Phenytoin belongs to a class of medications called anticonvulsants. Anticonvulsants are typically used for the treatment of epilepsy and other diseases that cause seizures. Anticonvulsants block abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which...
Folic acid, also known as vitamin B-9, is an important water-soluble vitamin found in green leafy vegetables and fortified foods. Phenytoin is a medicine given for the management and prevention of seizure disorders. It is important to consult with...
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, your health care provider might ask you to have blood tests often referred to in aggregate as liver function tests, or LFTs. Normally, liver enzymes or proteins are only present in your...
Vitamin B-12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays a large role in cell growth and replication and fatty acid synthesis. This vitamin aids in both the functioning of the nervous system and the formation of red blood cells. Thus, health...
As with many vitamins, vitamin D absorption and the way the body uses it can be affected by certain types of prescription medications. Anti-convulsants, or anti-seizure medications, can reduce your vitamin D level and lead to vitamin D deficiency....
Anticonvulsant medications help prevent or reduce the severity of the seizures associated with epilepsy. Taking these medications can help control your brain signaling, providing a safeguard against the uncontrolled signaling that occurs over the...
Epilepsy refers to a group of disorders characterized by seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain that temporarily disrupts the brain's normal functioning. The frequency and severity and particular symptoms of epileptic seizures...
Ambien, the brand of zolpidem, is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of insomnia on a short-term basis. It belongs to the class of medications called the nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics. Ambien is able to reduce the amount of time...
Magnesium and calcium both help keep your muscles functioning properly and help your body form strong teeth and bones. Dietary sources of magnesium include leafy green vegetables, nuts and legumes, while calcium is available from dairy products,...
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin synthesized in skin and then activated in liver and kidneys. It plays a very important role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Together with calcium and phosphorus, it is required by the body to maintain...
Ancient Greeks, Chinese and many other ancient peoples including Americian Indians, used willow bark for pain and inflammation, usually in the form of tea made from the bark of the salix or willow tree. The active ingredient is called salicin and...
Individuals with back pain, headaches and arthritis have been using white willow bark to find relief since 400 B.C., according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A cousin to aspirin, white willow bark is still used today in herbal...
Biotin Forte is a dietary supplement that purportedly helps you metabolize fats and proteins as well as convert carbohydrates into energy, Integrative Therapeutics reports. Biotin Forte contains 5 mg of biotin, 100 mg of vitamin C, 10 mg each of...
If you are like many people, you may use nutritional supplements to help improve your health. As with many conventional medications, not all dietary supplements can be taken together. In addition, not all dietary supplements work the way you...
Beriberi is a condition that first appeared in Asia in the mid-1800s. There are two types of beriberi: wet and dry. Wet beriberi may cause welling of the tissues of your lower legs, breathing difficulties and rapid heart rate. Dry beriberi may...
Acne and blackheads on the chest and back can occur when the skin's oil glands produce too much sebum, which is a fatty lubricant. This excess oil clogs the pores, accumulating dirt and bacteria, leading to skin lesions, or pimples. Acne usually...
Everyone needs adequate amounts of calcium to maintain healthy teeth and bones. Besides this, you also need this mineral for proper muscular contraction, ensuring normal enzyme function and blood clotting, and maintaining a regular heart rate. If...
High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, is common in individuals with diabetes but can manifest itself in nondiabetics. Symptoms of high blood sugar include increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, slow healing wounds and dry skin....
L-carnitine is an amino acid, or a chemical building block of protein. Nutritionists generally regard this supplement as "conditionally essential," meaning that the human body produces adequate amounts of it but may experience deficiencies in...
White willow bark has been used as a medicinal herbal remedy for thousands of years. White willow bark has the same properties and chemicals as aspirin, so its common uses are for relieving pain, fevers and inflammation. Therefore, you should take...
According to the eHealthMD.com website, patients who suffer from seizures usually begin long-term treatment with anti-seizure medications after they have had two or three seizures. In most cases, the seizures respond to a single drug, and doctors...
Milk thistle has a long history of use for treating problems affecting the liver and for general liver protection. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center notes positive results in studies looking at the use of milk thistle for alcoholic liver...
