B12/Folate/epilepsy/pregnancy (panned or not)

[reddwarf]

I listen to Inside Health on Radio 4 which has been a life safer as I got on the trail of B12 def from Martin's interview on it.

Last night they were talking about epilepsy drugs and how they cause increase risk of spina bifida (1-2% increased risk), they said all young epileptic women should take 5mg folate per day as 50% of pregnancies are unplanned!!!

I thought to myself this could mess up the detection of aneamia per the latest info on folate supplementation in foods.

As I am 5 it's not a worry but interesting!

[reddwarf]

Te he Andrea just noticed my typo made that really funny! Should read 58 but I suspect you realised that!

So that info is out there but how on earth do people get to the bottom of all of these drug interactions?? Frankly I never put anything in my mouth now without digging around but it's taken all of my 5 (opps 58 years) to develop my synicism!