Glutamate & AEDs

[Zoe]

This quote turned up in a search today:Glutamine

Possible Harmful Interaction

The amino acid glutamine is converted to glutamate in the body. Glutamate is thought to act as a neurotransmitter (chemical that enables nerve transmission). Because anticonvulsants work (at least in part) by blocking glutamate pathways in the brain, high dosages of the amino acid glutamine might theoretically diminish an anticonvulsant's effect and increase the risk of seizures.[end quote]
[quote]http://www.jigsawhealth.com/nat.aspx?&chunkiid=21526

If blocking glutamate improves seizure control, why not more emphasis on getting the glutamate out, gluten free diet, GARD diet, MSG, for starters. Duh, why wasn't this obvious to me ten years ago?

[Andrew]

Glutamate is the main 'excitatory' neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS.

http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Synaptic...glutamate.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamic_acid

http://www.benbest.com/science/anatmind/anatmd10.html

Also see the following links:

GABA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-aminobutyric_acid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GABA_receptor

Regards

Andrew

[Zoe]

Glutamate is the main 'excitatory' neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS.
http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Synaptic...glutamate.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamic_acid
http://www.benbest.com/science/anatmind/anatmd10.html
Also see the following links:
GABA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-aminobutyric_acid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GABA_receptor
Regards
Andrew

Thanks for the links Andrew. All the more reason to look at diet when seizures develop. Diet might be an effective, and safer means to reduce excess glutamate than drugs.
If a toxic reaction to gluten, so common in our diets, leads to excess glutamate release in the brain, wouldn't a diet change be an obvious first choice when one shows signs of having seizures?
Here's another link to check out.
http://www.celiac.com/articles/1085/...ACP/Page1.html
And it isn't only the glutens found in wheat, barley and rye, but other foods contain high levels of glutamate which may be a problem for folks who develop seizures. In this respect, DogtorJ may be picking up where the gluten free diet leaves off.
Something that really needs consideration in this topic is that gluten intolerance is a well recognized cause of seizures. It may be for many that seizures are the symptom of gluten toxicity and removing the gluten should be the first choice.