A research team consisting of epilepsy specialists and epidemiologists (persons who study the causes and control of diseases) reports on a study that answered an important but simple question:
Do anti-seizure drugs cause reductions in bone density?
Why ask this question?
Posted in
EpilepsyTags:
Actonel,
AEDS,
Boniva,
Calcium,
Carbatrol,
Dilantin,
FDA,
Fosamax,
Mysoline,
Osteomalacia,
Osteopenia,
Osteoporosis,
Phenobarbital,
Tegretol,
Vitamin D
Touch your neck, right above your collarbone, and you’ll find a little gland called your thyroid.
It only weighs an ounce, yet this thyroid’s hormones control your metabolism.
When those hormones are balanced, everything is fine.
But if your thyroid makes just a little less or more than you need…it could cause havoc, both with how you function and the effectiveness of your AEDs.
Posted in
Epilepsy,
Medication Issues,
ResearchTags:
AED effectiveness,
depakote,
Dilantin,
full thyroid panel,
hyperthyroidism – an overactive thyroid,
hypothyroidism – an underactive thyroid,
metabolism,
selenium,
Tegretol
They’re necessary, but not necessarily nice.
And every med has its own side-effects.
Just as different people experience different difficulties.
But here‘s the low-down on the possible side-effects.
Posted in
Epilepsy,
Medication IssuesTags:
antiepilepsy drug side effects,
Ativan,
Banzel,
Carbatrol,
depakote,
Diamox,
Diastat Acudial,
Dilantin,
Felbatol,
Frisium,
Gabitril,
Hp Acthar Gel,
Keppra,
Klonopin,
Lamictal,
Lyrica,
Mysoline,
Neurontin,
Onfi,
Peganone,
Perampanel,
Phenobarbital,
Phenytek,
Rufinamide,
Sabril,
Tegretol,
Topamax,
Tranxene,
Trileptal,
Viibryd,
Vimpat,
Zarontin,
Zonegran
“Suicide Risk from 11 Anti-Epilepsy Drugs,” headlines blared across the country.
But we’re still here.
Was it sensationalism by the journalists, irresponsibility by the pharmaceutical industry or laxness of the FDA?
Posted in
Epilepsy,
Medication Issues,
ResearchTags:
anti-epilepsy drugs,
depakote,
depression,
FDA analysis,
Felbatol,
Gabitril,
Keppra,
Lamictal,
Lyrica,
Neurontin,
suicide risk,
Tegretol,
Topamax,
Trileptal,
Zonegran
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.
Posted in
Epilepsy,
Medication Issues,
Research,
TipsTags:
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