Cancer drugs/Epilepsy meds
 

How can we put up with all these side effects: Zonegran & Armidex???????

My (may as well be) MIL works at a center which focus's on cancer treatment and treatment of many other conditions but in a more homeopathic approach. If you'd feel comfy posting a bit more I can ask her directly what she thinks. I'd post her information, but right now I am not comfortable with that. I'd be happy to PM it, if you'd like.

Partials
 

On zonegran by itself, I can control by seizures with diet. With the arimidex, everything goes out of control with partials and a tonic clonic. It is the 2nd time I have started the arimidex + I am nauseated all the time and have all the symptoms again of zonegran. I hope this makes sense and this is usefull for others. Thank you

Hey :) I just want to clarify because I'd feel awful to relay the wrong message.

Taking Zonegran alone with assistance of a diet (Ketogenic?) your seizures are controlled. However, when you take Arimidex in combination with the Zonegran AND diet, your seizures return and are worse?

If you could, let me know a)the dosage you're taking along with b)which diet and c)if you continue the diet and take zonegran while on arimidex or stop the diet and take zonegran while on arimidex or continue the diet and only take arimidex.

Hope that wasn't confusing, I confused myself. :)

Do they have you on any supplements or immunotherapy of sorts while on arimidex (or anything)?

Zonegran by itself
 

Zonegran by itself 200mgx2 with a gluten free diet has cut all seizure activity.

Zonegran with arimidex and gluten free diet and UGH.......................

Absences, partials, auras, gms. I was thinking it was lack of hormones.

Do your doctors work together with your meds? If so, have they said anything or tried any changes? I'd think for the time being you should get some lab work done (including horomones, vitamins, and cbc, etc).

She's out of town on some self healing seminar dohickey of sorts, but his uncle is an oncologist so I'll see if he's around and ask if he's heard of these two and/or the diet combined causing problems.

Give me a bit, I take my dog to the vet today to see if she gets to keep her pretty little eye. :(

Arimidex
 

is an aromatase inhibitor. Not much is understood about this class of drugs.

While this study does not address Zonegran...it does address the issue, that little is understood about this class of drugs.

http://erc.endocrinology-journals.or...nt/6/2/181.pdf

Liver-wise... Arimidex inhibits an enzyme in the liver...which MAY affect (raise)
Zonegran levels...however, you are seeing the reverse.. a potential LOWERING of levels. http://www.cancercare.on.ca/pdfdrugs/Anastrozole.pdf
So this is confusing.
I suspect this is where the problem lies. Only the liver enzyme systems are extremely complex. You could call the company and ask them!
There is a survey for side effects from Arimidex...
http://www.bcaction.org/Pages/TakeAc...tionnaire.html

I can't see how the gluten free diet would affect Arimidex. The estrogen connection is interesting...did you have seizures connected to your periods, before? That might be a clue of sorts. The Arimidex is a huge unknown, and
many years are typical in the realm of side effects. Many don't get reported, and it takes a LONG time to understand actions of a new drug. Especially this one which is a whole NEW CLASS of drug besides!

There you are! :)

The first thing asked of me was when your last liver function test was done, and how frequently they are testing. [Which I assume to be related to the comment above]

She's still not back, so I had to go to my rebounds. Most fancy the medications and methods she uses which many she makes (shes been published and all of that jazz). In most cases, she avoids usage of anything that will damage the body but when cancer or anything similar is involved, it's hard to do.

The second question was if your providers are communicating in regards to your medications and treatments.

They seemed to be very adamant about you addressing this as soon as possible, and I do agree. They also stated anything in relation to the diet is doubtful but not certain (I figured I'd ask to be safe). It seems to boil down to a possibility of you having toxic levels of Zonegran or something related to your horomones. Whatever the case, you should demand something be done to keep yourself safe.

For the time being, I'd try to stay in safe places (not alone) and keep your stress level as low as possible. Also avoiding any other potential triggers until you get to a doctor.

Please please please keep us updated!

*Hugs*

Ellie

Catemenial seizures
 

It is most strange, but my problems have been at the 4th week marque of when my period should have been. Thanks for your help.

Well, in a way - while it may appear strange to us, it is certainly not unheard of. This will probably come out sounding funky, but to an extent being a woman can trigger a seizure (lol). I've heard and read plenty about seizures starting or even stopping when young women first start their cycle. Furthermore, I've heard of seizure frequency which is normally the day(s) before or during the cycle (this happens to me).

I've also heard of the frequency rising or lowering while pregnant. Mine were more frequent when I was pregnant, I didn't keep track - but I wouldn't be shocked if my seizures came around the same time my period should have.

The more I read, the more some of my more powerful seizures seem to make sense. I can't recall if I had originally posted it here or on the womens area part of the website, but I recall when I had finally did the 1+1=2 thing. I wrote down the days I was having my worst episodes and it was the day before my cycle began - 9 out of 10 times.

I think checking your levels (zonegran)/liver function along with some horomone testing (I have no clue what they do for that, by the way - nor do I know the name of any tests) would be beneficial for you. Hopefully, it will bring some answers and alternate methods of treatment to the table.

*hugs*

Ellie