A lengthy vitamin and mineral question

[todub]

Hello,

After being diagnosed with complex partial epilepsy at 21 (2 years ago). I have been on a few different AED's. I was most recently on 700 mg of Lamictal a day. After having been completely healthy and a gym rat/sports freak until genetics gave me the gift of epilepsy a couple years ago I had never had more than a cold (One of the many side effects of the AED's is wieghtloss/weight gain depending. I was a lean 225 lbs, now I am 180, I'm 6'6") . And as most of you know the side effects of these drugs are for the most part horrible. As someone who has never had a tonic clonic seizure or any major seizure for that matter, I decided to stop taking med's all together without medical advice because my health insurance ran out a few months ago and I was tired of being sick and tired, hoping coming off the drugs would be more of a benefit than hindrance. Now that all drugs have been out of my system for just over a month I am starting to feel quite a bit better. Unfortunately, I am having a few minor seizures throughout each day, but I feel so much better I just look past them. To combat these, I juice at least 3 glasses of various vegetable juices a day (which is great and I highly recommend!), eat a very healthy diet and take some vitamins
-1000 IU vit E
-2400 mg fish oil
-High potency B complex
-200 mg alpha lipoic
-250 mg magnesium 3-4 times a day
-15 mg zinc
- and a one a day, once a day

I'm thinking of adding taurine, and possibly adding low levels of creatine monohydrate because I am beginning to get back into the gym for the first time in 2 years with the absence of AED's, and it delivers more blood, and blood to muscles and most importantly more oxygen/blood to the brain.

does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should add to this list of vitamins and minerals? or anything I may be taking too much of?

 

[Meetz1064]

Personally, I

do take the taurine, and it does help, so do add it in. Also, I had been taking selenium and biotin---until my body started rejecting the tablets due to another problem I have. Now I'm looking for the liquid form that will provide the same amount as what I took before...but they do help, and I have noticed a difference since I haven't been taking them....

 

[epileric]

According to one of my books both tyrosine and taurine are good for seizures. I know from biology class that they work in conjunction with each other.

Also remember that all amino acids work in pairs (like taurine/tyrosine) and taking one can cause more of a demand in your body for the other.

You may not want to start taking everything at once (except the 2 amino acids) so that you can get a feel of how your body likes/dislikes each supplement.

Something that I do use occasionally when my seizures are acting up, especially if they're nocturnal seizures, is a cup of valerian tea before bed. It's a great sedative but also helps my E. I just don't want to get used to it so I save it for when I have problems.

 

[RobinN]

I would stay away from the ALA. Unless you are working on a frequent low dose, you are possibly moving metals around which allows them to migrate into other organs, causing possible severe problems.

What type of magnesium are you taking?

What is in your one a day?

Rebecca has taken taurine in the past and I have been considering putting her back on it. Do you also take any type of probiotic? Over the years have you ever taken your fair share of anti-biotics? Also, unless you are out in the sun for approx. 30 min each day, it is recommended to take a good Vit D.

I think you have a good basic list there. One I don't see any problems with other than the ALA. I highly recommend you read info by Andrew Cutler. He is a highly regarded chemist that has done extensive research when it comes to ALA and chelation.