Natural Suppliments and Dilantin?

Question

First of all, I take Dilantin (100mg three times a day) and am having some horrid panic issues... I feel panicky all day everyday and the medicine the doctor gave me scares me (buspar, the side effects freak me out) so I went to WalMart and bought two things. 1. Natrol 5-HTP and Valerian root.

My questions are, do those two things have any side effects? Has anyone been hurt by taking it? And, will either one of those interact badly with Dilantin? Oh, and has anyone used them for panic disorder?
I called the doctor and he said he didn't know and that anything sold over-the-counter isnt very strong...

Answer 1

First off, if you are taking dilantin for a seizure disorder you must be very very careful about any medicines you take...prescription or over-the-counter.

Many homeopathic medicines can increase your seizure threshhold. Some forms of seizure can give you a feeling of anxiety or motor restlessness (not all seizures include falling down and being unconscious) which could be the source of your panic issues, or possibly a contributor. If you haven't run your syptoms past a neurologist it would be a good idea to do so. There is a lot of cross training between psychiatry and neurology but in my experience psychiatrists know very little about seizure disorders.

I am not familiar with how buspar effects seizure threshholds, although I know that a similar drug, wellbutrin, is a no-no for people with seizure disorders.

I have never heard of Natrol or Valerian root being effective for panic issues. I have been working in the psychiatric field for 30 years and know that people with panic disorders try all kinds of stuff. I'm pretty sure that if it had worked for someone I would have heard by now. No doctor I know recommends it. Research shows that most effective course of treatment includes an antidepressant medication and cognitive behavioral therapy.

If you are interested to learn more about how seizure symptoms can mimic psychiatric symptoms you might be interested in reading a book called Seized by Eve La Plante http://www.amazon.com/Seized-Eve-LaPlante/dp/0595094317/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4994760-6596750?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186922714&sr=8-1

My neurologist doesn't agree with everything in there, but you will learn some very interesting stuff that you can take back to your neurologist and psychiatrist to become more actively involved in your care.

(By the way there is a PDR - Physician's Desk Reference- for Nonprescription Drugs and Dietary Suppliments and it's a good bet that your pharmacist will have a copy of it..it should be able to help in determining answers your specific questions regarding these suppliments. Although I've seen it before I don't currently have access to one.)

Answer 2

Buspar works well and w/o side effects for many. Bottom line is that all meds have side effects. The question is whether you get them.

I know people who have taken 5-HTP and valerian root without problem. Efficacy wasn't all that great. They weren't on Dilantin, either.

A problem with supplements is that they are unregulated and you never can be sure that you are getting the same quality/strength/etc each time. Not advocating for or against!

Here's a med interaction check website. Not sure if it includes supplements.
https://www.aidsmeds.com/cmm/

Answer 3

Ok, here's the thing. Using holistic medicine can be very effective and can help you with panic disorders, but there are many things you need to know. I would recommend visiting with a holistic doctor who can tell you what to take, how much, what brand and where to find it. Failing that, I have found Dr. Linda Page's books on holistic nutrition to be very helpful. Dr Andrew Weil is also very learned on the subject of integrative medicine as well. There are also changes to your diet and excercise that can be very helpful for mental function that you should probably know about. I know that very few western doctors that I have ever visited had a clue about nutrition or holistic medicine so you have to find help away from your doctor. Also, any holistic treatment you decide to pursue will take longer to be effective than the "magic bullet" medication of western medicine. I hope you find all you need to make yourself well.