Dear Gaross and list,
The article was written by a journalist, not a specialist.
Here are the Clarifications you requested and marked  by ****:

1. "Normal medications" are the AED brand names frequently discussed here in
this group.

2. "Rare" means that in all the different types of epilepsy that occur in
children, Pyridoxine-dependency (PD) is rare. If not diagnosed and treated
properly [with either pyridoxine-hydrochlorid or pyridoxal phosphate ], these
children must die very young sometimes as newborns or infants, or they
inevitably become children of special needs in various fields and degrees, such
as cognitive and sensory and motor and behavioral skills. ONLY
pyridoxine-hydrochlorid or pyridoxal phosphate (two forms of B6)  can save them
from such a fate, not because they lack B6 in their nutrition, but they CANNOT
METABOLIZE B6 from their nutrition. It is inborn.  But if they ARE diagnosed
properly and if they DO get the B6, they are as bright and promising as any
other little child. The word Dependency is used here in a medical sense, and
refers to the process of metabolism of neurotransmitters where  B6 is required.
"Dependency" is not used in a psychological sense here.
Pyridoxine dependency is one of the rare metabolism diseases(, just like
phenylketonuria PKU. Same thing there: right diagnosis and treatment, no
disablement).

3. Yes, pyridoxine dependency is genetic, it is inborn.

4. Gaross,  
a) the first post was not by me, but a complete quote of an article with a link
to its source.  
The second post was a comment and further info by me, as is this one.
b) I do not see where you took the reading from that one should avoid B6. Is it
that you took "dependency" for something bad, as expressed in the psychological
sense of "dependency"? If so you misunderstood the use of the word dependency
here. please see above it is explained in number 2. : "dependency" in
"Pyridoxine dependency" is a MEDICAL term. It is often the case that different
sciences use the same vocabulary, but the word means entirely different things
in a different entourage. Misunderstandings will linger on until the terms are
clarified.

5. Now, pyridoxine dependency is rare, but pyridoxine sensitivity IS NOT RARE,
IT IS A WEAKER FORM OF pyridoxine dependency. It also affects the metabolism of
neurotransmitters. While PD children mostly need their dosage as injection, in
cases of emergency even as intravenous injection, those with the weaker form
can take tablets.  
Now, if people are pyridoxine sensitive (onset of epilepsy is much later in
life) i. e. they have a weaker form of this metabolic disorder which will give
them seizures, imagine what happens, if they DO have seizures, go to the
doctor's and get a wrong diagnosis (metabolic disorder goes undiagnosed!!!) and
on top of being misdiagnosed,  the AEDs they are given will deplete them of B6!
that will worsen their condition, chronify their condition, and I do not need
to tell you what else in daily life.

So my second posting refers to this weaker form.

Result: we have the possibilities: someone with seizures is
a) pyridoxine dependent i. e. has a heredetary metabolic disorder (desasterous
if misdiagnosed)
b) pyridoxine sensitive or responsive (as a synonym) i. e. weaker form of
metabolic disorder (very detrimental if misdiagnosed, becomes chronically ill )
c) pyridoxine depleted by malnutrition (seizure frequency and other symptoms of
the central nerve system rise)
d) pyridoxine depleted by AEDs (meds don't work well, they might even cause
seizures  and other symptoms of the central nerve system rise)
e) pyridoxine depleted by AEDs plus malnutrition (add c) plus d) and suffer
chronic illness)

Even people without seizures who are depleted of B6 have bad symptoms as
depression, sleeplessness, irritability, headaches, migraines, incontinence
etc.

If you don't take Dilantin at the moment (Dilantin and B6 interfere with each
other), I want to encourage you to try, if you are depleted of B6. And do not
let your MD talk you out of it.

I am not very often reading and writing on the board, so
anyone with further questions may contact me offlist
email   webpostbox1@aol.com
subject line: alt.epilepsy.support
other subject lines will be kicked off the server.

Best to you, Gaross and all,
Katharina