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Taking vitamins with seizure meds. what're the risks?
Wed, 01/16/2013 - 20:05Hi
I would like to start off saying that I've had my seizures for 37yrs now. I'm taking lamictal 150mg 2x a day, ritalin 5mg once a day, vimpat 150mg 2x a day, zonagram 100mg once a day, and serquel 250mg at night only. I was taking some vitamins for health issues at one point in time, and I noticed when I started taking the vitamins that I started feeling more edgy, anciouse, and I'm not sure if a little more deppressed. I mean after all I'm taking meds for anxiety, and depression. I started noticing that my thoughts started wandering where they shouldn't, but I never thought it could be the vitamins mixed with the meds. I'm still not sure if it's, so at that time I stopped the vitamins and I started feeling a little bit better. Now I started taking the vitamins again because I heard that they're supposed to help with some of the medication side effects. When I did these symtops seemed to have started again, is it my imagination? Or is it really a bad combination to put together that's the cause? I'm only asking on this site because all my docs have told me it's ok to take vitamins with medication, but unless you have actually experienced it yourself instead of reading it from a book then first hand experience is the best way to know. I hope to get some feedback on this thank you!
Re: Taking vitamins with seizure meds. what're the risks?
Submitted by Jon Spangler on Mon, 2013-01-28 - 16:06
Colama, I have been taking vitamins and supplements for years at the advice of my neurologist (Robert N. Pavy, MD, in Redwood City, CA 94062). He never mentioned any potential downsides to taking them along with my Tegretol and other Rx meds, and I have never experienced any problems. My meds: Tegretol (for seizures); Levothyroxine (low thyroid); Strattera, Zoloft, Aricept, Namenda (all for brain function/memory enhancement resulting from seizures and 40-plus years of seizure meds). Supplements (from Costco): Fish oil, senior-related multivitamins, various chrondoitin/MSM/glucosamine supplements for joint issues, "FocusFactor" ("brain food"), Folic acid, a generic version of Centrum for seniors (I'm 61), and a few more... I hope this helps. Your mileage may vary, of course.... :-) Jon