Aches and Pains and AED's!!!

[Elaine H]

Hi All

After a long few months with the most agonising pains in my elbows, knees, left foot, and crunching in the back of my neck, I suddenly thought that I had read somewhere a long time ago, that there is a link with osteoporosis and long term use of anti-epileptic drug's, specifically with taking polytherapy (two anti-epileptic drug's together) I just googled it, and almost wish I hadn't! Tegretol is meant to be a bit of a Demon when taken for a long period of time.

It's thought that the older drugs such as Dilantin,Phenonarbital, and Tegretol have been identified as causing it since the 1960's, apparantly, they can interfere with the body's metabolism of vitamin D, the more recent anti-epileptic drug's were thought to have been safer, but a recent study has shown, that these anti-epileptic drug's are also causing problems with bone loss.The main findings of this study was extremely interesting, and I just wanted to bring your attention to it, as it has scared the Hell out of me!!It reported that "All patients taking anti-epileptic drug's are at an increased risk for bone loss; therefore, their BMD should be monitored" Recent studies have also shown that taking two or more anticonvulsants together may further escalate the occurrence of osteoporosis.I've also had dental problems recently, and of course that's calcium related. Great huh, no seizures, I'm just falling to pieces!!! What I picked up on, was that we must excercise, avoid excess alcohol, make sure our calcium, vitamin D and magnesium levels are maintained, I am going to make sure I get some supplements next time I'm in town, I'm trying to excercise a bit more, but I have been in so much pain for a few months now that this has really scared me, not one single doctor or specialist has EVER mentioned this to me, how about you on CWE, I'd be intrigued to know?

Cheers

Elaine x

[RobinN]

My daughter had extreme pain with the last three of her meds. Gabapentin, Lamictal, and Trileptal. I do think Lamictal was the worse. She refused to get out of bed they were so bad. She is an athlete, so this was quite unusual.

She has not had anything similar since being med free.

[Meetz1064]

do know what you mean. And, since I have been on my supplements, the pain IS better. I just have to REMEMBER to take my supplements..........HEHEHE

[Nancy]

In '93 when I saw a "good" neurologist, he was looking at my records and was furious that I had ever taken Dilantin because I was a "skinny, blonde, smoker". He said it was a sure thing I had osteoporosis because Dilantin attacked bones.

He ordered me to have that bone scan thingy and he was right ...... Since then I've been taking Fosamax and my bones have slowly recovered to 100%.

Now I know that all anti-epileptic drugs are hard on bones ~sigh~.

[Bernard]

... It's thought that the older drugs such as Dilantin,Phenonarbital, and Tegretol have been identified as causing it since the 1960's, apparantly...

I have seen many reports to this effect about Dilantin. I thought that was common knowledge. I think this is one reason doctors try to move patients to newer drugs - they hope the newer drugs don't have serious long term side effects. Unfortunately, all AEDs appear to cause nutritional depletion.

... What I picked up on, was that we must excercise, avoid excess alcohol, make sure our calcium, vitamin D and magnesium levels are maintained, ...

Does anyone on here have osteoporosis?