Have not had any 4 a long time!

[Chy Girl]

Its been months sence Iv had a seizure and its all becuse of some vitamins! Gava and valarin root (I hope I spelled that right). Thank u guyz for all of ur support and ideas!
<3 Cheyenne :-)

[epileric]

Do you mean Valerian Root. That stuff is great to help you sleep.

Congratulations on going so long without a seizure. That just ROCKS!!!

[Nakamova]

Wow, that's great! Are you also on meds, or just the valerian and Gava?
(Not sure what gava is, you'll have to fill me in).

[Kansas Educator]

Chy Girl, Do you mean Gaba?

[Chy Girl]

Wow, that's great! Are you also on meds, or just the valerian and Gava?
(Not sure what gava is, you'll have to fill me in).

Just that.

[Chy Girl]

Chy Girl, Do you mean Gaba?

Yes srry!

[Nakamova]

Were you on meds before, and then switched to the Valerian and GABA? How often do you take them and in what doses?

[forward2007]

Congratulations on not having any seizures for that long. It's a relief isn't it?

[forward2007]

Valerian is used for insomnia and other disorders and can be a useful alternative to benzodiazepine drugs.[6][7][8][9] However most of these research studies have shown it to be ineffective in this use. A recent article states, "Most studies found no significant differences between valerian and placebo either in healthy individuals or in persons with general sleep disturbance or insomnia." [10]

In the United States Valerian is sold as a nutritional supplement. Therapeutic use has increased as dietary supplements have gained in popularity, especially after the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act was passed in 1994. This law allowed the distribution of many agents as over-the-counter supplements, and therefore allowed them to bypass the regulatory requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Valerian is used against sleeping disorders, restlessness and anxiety, and as a muscle relaxant. Valerian often seems only to work when taken over longer periods (several weeks), though many users find that it takes effect immediately[citation needed]. Some studies have demonstrated that valerian extracts interact with the GABA and benzodiazepine receptors. Valerian is also used traditionally to treat gastrointestinal pain and irritable bowel syndrome. However, long term safety studies are missing. Valerian is sometimes recommended as a first-line treatment when benefit-risk analysis dictates. Valerian is often indicated as transition medication when discontinuing benzodiazepines.

Valerian has uses in herbal medicine as a sedative. The main current use of valerian is as a remedy for insomnia, with a recent meta-analysis providing some evidence of effectiveness.[11] It has been recommended[citation needed] for epilepsy but that is not supported by research (although valproic acid—an analogue of one of Valerian's constituents, valeric acid—is used as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug). Valerian root generally does not lose effectiveness over time.

While shown to be an effective remedy for the reduction of anxiety, it has also been reported to cause agitation, headaches and night terrors in some individuals.[citation needed] This may be due to the fact that some people lack a digestive conversion property necessary to effectively break down Valerian. One study found that valerian tends to sedate the agitated person and stimulate the fatigued person, bringing about a balancing effect on the system.[12]

[Nakamova]

It's interesting that valerian helps with gastrointestinal stuff, since that seems to play a role in seizures, based on the success people are having with alternative diets.

The cynic in me wonders if the lack of research on the anticonvulsant properties of Valerian has to do with the fact that Big Pharma can't make money off of it. (They can patent a synthetic version, like Valproate, but not Valerian).

[Chy Girl]

Were you on meds before, and then switched to the Valerian and GABA? How often do you take them and in what doses?

No wasnt on meds cuz my dr. wouldnt put me though 2 a nerologist. GABA 3 times a day and Valerian once.

[Chy Girl]

Congratulations on not having any seizures for that long. It's a relief isn't it?

Yes, yes it is!

[alivenwell]

Does anybody know of side effects on an unborn infant for these drugs? I wonder if it's safer than valproic acid which is known to cause defects.

It is great to be free of seizures for a long time like that. It's kind of surreal.

[Nakamova]

For both drugs there isn't any data so the standard caution is:
"Don't take them without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether they will harm an unborn baby."