Table of Contents
There are some side effects that are common to all anticonvulsants. Some of these also can be applied to mood stabilizers of other classes.
Lethargy and photosensitivity
Anticonvulsants may lead to lethargy and photosensitivity; if you want to sleep more, you simply must avoid prolonged exposure to strong sunlight, This side effect is practically unavoidable since it’s due to the specific nature of anticonvulsants. These drugs are made to slow down the brain’s impulse to fight mania or prevent seizures to happen; but in doing so, they also wind up slowing down the patient’s metabolism.
Weight gain
A number of patients have reported weight gain on these drugs, but only with four of the FDA-approved mood stabilizers: Lithium®, Depakote®, Seroquel® (quetiapine) , and Zyprexa® (olanzapine).
Impact on memory and cognitive processes
Most anticonvulsants will impact a patient’s memory and cognitive processes, but only at first. After a while, this side effect simply stops. This has been reported by a great majority of patients.
Changes in dreaming patterns
There is no exact rule about the extent of possible changes, but a patient’s dreams do change in some ways. Some report positive changes, and some experience nightmares.
Hormonal changes
Almost all anticonvulsants mess around with our hormones, both female and male. Women can expect menstrual cycles to be disrupted, for example. If a patient is taking birth control pills, she must discuss the interaction of these medications with a specialist. Anticonvulsants such as Tegretol® (carbamazepine USP) and valproates are believed to interfere with a normal metabolism of testosterone.
Interactions with Dietary Supplements
Biotin
Several controlled studies have shown that anticonvulsant treatment decreases blood levels of a vitamin called biotin. This can leave a great impact, especially on children; it can cause withdrawn behavior and a delay in mental development. Adults experience a loss of appetite, feelings of discomfort or uneasiness, mental depression, or hallucinations.
Calcium
Patients who are on long-term multiple anticonvulsant therapy may develop a condition called hypocalcaemia, characterized by below-normal blood levels of calcium.
Vitamin A
Anticonvulsant drugs can occasionally cause birth defects when taken by pregnant women, possibly due to low blood levels of vitamin A.
Vitamin B6
Anticonvulsive medications may also cause reduced blood levels of vitamin B6. This condition has been associated with atherosclerosis and some other symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and mental depression.
Vitamin B12
Some anticonvulsants can even cause anemia. Such effects might be associated with a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin K
Babies born to women taking anticonvulsant drugs tend to have low blood levels of vitamin K. This vitamin is important in blood clotting, so the main symptom is usually the infant’s bleeding.