Seizure medication better?

[Zonisamide]

Greetings, my name is Mike. I just found this group. Being diagnosed with seizures already and just now discovering celiac disease, but having all the symptoms since I was diagnosed with my first seizure.
 

Would seizure medication still be necessary if gluten free diet is followed? This may be a difficult question? Thanks. 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum community, @Zonisamide!

Any answer to your question would necessarily be conjecture at this point. We do know that neurological disorders are among the medical problems associated with celiac disease. But to say in any particular case that celiac disease is necessarily the cause of a person's neurological problems would be impossible without first withdrawing gluten from the diet for a significant period of time to see if there was improvement. Even so, it could be the case that irreversible neurological damage was done such that withdrawing gluten won't fix it.

So, you have been diagnosed with seizure disorder but have you been formally diagnosed with celiac disease? Please be aware that if you start a gluten free diet before getting properly tested for celiac disease you will invalidate any testing for celiac disease. You need to be eating significant amounts of gluten daily in order for the celiac antibody blood tests as well as the endoscopy with biopsy to be accurate. So, if you suspect you may have celiac disease, your next logical step is to get formerly tested. The fact that your seizure disorder diagnosis coincided with the onset of your celiac symptoms is likely coincidental. Most of us actually experience the onset of celiac disease far ahead of becoming aware of symptoms.

Edited May 7, 2024 by trents

[Scott Adams]

I agree with @trents, and although some people with celiac disease have reported that their seizures went away after going gluten-free, and they were able to eventually stop taking medications for them, it would not be advisable to stop any medications for seizures unless your doctor recommends it.

It would make sense to get a formal diagnosis for celiac disease before even considering such a move. 

The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.

 

In the meantime, here is a section where we've summarized research on celiac disease and epilepsy:

https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-amp-related-diseases-and-disorders/epilepsy-and-celiac-disease/