Levetiracetam (Keppra) — Another Possible Potassium Channel Modulator?

In the history of possible drug treatments of tinnitus, were examined many antiepileptic but none showed an actual effectiveness (Tegretol, Tolep, Topamax, gabapentin, Lyrica, Sabril, Vigabatrin and many others). Strangely no study on Keppra !!! Together with my neurologist, who has followed my and your adventure with Trobalt (in relation to potassium channels activation and depolarization KV3,1) he suggested to try the Keppra, because as you can see at the beginning of the discussion I ask clearly: "it is possible that levetiracetam can help us? "I do not understand why you get angry with me. I'm just following the "thread" with Trobalt that I could not take more because of its strong side effects. It took me months to study and try to find an alternative. I never said that he had found a cure!

 

i am not angry! I am very grateful that you have found keppra
thank you very much for trying it...it seems like an amazing breakthrough
especially since it targets kv3 like autifony's new drug.

 

@Viking
Have you noticed any change in volume after taking this drug? Btw, that picture that youre using, is that from a movie? If it is, whats the name of the movie and actor?

 

It's Robert Carlyle from the movie Trainspotting.

 

To be correct, it is too early to speak. I'm only at the third day. I can only say that there is a change in volume and not have the annoying headaches. It may be a placebo effect. Then we have to consider that not all tinnitus have the same etiology. I go to the road of epilepsy sensorineural. The Image is from the movie Trainspotting - Francis Begbie (Robert Carlyle) .... the nightmare of his friends junkies in the movie.

 

May Viking be the first to show the way! Best wishes for recovery my friend.

 

Here's a link quantifying the prevalance of tinnitus as a side effect on people taking Keppra as of Nov 28th 2014 http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/keppra/tinnitus

Bear in mind it's not a random sample of the population and only involves patients suffering from epilepsy. This could skew the sample as some seizures can be triggered by "startle sounds" which would imply an dysfunction in synaptic connections to the auditory cortex.

 

Summary: Tinnitus is found among people who take Keppra, especially for people who are female, 60+ old, have been taking the drug for 1 - 6 months, also take medication Verapamil, and have Epilepsy.

We study 19,870 people who have side effects while taking Keppra from FDA and social media. Among them, 71 have Tinnitus. Find out below who they are, when they have Tinnitus and more.
Top conditions involved for these people * :

1. Epilepsy (21 people, 28.77%)
2. Gastrooesophageal reflux disease (11 people, 15.07%)
3. Convulsion (6 people, 8.22%)
4. Skin ulcer (6 people, 8.22%)
5. Mouth ulceration (6 people, 8.22%)

Top co-used drugs for these people * :

1. Verapamil (19 people, 26.03%)
2. Nexium (18 people, 24.66%)
3. Gabapentin (16 people, 21.92%)
4. Clonazepam (15 people, 20.55%)
5. Neurontin (14 people, 19.18%

 

Hope it does work, I'm gonna try this alongside trobalt...Can you do that?

 

i haven't understand! Do you want take trobalt and keppra????
Do not do it!

 

Lol, why?

 

@Danny Boy ...please do not do anything stupid that can damage your health. Do not mess with these drugs.

 

I need the relief though, better than me trying to kill myself surely?

 

Gobbling drugs ... this is not the way to get relief. I understand your pain and your frustration. Believe me I understand. Take two medications (anti seizure) without suffering from epilepsy will not give you any relief. But ... there is a high risk of further physical suffering. Do not do this.

 

Trobalt is normally supplemented with other epilepsy drugs though?

 

Right....but we are not EPILEPTIC!!! You risk to have all the side effect. Is really serious!
If you are on Trobalt, take only it. Let your neurologist to seek relief for you. Do not do it alone!

 

I don't have a neurologist though.

 

...found it...I think it isn't difficult ... if I found myself in Italy ...
Here we are not curing the tinnitus but share experience and models to manage better our disease waiting for a cure. It's a multifactor disease. You will solve nothing taking a lot of pills! Be Patient

 

Well, what if using both actually silences the tinnitus? We won't know until someone tries it.

 

Has trobalt stoped working?

 

No, it's still working. Just wanna make sure it stays that way.

 

Danny if it's working why rock the boat ....thank the dear lord that you found something that works for you and find peace bro

 

Well mixing up drugs like that wont make sure of that. I think I read about this in one of your posts. The dangers of mixing drugs. When they mix they can change properties, wich usually arent for your own good. Quite the oposite

 

Thanks Carlos! Seriously, I hope we all find relief...This is one of the toughest most horrible things I have ever faced in life. I would not wish tinnitus on anybody, even my worst enemy! Seriously, this condition needs to be taken far more seriously! It's embarrassing how little is being done.

 

Yes, but Trobalt is normally used with other epileptic drugs, so what's the issue? Christian takes clonazepam alongside trobalt and that drug is far worse than this. I'd rather give it a go, than never know.

 

A German study about Levetiracetam, Retigabine and others. How affect potassium channel at synaptic and presynaptic level:
http://hss.ulb.uni-bonn.de/2012/3068/3068.pdf
I know about 204 pages are more...but is interisting there is a link between retigabine/ezogabine and levetiracetam
on Gaba receptors. The mechanism is different but the antiseizure efficacy is similar
At page 20/21 are illustrated the structures and you will see the specific potential of retigabine (as we know is the best for us guineas pig in tinnitus at this moment). Page 25 the effect of levetiracetam on potassium channel

more here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20065495

Experimental and simulation studies on the mechanisms of levetiracetam-mediated inhibition of delayed-rectifier potassium current (KV3.1): contribution to the firing of action potentials.
Huang CW1, Tsai JJ, Huang CC, Wu SN.
Author information
Abstract
Levetiracetam (LEV) is an S-enantiomer pyrrolidone derivative with established antiepileptic efficacy in generalized epilepsy and partial epilepsy. However, its effects on ion currents and membrane potential remain largely unclear. We investigated the effect of LEV on differentiated NG108-15 neurons. In these cells treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, the expression level of the K(V)3.1 mRNA was elevated. With the aid of patch clamp technology, we found that LEV could suppress the amplitude of delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(K(DR))) in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 37 microM. LEV (30 microM) shifted the steady-state activation of I(K(DR)) to a more positive potential by 10 mV, without shifting the steady-state inactivation of I(K(DR)). Neither Na(+), nor erg (ether-a-go-go-related)-mediated K(+) and ATP-sensitive K(+) currents were affected by LEV (100 microM). LEV increased the duration of action potentials in current clamp configuration. Simulation studies in a modified Hodgkin-Huxley neuron and network unraveled that the reduction of slowly inactivating I(K(DR)) resulted in membrane depolarization accompanied by termination of the firing of action potentials in a stochastic manner. Therefore, the inhibitory effects on slowly inactivating I(K(DR)) (K(V)3.1-encoded current) may constitute one of the underlying mechanisms through which LEV affect neuronal activity in vivo.

 

I feel like brain science is so advanced, its really cool to see how we have figured out how to interact with it.

 

Where did you read this?

I have gone through all the possible side affects of this drug and Tinnitus is not listed!

With all due respect if you are are going to announce a so called fact, please, would you back it up with a link to the documentation for your info!

Thanks Rich

 

In fact this drug is one of the safest I have read about even when overdosed by 3,000mg a day!

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/l/levetiracetamtab.pdf

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/k/Keppra.htm

 

And It's even funded by my government!

http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/2010/07/30/2010-07-30 PHARMAC notification of levetiracetam funding changes.pdf

Think I will be keeping an eye on your progress with this @Viking , It certainly looks a hell of allot easier to obtain than Retigabine, here in NZ anyway.