Some porphyrias affect the nervous system and a wide range of organs, while others affect skin, and others affect both nervous system and skin. Many symptoms seen in other neurological diseases are seen in porphyrias which affect the nervous system, such as Acute Intermittent Porphyria and Variegate Porphyria. The main presenting symptom, however, which may distinguish some porphyrias from other neuro illnesses, is gastric pain. Often the gastric pain cannot be diagnosed, and the person is written off as neurotic. Porphyria is often activated in a susceptible person by many drugs, including prescriptions drugs, such as many antibiotics, hormones, antidepressants, and pain killers. .
Sunlight can activate porphyria, especially in the skin-affected.
A severe porphyric attack can cause paralysis and inability to breathe well, so it is important to be diagnosed however difficult this may be. See the American Porphyria Foundation website for further information. There is a new suspected illness, Hereditary Biochemical MS, in which Multiple Sclerosis results from untreated porphyria in a genetically susceptible population. Go to the following link to view this message and answers to this messge.