Rocking4epilepsy-Vitamin D and Seizures
Hi Stacy,
This is my first email here! I just heard about this page from Brain Talk Communities. I had uncontrolled seizures for many years and have been seizure free without drugs, since 1998. It was a lot of trial and error but can be done. I have articles about seizures on my web page. My big focus these days is on vitamin D and seizures. Most people in this country are thought to be low on vitamin D--the sunshine vitamin.
I'm working on an article about it. Many seizure medications interfere with how the body handles vitamin D which can lead to many problems including lowering the seizure threshold. I have osteoporosis now, in part attributed to taking dilantin in the 1980s. Below is a little information that turned up in my searching which you may find of interest. How are you doing now? I see that you are in Texas. Which part? I lived in New Mexico a few years ago. Take care.
Zoe
1: Ann Pharmacother. 2004 Jun;38(6):1002-5. Epub 2004 Apr 14.
Loss of seizure control due to anticonvulsant-induced hypocalcemia.
Ali FE, Al-Bustan MA, Al-Busairi WA, Al-Mulla FA.
Medical Rehabilitation Center, PO Box 1240, Surra 45713, Kuwait.
fawzi@kma.org.kw
OBJECTIVE: To report a case of loss of seizure control due to hypocalcemia
resulting from long-term treatment with phenytoin and phenobarbital. CASE
SUMMARY: A 32-year-old mentally retarded man presented with a 12-month history
of loss of seizure control, after being seizure-free for 5 years on a fixed
regimen of phenobarbital and phenytoin. He had been institutionalized at the age
of 10 years and had received anticonvulsant drugs since he was diagnosed with
tonic-clonic epilepsy 20 years ago. On investigation, serum concentrations of
the anticonvulsant drugs were within the therapeutic range, indicating adequate
medication dosages. Serum biochemistry was consistent with vitamin D deficiency:
hypocalcemia, reduced 25-hydroxyvitamin D, increased alkaline phosphatase, and
increased parathormone. Seizure control was regained after serum calcium had
been normalized with administration of vitamin D and calcium. DISCUSSION:
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) cause vitamin D deficiency through induction of
hepatic microsomal enzymes that metabolize vitamin D. Institutionalized subjects
are more vulnerable because of the added factors of multidrug therapy, poor
diet, reduced exposure to sunlight, and physical inactivity. The resulting
hypocalcemia can cause reactive seizures, thus offsetting the anticonvulsant
action of the drugs. An objective causality assessment revealed that the adverse
reactions of both phenobarbital and phenytoin were probable. CONCLUSIONS:
Hypocalcemic seizures are uncommon and underdiagnosed complications of long-term
therapy with AEDs. Loss of seizure control in a patient stabilized on AEDs is an
indication to check the patient's calcium status. Proper treatment of this
complication is vitamin D and calcium supplementation. Prophylactic
supplementation with vitamin D is necessary in institutionalized patients
treated with AEDs.
Publication Types:
Case Reports
PMID: 15084684 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15084684