Diet and med side effects

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Music36

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I lowered my sugar intake a couple of days ago and I am eating a high fiber diet. I am also eating less. I don't know if it's a coincidence or related, but I'm getting drugged out from my anti-seizure meds. I have changed to a healthier diet b/c I want to lose weight, but I can't function drugged out. It's always been important that I have enough food in my stomach when I take my meds and whenever I get hungry else I get drugged out and/or sick. What do you guys think? Any ideas?
 
I lowered my sugar intake a couple of days ago and I am eating a high fiber diet. I am also eating less. I don't know if it's a coincidence or related, but I'm getting drugged out from my anti-seizure meds. I have changed to a healthier diet b/c I want to lose weight, but I can't function drugged out. It's always been important that I have enough food in my stomach when I take my meds and whenever I get hungry else I get drugged out and/or sick. What do you guys think? Any ideas?

I would wonder if you are not "drugged out" but instead feeling the effects of hypoglycemia (excessively low blood sugar). This wouldn't necessarily happen with less sugar in your diet, but from not eating enough food in general.

My suggestions and opinions: make sure you are not depriving yourself of carbohydrates, as this is what the body uses for an immediate form of energy. If your intention is to cut back on carbs with your diet, do it very gradually so your body can adapt. Determine what your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is and don't cut your calorie intake below this level. There are various online formulas to determine what your BMR is. Everyone wants to lose weight quickly, but don't get caught up in the "quick loss" diet plans. For many people, especially those with chronic health problems and for those on medication, they are not safe or effective over the long term.
 
masterjen,

Thank you for the info. I'm not depriving myself. I'm eating. I'm just eating healthier food and not overeating. Also, high fiber/low sugar food fills us up faster and keeps us full longer. For example, I am eating a cereal that is high in fiber and has no sugar so I eat smaller portions. Maybe I should be more specific about the "drugged out" state. It was like I was stoned, yesterday. I get this effect even when I do eat more and have a higher sugar intake. But, the fact that I again today was feeling effects from my meds had me concerned. Today, I was feeling kind of out of it earlier in the day.
 
What about asking dietician.The medical people are changing minds about fibre being panacea for things as other said maybe you need something sweet
 
Hi Music36,

I never had that problem with having an empty stomach and my meds. My wife does, but not me. I guess everyone is effected differently with their meds and a full or empty stomach.
 
seagull,

I, definitely, need to cut my sugar intake. I've been a chocoholic and a sugar addict for a long time and I'm trying to change my diet. I had replaced cigarettes with sweets when I quit smoking cold turkey almost 12 years ago. In recent years, it's gotten worse. I have not touched a cigarette since I quit and I smoked for 22 years. I smoked Marlboro Reds. I had chronic bronchitis for a long time that just kept getting worse. One night, I walked up the stairs and I could not breathe. It scared the hell out of me. I quit the next day by sucking blow pops which in retrospect was not a good idea. It was one of the most difficult things I ever did. Now, I need to overcome my sugar addiction.
 
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JJR1956,

You're lucky. I wish I was like you. I can get very sick and/or drugged out if I don't have enough food in me. I told the nurses not to give me my meds when I was in labor with my daughter many years ago b/c women can't eat when they're in labor. But, they didn't listen to me and I threw up the meds. They tried it again and I threw up again. They were determined, so they gave me a shot of a different anti-seizure med instead of me swallowing the pills. But, I still had several complex partial seizures while I was in labor. It was a very difficult and stressful labor. My labor lasted 36 hours.
 
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Hi Music36,
I found being on the ketogenic diet for a short time did wonders for me I not only lost 70 lbs. in 4 months my seizures decreased greatly. I had to cut back on the carbs and starch foods and eat foods high in fat, I was told to eat 4 grams of fat for every 1 gram of protein and it did me wonders.
I know when I was on Tegretol and Depakene I had to eat food before I took my med or ended up sick, also while on Depakene I learned to never take it with anything that had caffeine in it or I would be flying high. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue
 
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