Calcium problems anyone?

[Fscene8]

Has any of you had any problems during medication and taking Calcium pills at the same time?

I've been on medication for ages but at the same time consumed calcium tabs too. Nothing actually happened, everything was fine. Last year I got epileptic seizure (after a looong) because of a major stress (social stuff and so on). I was under stress for 3 months or so.
My neurologist gave me new pills to use but I kept consuming Calcium.
A week after, another seizure.
Neurologist said it was because of Calcium so I had to stop taking it.

Last week I was reading 2 books (part: epilepsy of both) where it said how Calcium (1500mg daily) is very important element to prevent seizures.
SO instead of "normal" (or how to say it xD) began to take Coral Calcium.
Two days after, early in the morning, I got seizure.


Does anyone epileptic here takes Calcium together with appropriate epi medication(s)? Did you have any problems while taking it?
Share you experience please

 

[travel bug]

Hi Fscene8,

Calcium sometimes passes through the body without being absorbed unless you take it with food. Vitamin D also helps with absorption. But, talk to your neuro and/or pharmacist about your new meds and calcium. Maybe there's some problem with drug interaction.

I'm on Keppra and take several calcium with vit D tablets a day. The vitamin D helps with my myoclonic jerks while I'm trying to sleep. I thought it was the calcium at first (I was taking it for preventative bone health) because after starting it I had fewer problems, but when I tried another brand with more calcium and less vit D and the problem came back. Switched to the brand with more D, and the problem went away (well, lessened) again. There is actual scientific evidence that low vitamin D can contribute to seizure activity.

Good luck!

 

[jemsister]

The neuro I had back in Idaho put me on calcium as part of my treatment. He said it's important for people with epilepsy to take it. I forget why--something about a calming effect on the brain or something? Anyway, I don't absorb things very well (one reason I take such high doses), so I'm not sure I got much out of it. But I've never been told *not* to take it for epilepsy related reasons. What reason did your doctor give other than the idea that it was worsening the seizures? Was it just a circumstantial deduction, or did they cite a study or something...?

When you say new pills, you mean a new treatment? What were/are you taking?

I still take calcium +D, because of the neuro recommendation, and also for bone health, since I have several risk factors for osteoporosis. Did they think it was the calcium specifically, or the additives? I have heard, but don't know for sure, that additives can sometimes increase seizure activity. If this is the case, maybe you could work on getting more calcium through diet instead?

 

[Fscene8]

The neuro I had back in Idaho put me on calcium as part of my treatment. He said it's important for people with epilepsy to take it. I forget why--something about a calming effect on the brain or something? Anyway, I don't absorb things very well (one reason I take such high doses), so I'm not sure I got much out of it. But I've never been told *not* to take it for epilepsy related reasons. What reason did your doctor give other than the idea that it was worsening the seizures? Was it just a circumstantial deduction, or did they cite a study or something...?

When you say new pills, you mean a new treatment? What were/are you taking?

I still take calcium +D, because of the neuro recommendation, and also for bone health, since I have several risk factors for osteoporosis. Did they think it was the calcium specifically, or the additives? I have heard, but don't know for sure, that additives can sometimes increase seizure activity. If this is the case, maybe you could work on getting more calcium through diet instead?

My neurologist said Calcium was bad because it takes all the stuff out of the body?? I can't remember exactly what she said but I know it's something like that. Maybe I should've taken it together with Vitamin D?
The first treatment I had were Depakine (200 mg daily I think) . Year after, I insisted to change them since it kept opening my appetite. Then neurologist said to take Lamictal (200mg daily). Everything was fine with it until the last summer when I got seizure twice in short period of time. Then she changed it to Topamax which ruined my memory. Later I told her about it but she refused to change it.
Turned 18, changed neurologist, I told him about memory problem, he changed it back to Lamictal but my memory is still awful. That sucks, I'm college student now and I failed 3 subjects out of 5.
I feel like a guinea pig, lol.

 

[Fscene8]

Hi Fscene8,

Calcium sometimes passes through the body without being absorbed unless you take it with food. Vitamin D also helps with absorption. But, talk to your neuro and/or pharmacist about your new meds and calcium. Maybe there's some problem with drug interaction.

