Very interesting video

Specific Illnesses & Conditions VM/MAV
1

This is from the Web site for Keppra, an antiepileptic:
keppra.com/pc/about_keppra/h … _works.asp

I encourage people to watch it. It’s a 4-minute video about Keppra. It’s very interesting to me, because the way it describes what happens with epilepsy actually sounds like a fairly good description of what might be happening during MAV.

Keppra, aka levetiracetam, may well have some use in treatment of MAV. One site says that Keppra is unique in that it appears to have an effect on “collective neuronal responses, rather than on single neuron activity.” Dr. Hain and Dr. Cherchi say that “the data supporting its use [in migraine prevention] are emerging.”

I have a younger brother who had seizures for a few years and went through 8 medicines unsuccessfully and then had seizures stop within a day or two after he began Keppra. I strongly suspect there may be some epilepsy-like electrical / neuron-related disturbance in MAV. In a way, MAV makes me think of an unusual, constant seizure.

I plan to ask Dr. Hain to give Keppra a try on me. His site says he prescribes it occasionally for migraine prevention. I think it just might do something!

2

Interesting video George. Thanks for the link. That’s a med I haven’t trialled yet.

How you doing today? Feeling any better? Do you think Effexor is the reason you’re feeling worse?

S

3

Hi George,
All about keppra from Crazy Meds.
crazymeds.us/keppra.html
jen :smiley:
xxx

4

I was prescribed keppra as I was first diagnosed with eplipesy. A subsequent neuro diagnosed MAV. I guess keppra worked but its most frequent side effect (anger, moodiness) caused me to discontinue taking it. While on keppra I was a pissed off pain in the rear. I know these medications effect everyone differently. However, those who go with keppra should make sure that a spouse, relative or trusted friend monitors their behavior. I think it may something to do with keppra lowering dopamine levels? Good luck to all.

5

— Begin quote from ____

How you doing today? Feeling any better? Do you think Effexor is the reason you’re feeling worse?

— End quote

Ugh, no. No difference. It’s really uncomfortable. Now I know what Mal de Debarquement feels like. You ever get in a pool, and as the water laps against you from all directions, and as you stand there, you feel the natural up-and-down bobbing from the slight buoyancy? You know, you can sort of feel yourself rocking up and down with the water?

It’s like that.

If it IS from MAV, then this would be the first time the experience has changed. I actually feel like I’ve traded away a little bit of the “old” form of visual dependence (what I described formerly) for this new “rocking” sensation, though the first one still exists.

If it’s from Effexor, I don’t know if it’s temporary (difficulty as I perhaps adapt to a slightly higher and slowly increasing dosage) or not (as in, the longer I stay on it, the worse it gets).

I was doing the following for about 10 days:
6.25 mg at 9 a.m. / 6.25 mg at 3 p.m. / 12.5 mg at 9 p.m.

Then a few days ago, I upped it slightly to 3/4 of a pill (18.75 mg) at 9 p.m.

I understand the half-life is about 6 hours, and I’ve been doing the Effexor thing for maybe 2 or 2.5 weeks total so far. Trying to figure out the half-life equations (how much is in me at a given time, etc) is mathematically fairly straightforward but it still confounds me no end.

I wish I knew what the answer was. It’s either swimming, Effexor or MAV. Not sure about the swimming because I did it for the first 3 days (an hour each time) and didn’t feel unusual, either during or after. Last night, though, I tried to go, and as soon as I got in the pool, I immediately felt like I was bouncing up and down with each ripple.

I may insist on additional testing (e.g., an ENG, or some vestibular-function test, or an EEG. One family member thinks I should get a PET scan instead. I know EEG’s “may or may not” show something abnormal in a migraineur. (Any ideas? Any knowledge about usefulness of any of these?)