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
Epilepsy,
Medication IssuesTags:
Actonel,
AEDS,
Boniva,
Calcium,
Carbatrol,
Dilantin,
FDA,
Fosamax,
Mysoline,
Osteomalacia,
Osteopenia,
Osteoporosis,
Phenobarbital,
Tegretol,
Vitamin D
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 anti-epilepsy drugs — especially Dilantin. Even if your doc “forgot” to tell you!
Posted in
Epilepsy,
Medication Issues,
ResearchTags:
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
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 some possible side-effects.
I hope you don’t have to suffer any of them. (Or as few as possible.)
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,
Ocopri,
Onfi,
Peganone,
Perampanel,
Phenobarbital,
Phenytek,
Rufinamide,
Sabril,
Tegretol,
Topamax,
Tranxene,
Trileptal,
Viibryd,
Vimpat,
Zarontin,
Zonegran
They’re necessary, but not necessarily nice.
And every med has its own side-effect. Just as different people experience different difficulties.
Here’s the low-down on the possible side-effects of your drugs and others.
Some might sound painfully familiar…
Posted in
Epilepsy,
Medication IssuesTags:
anti-epilepsy drug side-effects,
Ativan,
Banzel,
Briviact,
Carbatrol,
Depakote and Depakene,
Diamox,
Diastat Acudial,
Dilantin,
Felbatol,
Gabitril,
Hp Acthar Gel,
Kepppra,
Klonopin,
Lamictal,
Lyrica,
Mysoline,
Neurontin,
Onfi,
Peganone,
Perampanel,
Phenobarbital,
Phenytek,
Portiga,
Rufinamide,
Sabril,
Tegretol,
Topamax,
Tranxene,
Trileptal,
Viibryd,
Vimpat,
Zarontin,
Zonegran
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
“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
Epilepsy Talk 