Re: Re: Levetiracetam for Spasms and LDN

[Guest guest]

Friday,

I have been taking it since January. It helps a little, not enough to shout from the roof tops. I started with 250 mg twice per day. After a couple of weeks we raised the dose by another 250 mg. Two weeks later, another 250 mg until I was up to 1500 mg per day. I've had to go back down to 500 mg per day as it made my legs so weak that I could do nothing unassisted. I need some spasticity in order to stand at all, like to go to the restroom or get dressed. My opinion is that it may help a little with the jerking-type spasms or my back spasms, but that is about it. Like LDN, I think it is a very individual thing. Some may tolerate more than others.

Hope this helps.

Marcie (PPMS)

In a message dated 7/1/2004 12:43:56 PM Central Standard Time, paraschick@... writes:

In the mean time, the information below on LEVETIRACETAM, an Epileptic medication looks promising. Has anyone tried this, either alone or with LDN?

Experiences/testimonies would help. Thank you

Friday

[Guest guest]

Friday

I have not tried baclofen as I said , but can you just stop it and go back on it if you have too? Or is there a wiening off period like with prednisone?

We have heard where baclofen doesn't affect how the ldn works, and if it is helping at all why stop? Or is it that it isn't helping at all?

If you are encountering only minor side effects doesn't the benefits outweigh the spasms or stiffness?

You see the ldn hasn't gotten rid of my stiffness completely and I would like to get rid of that but not at the expense of my walking ability.It may not look graceful but I still get around and don,t fall any more.

Reg.

-------Original Message-------

From: low dose naltrexone

Date: 07/01/04 14:31:22

low dose naltrexone

Subject: [low dose naltrexone] Re: Levetiracetam for Spasms and LDN

Hi everyone, Seeing there's been alittle on the topic of spasms/tremors, let me say, that LDN has not helped me with the morning spasms and muscle tightness getting out of bed, and I've been taking Baclofen along with it. Im thinking of taking Reg's posts as advice to stop the Baclofen and just let LDN do its thing. I also am on day 55 of LDN at 4.5mg. and I am going to reduce to 3mg. In the mean time, the information below on LEVETIRACETAM, an Epileptic medication looks promising. Has anyone tried this, either alone or with LDN?Experiences/testimonies would help. Thank youFridaySpasticity is a key factor in many MS patients' loss of the ability to walk. A study published in the December issue of Archives of Neurology and currently available online shows that Levetiracetam reduced phasic spasticity, which is marked by spasms and painful muscle cramps, in 100 percent of patients in a small clinical study. "It's amazing how many MS patients can't walk, can't move, and you treat their spasticity and they're fine," said Dr. Kathleen Hawker, assistant professor of neurology at UT Southwestern and lead author of the study. "What's nice about these drugs is that they also work for nerve pain, which in turn improves the patient's mood, so we can use one drug for three things instead of prescribing pain killers and antidepressants in addition to the spasticity therapies." Spasticity is often seen in patients with MS and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as after a stroke or spinal-cord injury. It can lead to loss of balance, increased risk of falls, pain, fatigue, and walking difficulties. Drugs currently used to treat spasticity may cause memory problems, weakness and lethargy in some patients.

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[Guest guest]

The common (easy) name for the Levateracetram (sp?) is Keppra. I don't know about the Neurontin. Is it the same??

Marcie (PPMS)

In a message dated 7/2/2004 8:14:41 PM Central Standard Time, redtruck99@... writes:

was doing Baclofen until I got and Levetiracetam (Neurontin) last fall. Then started LDN Feb. Spaticity got better on LDN, unlike the frequent reports Ive read of it getting worse. So I weened off the Neurontin as of May. Still get leg spasms at night in bed if I've done a work

[Guest guest]

I haven't used Baclofen in a while. Actually when I used it, I wasn't as progressed so I don't know that I could be a good judge of that. At the time, it didn't seem to help me though. Like I mentioned before, the Lev (Keppra) seems to help a little bit.

Marcie (PPMS)

In a message dated 7/3/2004 12:27:55 AM Central Standard Time, paraschick@... writes:

Thank you Marcie

I think we are pretty similar in that we need some stiffness and tension in the muscles in order to stand and transfer better. dont want to be too floppy. How would you compare Leve to Baclofen?

Friday

[Guest guest]

Friday,

I'm on day 2 of Levetiracetam.I'll keep you posted on how it's working for me.

-------Original Message-------

From: low dose naltrexone

Date: Thursday, July 01, 2004 13:43:02

low dose naltrexone

Subject: [low dose naltrexone] Re: Levetiracetam for Spasms and LDN

Hi everyone,

Seeing there's been alittle on the topic of spasms/tremors, let me

say, that LDN has not helped me with the morning spasms and muscle

tightness getting out of bed, and I've been taking Baclofen along

with it. Im thinking of taking Reg's posts as advice to stop the

Baclofen and just let LDN do its thing. I also am on day 55 of LDN

at 4.5mg. and I am going to reduce to 3mg.

In the mean time, the information below on LEVETIRACETAM,

an Epileptic medication looks promising. Has anyone tried this,

either alone or with LDN?

Experiences/testimonies would help. Thank you

Friday

Spasticity is a key factor in many MS patients' loss of the ability

to walk. A study published in the December issue of Archives of

Neurology and currently available online shows that Levetiracetam

reduced phasic spasticity, which is marked by spasms and painful

muscle cramps, in 100 percent of patients in a small clinical

study. "It's amazing how many MS patients can't walk, can't move, and

you treat their spasticity and they're fine," said Dr. Kathleen

Hawker, assistant professor of neurology at UT Southwestern and lead

author of the study. "What's nice about these drugs is that they also

work for nerve pain, which in turn improves the patient's mood, so we

can use one drug for three things instead of prescribing pain killers

and antidepressants in addition to the spasticity therapies."

Spasticity is often seen in patients with MS and amyotrophic lateral

sclerosis (ALS), as well as after a stroke or spinal-cord injury. It

can lead to loss of balance, increased risk of falls, pain, fatigue,

and walking difficulties. Drugs currently used to treat spasticity

may cause memory problems, weakness and lethargy in some patients.