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Auras, Very Mild Attacks ... Sugar / Salt Levels
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 10:01Topic: Living With Epilepsy - Youth
Hello
I am convinced my child getting her auras/epileptic episodes have to do something with her salt or sugar levels. She is on 2100 mg/day of oleptal as well as frisium and I feel the medication itself is causing levels of/ sugar / salt to go haywire. These changing levels can be a cause of episodes too and hence the vicious circle.
The docs never seem too interested when I speak of this ...
Any ideas / references / home remedies / links of how to control sugar / salt levels
Thanks
Karbhari
Comments
Re: Auras, Very Mild Attacks ... Sugar / Salt Levels
Submitted by zarir.karbhari on Thu, 2011-05-12 - 02:24
Hello
What kind of blood test needs to be done ? Is there any specific name ?
I have always been suspicious of salt levels being affected due to the medication itself.
Thanks for the info. Any books on this I can read on ... not a Doctor but always like to know more, perhaps I can help my child sometime.
Regards
Karbhari
Re: Auras, Very Mild Attacks ... Sugar / Salt Levels
Submitted by phylisfjohnson on Thu, 2011-05-12 - 08:47
According to Lab Tests Online: "The electrolyte panel is frequently ordered as part of a routine physical, either by itself or as components of a basic metabolic panel or comprehensive metabolic panel.
It is used to screen for an electrolyte or acid-base imbalance and to monitor the effect of treatment on a known imbalance that is affecting bodily organ function.
If a patient has a single electrolyte that is high or low, such as sodium or potassium, the doctor may order repeat testing of that individual electrolyte, monitoring the imbalance until it resolves. If a patient has an acid-base imbalance, the doctor may order blood gas tests, which measure the pH and oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in an arterial blood sample, to help evaluate the severity of the imbalance and monitor its response to treatment."
I hope this helps. Phylis Feiner Johnson www.epilepsytalk.com
Re: Auras, Very Mild Attacks ... Sugar / Salt Levels
Submitted by phylisfjohnson on Wed, 2011-05-11 - 16:30
My guess is that it's being caused by an electrolyte imbalance.
It’s a situation often mentioned but rarely understood – the effects electrolytes have on seizures.
But a simple blood test can detect the danger of unbalanced electrolytes.
Taking extra doses of certain minerals can help to prevent side effects that may follow the long-term use of some seizure medicines.
And taking supplements can help protect the brain (as can a B-Vitamin complex), but it's no guarantee of seizure control, since there are a lot of different factors at play that can trigger a seizure.
But, making sure you have the right nutrients is just as important as having the right balance between all of them, so that proper electrical connections are maintained.
(NOTE: Since research of nutrient amounts are contradictory and range all over the place, I would have your doctor recommend the necessary nutrients, based on your individual blood tests.)
Here are some of the key players for electrolyte imbalances:
Sodium fluctuations in the body
Low sodium levels may be caused by medications such as diuretics (water pills) or carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Trileptal), by excessive water intake, or by hormonal disorders.
Altered potassium levels
Potassium can not only affect the development of the seizure type, it can also contribute to seizure susceptibility
Depleted calcium levels
Low calcium levels most often result from kidney disease or hormonal disorders. They also may be linked to low magnesium levels.
Magnesium deficiencies
Low magnesium levels can be the result of chronic abuse of alcohol and poor nutrition. Low magnesium levels can lead to seizures and also can cause low calcium levels.
Disturbed levels of body water/electrolytes (mostly sodium, calcium, or magnesium)
Low or high levels of blood sugar
Reduced oxygen to the brain
Phylis Feiner Johnson www.epilepsytalk.com
My guess is that it's being caused by an electrolyte imbalance.
It’s a situation often mentioned but rarely understood – the effects electrolytes have on seizures.
But a simple blood test can detect the danger of unbalanced electrolytes.
Taking extra doses of certain minerals can help to prevent side effects that may follow the long-term use of some seizure medicines.
And taking supplements can help protect the brain (as can a B-Vitamin complex), but it's no guarantee of seizure control, since there are a lot of different factors at play that can trigger a seizure.
But, making sure you have the right nutrients is just as important as having the right balance between all of them, so that proper electrical connections are maintained.
(NOTE: Since research of nutrient amounts are contradictory and range all over the place, I would have your doctor recommend the necessary nutrients, based on your individual blood tests.)
Here are some of the key players for electrolyte imbalances:
Sodium fluctuations in the body
Low sodium levels may be caused by medications such as diuretics (water pills) or carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Trileptal), by excessive water intake, or by hormonal disorders.
Altered potassium levels
Potassium can not only affect the development of the seizure type, it can also contribute to seizure susceptibility
Depleted calcium levels
Low calcium levels most often result from kidney disease or hormonal disorders. They also may be linked to low magnesium levels.
Magnesium deficiencies
Low magnesium levels can be the result of chronic abuse of alcohol and poor nutrition. Low magnesium levels can lead to seizures and also can cause low calcium levels.
Disturbed levels of body water/electrolytes (mostly sodium, calcium, or magnesium)
Low or high levels of blood sugar
Reduced oxygen to the brain
Phylis Feiner Johnson www.epilepsytalk.com