Vitamin B12 and Dilantin

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NaderH

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Is it important to take vitamin B12 supplements while on dilantin? According to what I have read, vitamin B12 absorption is affected by it.
 
Phenytoin (Dilantin®), phenobarbital, and primidone (Mysoline®) anticonvulsants have been associated with reduced vitamin B12 absorption and reduced serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels in some patients. This may contribute to the megaloblastic anemia, primarily caused by folate deficiency, associated with these drugs. It has also been suggested that reduced vitamin B12 levels may contribute to the neuropsychiatric side effects of these drugs. Patients should be encouraged to maintain adequate dietary vitamin B12 intake. Folate and vitamin B12 status should be checked if symptoms of anemia develop.
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http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-vitaminb12.html
 
It's also good to take calcium /vitamin D supplement with Dilantin as it tends to drain those out of the body (and potentially lead to osteoporosis).
 
I will

say that I wish I had known about the B12 issue when I was on Dilantin the lasst time...it probably would have helped some issues......
 
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