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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Butch on July 20, 2002, at 10:17:36
I am taking lamictal, clonazepam, dilantin, and a healthy dose of aspirin to treat "juvenile myoclonic epilepsy" and am finding nowadays that unless I take the meds several hours before bedtime as opposed to at bedtime, I get severe cases of the shakes that last hours.
Anyone seen anything similar no matter what the malady or dosage?
Posted by katekite on July 20, 2002, at 12:52:24
In reply to Need to take meds earlier than usual?, posted by Butch on July 20, 2002, at 10:17:36
Can you say what you mean by 'shakes'? Here on this site we get a lot of different kinds of shakes, LOL. -- kate
Lots of things change as we fall asleep. Even body temperature falls a litte, probably changing enzyme activities, and blood med concentrations, etc.
Do you find if you take a nap in the late afternoon do you get the shakes then? Is it specific to starting to sleep or specific to late night-time, or both?
kate
Posted by Butch on July 22, 2002, at 12:12:24
In reply to Re: Need to take meds earlier than usual?, posted by katekite on July 20, 2002, at 12:52:24
> Can you say what you mean by 'shakes'? Here on this site we get a lot of different kinds of shakes, LOL. -- kate
>
> Lots of things change as we fall asleep. Even body temperature falls a litte, probably changing enzyme activities, and blood med concentrations, etc.
>
> Do you find if you take a nap in the late afternoon do you get the shakes then? Is it specific to starting to sleep or specific to late night-time, or both?
>
> kateActually, sleep does seem to be a factor. When I wake in the mornings I have to lie down for about 30 minutes before I "calm down." The same seems to occur if I take naps.
The shakes vary from small muscle spasms in my arm to half second LOC or what I like to call a "petit mal" [knees buckle, I "awake" and if lucky catch myself before I hit the floor or tumble down stairs - I have developed a real affection for single level houses :)
The shakes can progress to violent shakes of my head and more violent muscle spasms. They can be a precursor to grand mals which, thankfully, are rare - the violent shakes are not as rare as I would like.
The most recent developement and the reason for my post has been the need to take my night meds hours before my bedtime and staying clam for a half hour after. Sort of a reverse morning affect.
If I don't I have a progression of the minor to nasty shakes.Very weird.
Posted by katekite on July 22, 2002, at 21:39:42
In reply to Re: Need to take meds earlier than usual?, posted by Butch on July 22, 2002, at 12:12:24
Seizures can be triggered by lots of things. There are people who only have seizures when fast asleep, or never have them while asleep only while awake. Probably you could increase your med dose and that would help, but I know epilepsy meds can have their side effects so if you don't want to do that then taking them definitely at least a half hour before bed is the best you can do.
As far as I know, they (docs) don't know why sleep can trigger seizures.
They do have names for everything though. The period of time while you are going to sleep is called hypnogogic, and the period while you are waking up is called hypnopompic (sp? might be pompnic). It sounds like you mostly have hypnogogic seizures.
Sometimes when seizures get worse there is some explanation like an illness, not usually but sometimes. So if you haven't had a checkup in a while, that might be an idea.
Wish I could help more.
Kate
This is the end of the thread.
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