Anyone wanna educate me on this??

How can AED's cause bone loss???I've wondered about this for about a year..does this apply to all AED meds??

I had no clue about this, so now I am curious! Send in the gurus!!

Oh Boy another side effect.

My big shocker was the effect that Neurontin had on my lungs. I stopped taking it last year and haven't had bronchitis or pneumonia since!

nutrient depletions over time.

Not all have been studied (some of the newer ones)...but
Tegretol for example depletes,
folic acid
Vit D
Calcium
biotin

Phenytoin (Dilantin)
The above 4
plus
Vit B1 (thiamine)
Vit B12
Vit K as well.

Folate in particular seems antagonistic to the seizure control the drugs provide..so physician supervision should be had for adding folic acid in particular with AEDs.
Some physicians will generalize with the newer agents, but that is just
an extension of concern without evidence.

Vitamin D is getting alot of attention in the past year or so... take a look
at our Vitamin/Mineral forum for links on information.

All seizure patients should have a bone density scan and repeat it once a year or so if on meds, just to be sure.

Many many drugs for other uses, also affect nutritional status. If you visit our forum here, you can post to me other drugs, and I will look that up for you.
Or in PM if your prefer privacy.

Hi,

I have had epilepsy since the age of 4 or so and am now about 45. I have taken, like most, several drugs over that period to try and control my seizures. Finally had surgery in April of last year and haven't had a seizure since. However, to answer your question, Tegretol over the long term will eventually affect bone density. I have taken it for almost twenty years and began to notice issues in about 2003. Almost immediately began a supplement of calcium+D(600mg twice a day). Been a couple of years and my last dexa scan showed that I have turned the corner and am no longer progressing towards osteoporosis. I had reached levels that indicated osteopenia and will continue to take the supplement. I would think that certainly any woman should take this precaution, as they get older and any man, as the case may warrant. Not sure about every other AED, but I think I have read that many have the tendancy to have an affect on bone density. You should ask you neurologist, family doctor, or pharmacist, as well. Best of luck and God Bless ...

Barry

Barry I have osteoparosis ((sp?)). I can not stand straight up, it is not only painful, but it keeps all the other things in a flare big time. People tell me to stand straight, its no wonder I hurt!! well DUH!! No kidding.

yes, it is painful Barry. I hope your stay here will be a long one, am so glad you came in. WELCOME TO BT2!! regards, Jo

I took Dilantin for just a year or two and it caused fairly severe osteoporosis . It was the first AED I took and I was 46.

In addition to the commonly known side effects of all long-term-use of Dilantin(diphenylhydantoin), are First, loss of calcium and secondly, shrinkage of a vital part of your brain. The loss of bone density is due to Dilantin's blockage of your body's iability to use Vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium. If you must take Dilantin, be certain to take any calcium + D (cholcalciform) 2 hours before or 2 hours after your medicin. Never take them at the same time as you take the medicine. The shrinkage of your brain, known of as atrophy of the cerebellum,causes balance problems. (The cerebellum fine-tunes reflexes). This damage shows up on an MRI . Often , if the MRI is too late, no one attends to these symptoms in time so the damage becomes permanent. The balance problems can lead to falls, and bones break more easily because of low bone density issue. These problems have been reported in people who've taken Dilantin for twenty or fewer years..though in many cases, if Dilantin is taken for thirty or so years, the balance problems may be temporary.
There have been studies showing that taking Dilantin for even short periods of time causes osteoporosis.


Linnie
Atlanta, GA

Hi,
I've been taking mysoline for 34 yrs. and it has caused bone loss for me. I fractured my ankle and I have degenerative disc disease in my lower back. I've been taking calcium with vitamin D 1000 mg. every day and it has helped me. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Thanks for your responses everyone,I'm so young to be dealing with this,so..it's new territory for me.