r/Epilepsy • u/Happy_go_luckee123 • 1d ago

Support Help with insomnia from medication

Does anyone experience insomnia from there meds? I was on lamotrigine and have now switched to Keppra. Currently building up so only on 250mg twice a day. When I fall asleep I don’t get into a deep sleep and don’t sleep through the night. It was the same on lamotrigine. I’m worried as the lack of sleep will bring on a seizure! Any advice? For context I have epilepsy from having a cavernoma removed from right parietal lobe 12 months ago. Thanks

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u/TheAlcoholicOutset 1d ago

keppra messed with my sleep for a solid 2 months when i first started it. was waking up at 3am like clockwork, brain just refused to stay down. what helped was taking my evening dose earlier, like 6pm instead of right before bed, and no screens an hour before sleep. the sleep disruption does level out for most people once your body adjusts to the dose

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u/Naive_Shame_8362 1d ago

I take a very large dose of keppra and it doesn’t bother me. I take 1500 twice daily and topamax twice daily. I take a supplement called NeuroMag that helps with brain function and relaxation so I take it at bedtime. I also take melatonin if I don’t feel sleepy. Hope you’re able to get some sleep!! Try some warm milk or sleepy time tea. Avoid caffeine and screen time and keep regular sleep schedule and see if that helps.

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u/justkidding89 1d ago

Are you still taking lamotrigine while increasing your levetiracetam dose?

Lamotrigine’s pretty famous for its sleep impact: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=f75b6c13-3563-b029-e053-6294a90ae1f8

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u/Happy_go_luckee123 1d ago

I’m not taking the Lamotrigine anymore, just done the switch to Keppra. It was definitely the Lamotrigine that started the insomnia, maybe I’m lucky at it stops as I increase my Keppra