Epilepsy Talk
The Trouble with AEDs…
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At the very best, finding the right anti-epilepsy drug is a crap shoot. There’s always the hope that this one will do it.
Or maybe adjunct therapy will work. Or, sigh, the side-effects derail you and you’re on to the next.
Is asking for seizure control too much?
The good news is that many newer AEDs are better tolerated than the older, standard AEDs. Although they, too, come with side-effects.
Newer AEDs often cause less sedation and require less monitoring than older drugs.
Tags: AEDS, anti-epilepsy drugs, benefits, dangers, seizures, side effects, uses
Epilepsy — Top Financial and Medical Assistance Programs
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With so many people at the end of their resources, we could all use a helping hand.
Below is my attempt to research viable resources for financial and medication aid.
Tags: aid, benefits, financial, free, information, links, medication, prescriptions, resources
The Miracle of the Coconut
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Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a “superfood.”
And there are plenty of reasons to love it: Health, healing, immunity. Liver, kidney and bone health. Energy, weight loss, hair, skin care…and that’s just scratching the surface.
Let’s start with your health:
Tags: benefits, coconut oil, external benefits, food, health, internal health, superfood
Salba — The Super Food
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You probably already know a lot about all the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. About how they are crucial to the proper development and function of cell membranes in the brain.
And how, according to researchers at Emory University, one particular fatty acid – DHA — is found to be at critically low levels in patients with uncontrolled epilepsy. Which is why doctors recommend diets rich in Omega-3.
However, there’s a new nutrient that’s BIGGER and better…
Tags: 16 amino acids, 17 fatty acids, A, antioxidant vitamins, B2, B3, B6, benefits, C, Calcium, DHA, dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, minerals, Omega-3 fatty acids, phosphorus, potassium, rich in protein, Salba, super food, thiamin
Epilepsy and Exercise
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Many people with epilepsy, especially those with uncontrolled seizures, live a sedentary life and have low physical fitness.
Because they’ve been told that exercise can trigger seizures.
Not necessarily so. At least for a large population of those with epilepsy.
Clinical and experimental studies have analyzed the effect of physical exercise on epilepsy.
The result? Exercise can be beneficial.
Clinical Trials Explained
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New therapies, including medications, medical devices and surgical procedures, are evaluated in research studies known as clinical trials.
Often these new therapies are investigational, which means they are not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for general use.
Participation in clinical trials offers the potential for new treatment options and allows patients to participate with researchers in driving the discovery of effective therapies for epilepsy…
Tags: 3 phases, benefits, clinical trials, Epilepsy, information, NIH, risks
Epilepsy: Meditation vs. Medication
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You can have medication without meditation. Most of us do.
You can do meditation without medication. Most of us wouldn’t and shouldn’t take that risk.
But together, they can enhance one another.
Tags: benefits, Complementary Alternative Medicine, enhance, Epilepsy, medication, meditation, relaxation, risks, seizures, stress
Calcium — Friend or Foe?
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After talking to a famous epileptologist, I learned that calcium is really a two-edged sword. Which surprised (and scared) me.
I’ve always read that calcium was imperative if you were taking antiepilepsy drugs — especially Dilantin. Even if your doc “forgot” to tell you!
Speaking of which, a survey found that fewer than one-third of neurologists routinely evaluated AED patients for bone disease. And fewer than 10% prescribed Calcium and Vitamin D.
Tags: benefits, bone mineral density, Calcium, calcium rich foods, controversy, DEXA scans, Dilantin, Epilepsy, heart disease, Mysoline, Osteopenia, Osteoporosis, Phenobital, risks, supplements, Tegretol, Valproate, Vitamin D
Why Your Pharmacist is Your Best Friend
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Your pharmacist is the least expensive and most accessible health resource you have. They fill prescriptions and provide expert information about medications — a very important role considering the prominent use of seizure medications to treat epilepsy.
While it might seem easier to forge a personal relationship with one pharmacist at a small mom-and-pop pill dispensary, smart patients can and do establish great relationships with superstore pharmacists, too.
You can see the pharmacist anytime you want, without an appointment, and all consultations are free. In medicine, that’s extraordinary.
Tags: access, benefits, costs, EFA, Epilepsy, expert information, free consultations, interactions, knowledge, pharmacists, prescription, risks, seizure medications
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