I'm on Keppra and take several calcium with vit D tablets a day. The vitamin D helps with my myoclonic jerks while I'm trying to sleep. I thought it was the calcium at first (I was taking it for preventative bone health) because after starting it I had fewer problems, but when I tried another brand with more calcium and less vit D and the problem came back. Switched to the brand with more D, and the problem went away (well, lessened) again. There is actual scientific evidence that low vitamin D can contribute to seizure activity.

Good luck!

Does Keppra have anything bad to do with your memory?
I changed 3 medications so far: Depakine, Lamictal and Topamax.
Topamax is death to a person who goes to school, college or something like that. I'm back to Lamictal now and it still takes me hours to remember 1 page (not to mention I forget it again a bit later).
Is it necessary to take Vitamin D along with Calcium?

 

[MaryK]

Some AED lower the levels of Vitamin D in your body and depending on your exposure to the sun you may not get enough vitamin D anyway.

I have never heard that calcium is contraindicated in epilepsy.

I take extra calcium with D and also with magnesium. Magnesium can be soothing for the nerves and some feel magnesium helps your body to a better job of absorbing the calcium.

I agree with Jemeister about maybe getting your calcium through diet rather that tablet.
You might consider seeing another neurologist about this too. Some vitamins that are good for some with epilepsy are not good for others depending on the AED you are on.
For instance extra vitamin B6 can generally be helpful to some with epilepsy, but I take phenobarbital and B6 causes a DECREASE in my phenobarbital level which could cause break-through seizures (found this out the hard way)

We have a few people on the board who are pretty much experts on vitamins/supplements (I am not one of them) and how they affect seizures. I hope one of them sees your question.

Take care.

 

[jyearta]

calicum - over the counter has always caused to have seizures.

It is important, so I get my compounded.

 

[Fscene8]

calicum - over the counter has always caused to have seizures.

It is important, so I get my compounded.

I don't get it. You mean Calcium basically known as cause of seizures?
And how do you mean, you get it compounded?

 

[DayDreamer]

Every body and brain is different. If you can find a specific cause for you seizures and control them, Hooray!!!
Vitamin D is good for helping bodies to absorb calcium. I was told by my neurologist that vitamin D was better to take than calcium as it would help my body to absorb the calcium availalable in my diet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin-D
calcium can be a trigger for seizures in excessive amounts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilepsy

 

[jyearta]

I don't get it. You mean Calcium basically known as cause of seizures?
And how do you mean, you get it compounded?[

I have seizures if I take Vit. B6, B12, Folic acid, Vit. D along with calcium.

I found out about compounding Pharm. on this forum.

I ask my Dr. to. write presc. to be compounded and I had to find a compounding Pharmacy in my area.

 

[KarenB]

If you took calcium and your meds together for years without problems, then it's doubtful that your calcium supplements caused the seizures.

Jon's doctor just put him on calcium a couple weeks ago, and we actually saw a small reduction in seizures. It's hard for him to get enough calcium because he's on the Ketogenic diet for seizures.

You're right that Topamax can cause memory problems -- especially with verbal memory (remembering words). Our son actually lost about 90% of speech when he was on a high dose of Topamax (no problem when he was on a lower dose for years). And he has NOT regained the lost speech.

Your breakthrough seizures may be due to the stress of being in college, maybe not getting enough sleep, etc. You might find it helpful to take magnesium (and calcium) before going to bed. This will help you sleep, and also help with stress.

It's tough being in college and having to take seizure meds, because so many of them affect cognition. You might want to try dietary approaches -- such as eliminating gluten (wheat) and sugar -- see what happens (it should also sharpen your memory). Might also want to think about the Ketogenic diet -- usually used with children, but it could work for you if you're disciplined enough. Fish oil may help your memory, and also may help the seizures as well. Also, you should be taking a vitamin supplement with a good amount of B6.

 

[travel bug]

Does Keppra have anything bad to do with your memory?

It looks like you got some good info on calcium and D, so I'll just focus on the Keppra part of your question. I don't have a big problem with memory, though it's not what it should be; I have more of an issue with concentration/focus as well as fatigue. How much of the above is caused by Keppra, and how much is caused by underlying/connected problems - I don't know. :dontknow:

I've been trying to re-learn Spanish, and if I am able to settle down and focus, I can remember things without too much trouble. But I'm doing this to try to keep my brain from shriveling up and blowing away I'm not taking multiple classes, and I don't have the pressure of writing essays and taking tests like you have.

I sure hope that you can find something that controls your seizures without the crappy side effects. Good luck with school!