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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 phylisfjohnson on Sun, 2013-02-03 - 17:34
The all-star vitamin seems to be Vitamin B-6. This vitamin is involved in critical functions of the nervous system. And it boosts the metabolism of various neurotransmitters which are needed for normal brain function. The good news is that it’s easy to get it in all kinds of different foods…fresh juicy fruits like apples, oranges, grapefruits, grapes, (especially grape juice), pineapples, peaches, pears and lemons…green leafy vegetables, carrots, peanuts, rice, milk, cereals, seeds, nuts and grain.
VITAMINS
Vitamin B3 (or Niacin) — Improves circulation and is helpful for many brain-related disorders. It enhances the treatment of epilepsy when used with anticonvulsants.
Some foods rich in niacin are fish, lean meats, nuts, and poultry.
Vitamin B6 – A necessary cofactor in the metabolism of a variety of neurotransmitters. It’s needed for normal brain function. Protein rich foods such as chicken, fish, beans, and nuts are good sources. Other foods rich in Vitamin B6 include brewer’s yeast, milk, rice, green leafy vegetables, peanuts, carrots and cereals.
Vitamin B12 – Needed for proper digestion, the formation of cells, and the production of myelin, the protective coating surrounding the nerves. Vitamin B12 helps prevent nerve damage and levels may be reduced by some anticonvulsant drugs. Foods rich in Vitamin B12 include liver (best source), beef, chicken, pork/ham, fish, whole eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt.
Vitamin B5 (Panothenic acid) – Is the anti-stress vitamin. Good sources of vitamin B5 include broccoli, turnip greens and sunflower seeds., crimini mushrooms, corn, winter squash and strawberries.
Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) – Is necessary for the health of the nervous system. Foods that contain a significant amount of folic acid include liver, lentils, rice germ, brewer’s yeast, soy flour, black-eyed peas, navy beans, kidney beans, peanuts, spinach, turnip greens, lima beans, whole wheat, and asparagus. (NOTE: Folic acid may be depleted during seizures and in some people with seizures. However, taking extra folic acid can reduce the effectiveness of anticonvulsant drugs and lead to more seizures. Take folic acid only under your doctor’s supervision.)
For more vitamins see:
Fighting Seizures Nutritionally
http://epilepsytalk.com/2009/11/26/fighting-seizures-nutritionally/
Phylis Feiner Johnson www.epilepsytalk.com
Also...
Omega-3 fatty Acids and Seizures
Deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in cellular membranes of the brain and heart raises the frequency of seizures and increase the likelihood of sudden unexpected death from in epilepsy. A 2004 clinical trial published in “Seizure: The Journal of the British Epilepsy Association,” found that omega-3 supplementation decreased seizure frequency and associated cardiac arrhythmia, at least for the six weeks of treatment. Absence seizures were found to be the type most improved by Omega-3 fatty acids.
http://nationalseizuredisordersfoundation.org/omega-3-fatty-acids/
The all-star vitamin seems to be Vitamin B-6. This vitamin is involved in critical functions of the nervous system. And it boosts the metabolism of various neurotransmitters which are needed for normal brain function. The good news is that it’s easy to get it in all kinds of different foods…fresh juicy fruits like apples, oranges, grapefruits, grapes, (especially grape juice), pineapples, peaches, pears and lemons…green leafy vegetables, carrots, peanuts, rice, milk, cereals, seeds, nuts and grain.
VITAMINS
Vitamin B3 (or Niacin) — Improves circulation and is helpful for many brain-related disorders. It enhances the treatment of epilepsy when used with anticonvulsants.
Some foods rich in niacin are fish, lean meats, nuts, and poultry.
Vitamin B6 – A necessary cofactor in the metabolism of a variety of neurotransmitters. It’s needed for normal brain function. Protein rich foods such as chicken, fish, beans, and nuts are good sources. Other foods rich in Vitamin B6 include brewer’s yeast, milk, rice, green leafy vegetables, peanuts, carrots and cereals.
Vitamin B12 – Needed for proper digestion, the formation of cells, and the production of myelin, the protective coating surrounding the nerves. Vitamin B12 helps prevent nerve damage and levels may be reduced by some anticonvulsant drugs. Foods rich in Vitamin B12 include liver (best source), beef, chicken, pork/ham, fish, whole eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt.
Vitamin B5 (Panothenic acid) – Is the anti-stress vitamin. Good sources of vitamin B5 include broccoli, turnip greens and sunflower seeds., crimini mushrooms, corn, winter squash and strawberries.
Vitamin B9 (Folic acid) – Is necessary for the health of the nervous system. Foods that contain a significant amount of folic acid include liver, lentils, rice germ, brewer’s yeast, soy flour, black-eyed peas, navy beans, kidney beans, peanuts, spinach, turnip greens, lima beans, whole wheat, and asparagus. (NOTE: Folic acid may be depleted during seizures and in some people with seizures. However, taking extra folic acid can reduce the effectiveness of anticonvulsant drugs and lead to more seizures. Take folic acid only under your doctor’s supervision.)
For more vitamins see:
Fighting Seizures Nutritionally
http://epilepsytalk.com/2009/11/26/fighting-seizures-nutritionally/
Phylis Feiner Johnson www.epilepsytalk.com
Also...
Omega-3 fatty Acids and Seizures
Deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids in cellular membranes of the brain and heart raises the frequency of seizures and increase the likelihood of sudden unexpected death from in epilepsy. A 2004 clinical trial published in “Seizure: The Journal of the British Epilepsy Association,” found that omega-3 supplementation decreased seizure frequency and associated cardiac arrhythmia, at least for the six weeks of treatment. Absence seizures were found to be the type most improved by Omega-3 fatty acids.
http://nationalseizuredisordersfoundation.org/omega-3-fatty-acids/