We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
from Part IV - Health challenges for women with epilepsy
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 November 2009
Women are at greater risk for osteoporosis than men. For some years, physicians have been concerned that women with epilepsy are at particular risk for this condition, which is associated with bone fractures. Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) may be caused by some antiepileptic drugs. Unfortunately, the available scientific information cannot tell health-care providers which medications cause bone disease and which of the drugs may be safer to use.
Dr Robert Marcus is a bone specialist who is an expert in bone health in women with epilepsy. He is a former Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at Stanford University. We have collaborated in a study evaluating bone density and bone turnover in women with epilepsy. This study, when it is complete, promises to provide helpful information about the effect of particular antiepileptic drugs on bone.
In the meantime, we recommend that all women with epilepsy employ good bone health practices; that is, regular, gravity-resisting exercise, good nutrition, and adequate calcium and vitamin D intake. Women with epilepsy should also have their bone density checked at least at menopause, if not earlier. More bone health recommendations will come out of the research being conducted.
MJMSome people with epilepsy have an increased risk for a condition of the skeleton called osteoporosis. The purpose of this chapter is to clarify the nature of this relationship, to outline its possible causes, and to discuss current approaches to treatment.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
