[Info] Progesterone Therapy

[RobinN]

Progesterone Therapy for Women with Epilepsy Shows Favorable Outcome

Women of childbearing age with epilepsy commonly have seizures that are exacerbated by hormonal changes. Investigators today reported favorable outcomes of a phase III clinical trial of progesterone therapy in reducing these catamenial seizures. Results of the NIH-sponsored study were presented during the American Epilepsy Society's annual meeting.

Progesterone is a naturally occuring steroid known to lessen neuronal excitability and seizures. The purpose of the clinical trial was to compare progesterone versus placebo in lessening seizures in women with epilepsy.

"We found that progesterone can provide a clinically important benefit for a substantial portion of women with catamenial seizures," said lead investigator, Andrew G. Herzog, M.D., M.Sc., of Harvard University. "And, the level of perimenstrual seizure exacerbation is a significant predictor of women most likely to benefit from this hormonal therapy."

The proportion of women who responded to pregesterone therapy increased relative to the increased level of perimentrual seizure exacerbation; whereas, no significant difference in response rate was observed in women with seizures that did not show substantial perimenstrual exacerbation, i.e., three times or greater increase in average daily frequency.

The clinical trials were conducted at the Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston; Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia; University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine; and the University of Maryland, Department of Neurology.

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/ne...le-Outcome.cfm

[DianeParente]

I am a little confused as to which category my daughter would fit into since most of her seizures have been while she is on her period and around ovulation?

[RobinN]

If it were my daughter, I would be keeping a chart / calendar of all events. You can even go so far as to taking her temp each morning before rising if you want to find ovulation days Once you have the pattern it will give you the info you need to discuss this with a specialist.

Please remember that there is a connection between dietary choices and hormone fluctuation / imbalances. Reducing insulin surges has helped my daughters seizure threshold.

[DianeParente]

Thank you Robin. I had her take her temperature before but she kept forgetting.(very frustrating) I then had her do a 30 day saliva test. The dr who does the saliva testing called her naturopath and they said that they wanted to see her results off progesterone. They did see drastic drops in progesterone on the the days she went off it and he thought that it looked like she had not ovulated.I will try to encourage her to do the morning temperature again. She doesn't get up til noon. I am getting the book about eating for your blood type, and am encouraging her to eat properly. The last two seizures, she had not eaten much prior to having them, so i have discussed blood sugar levels and balancing them with her. Going to call my sister in law who is diabetic to see how we can test her throughout a day or two. Thanks for your support. As you know this is all consuming at times. It is such a worry for me!

[DianeParente]

I have been following the Dr Andrew Herzog clinical trials and waiting for the results. Too bad they don't look quite as promising as was hoped. But I know there is something to hormones and seizures.