Brief Answer:
The HCG diet is ill advised for anybody and especially in EPILEPSY

Detailed Answer:
Good evening and thank you for your question.

The HCG diet is so called since it involves the use of HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN which is a type of human growth hormone. However, despite the claims of the use of only "homeopathic" quantities of this hormone in the form of a diet pill sold over the counter, it is NOT considered to be "safe" nor is it considered effective for the purposes of weight loss. Studies that make these claims do not follow the usual and rigorous standards required of scientific analyses which are considered the yardstick method in order to judge if a treatment is deemed reliable, safe, and effective.

In fact, the FDA has even taken a position on the OTC drug (unusual for the FDA since it mainly oversees and reviews prescription drugs for these purposes). However, because this OTC preparation does involve the use of HCG which has been controversial in its use over the past several years, the FDA has felt compelled to opine on products that are not directly controlled by the agency in order to warn consumers as well as doctors alike.

One of the worst parts of the HCG diet for epileptics is the severe CALORIE RESTRICTION. A person with epilepsy is ABSOLUTELY COUNSELED and EDUCATED (at least in my practice) to eat REGULAR MEALS in terms of timing, quantity, and quality. In other words, skipping meals, drastically reducing calories in the interest of weight loss and producing metabolites called KETONE BODIES which can raise the chance of suboptimal performance of the brain, is a recipe for poor outcomes when trying to control seizures.

It has also been shown that when patients severely restrict diets and go on weight loss plans that essentially promote abstinence of food in general that another important body element is also restricted...though not as consciously, and that is WATER. This leads to DEHYDRATION and this is a serious risk factor that can trigger breakthrough seizures as making anticonvulsant medications more INEFFECTIVE as they try and control a person's seizure threshold.

Therefore, I would NOT RECOMMEND the HCG diet under any circumstance as either: 1. An EFFECTIVE weight loss plan or option

Nor: 2. Implemented by any person who is diagnosed with the condition of epilepsy or seizure/convulsive disorder

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This query has utilized a total of 20 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.

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