The Triggers
The strange thing about Porphyria, even the triggers are not what one would call "text book triggers". Everyone who has some form of Porphyria or another seem to have experienced many of the same triggers, however this is not always the case, some may have more severe reactions to some of the triggers and others may have additional triggers. We have found that by documenting these triggers this will help gain some understanding of the varying aspects of Poprhyria.
Attacks are often due to a combination of factors and not necessarily just one.
However, harmful drugs (such as barbiturates and sulfonamide antibiotics) and steroid hormones, especially progesterone, are also important. Some women develop attacks during the second half of the menstrual cycle, when progesterone levels are high.
Often an attack is due to a combination of factors rather than to a single one. For example, attacks in women are more likely to occur due to a dietary indiscretion when progesterone levels are high than at other times. A dietary indiscretion also increases the chances that a harmful drug or alcohol will produce an attack. Consideration of the additive effects of many inciting factors has important implications for management of acute Porphyrias. For example, attention should be given to diet and nutrition even in a patient with attacks that seem to be due primarily to a drug or a hormonal fluctuation.
For easy reference, we have included a downloadable document under the tab "Triggers - Downloadable list", you may find this very useful to keep on file.
Just a reminder that this information has been researched after extensive consultations with other patients and is based on patient experiences as well as factual information.
