which he says I don't have, but I am skeptical. Isn't myoclonus the bigger leg kicks?), but not for normal clonus. Does anyone know if this is correct?

[monkeybus in reply to Aaron98]

Myoclonus, bigger kicks. Sounds correct to me.

Then again my spasms started out as minor, occasional cramps and progressed to fish-out-of-water, electric-shock style-jerks of the lower legs.

Was it all myoclonus, or all spasms? What's in a name anyway?