Dilantin Forums

Been on Dilantin since 1978. Last May my level was 17. Now came back at a whopping 29.6 which has worried me. Take 300mg day with an extra pill taken twice a week to avoid break through seizures. Hoping that if I stop the extra 2 pills that will be the only change needed. Anyone been taking Dilantin for this long and had issues with levels? ## Update: stopped the 2 extra pills and a week later, levels at 19.6 which is acceptable. ## I am very glad that lowering your dose has helped, as having levels that are too high can lead to side effects, such as unsteadiness, involuntary jerky movements, nystagmus, tremors, and seizures. Ref: Dilantin Overdose Information How are you feeling? Have you experienced any breakthrough seizures since stopping the extra doses? ## Go to Keppra very soon Di...

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I have used Dilantin for my seizures for years. My only side affect is swelling spots in my mouth that I have had to have removed. ## i have been taking dilantin 100mg capsules for years, the only side effects i had many years ago was the dizzy, loop feeling and double vision ## I'm glad that you are bot having good experiences with Dilantin. The FDA lists its other side effects as possibly including nausea, urinary retention, anemia, appetite disorder, tinnitus, and deafness. Ref: Medline Plus Dilantin Sherry, did they give you a name for the oral lesions you've been experiencing?

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Does anyone have experience of being treated with Dilantin for anxiety/depression/ADHD symptoms ? If so, could you advise me on dosage - Thanks ## Hope things have gotten better since you posted this. I have depression and anxiety as was adult ADD. I take patil. 10mg of Ativan as needed for the anxiety and to help me sleep when I can't calm my mind, and also Ritalin 10mg 2 times a day. The Ritalin being added really made a difference. I am not wanting to stay in bed. It has helped with my productivity and has helped me focus at work. I know this will not work for everyone but it sure did for me. ## I have taken Dilantin since I was 9 months old, then all kinds of drugs. Does anyone else have feedback after 10 years of Dilantin?

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My husband takes Dilantin & Losartan 50mg, but his Dr. recently put him on Metoprolol 25mg twice a day. Now he's feeling antsy at night (can't stay still)... The Dr. never said he was giving him anything... My husband's feet had some swelling. To me, there's too many side effects & a lack of communication from the Dr... Any info is helpful. Thanks. ## Has he been told to take the Metoprolol in addition to the other medications, or was he supposed to replace the Losartan with the Metoprolol? What levels has been showing on his blood pressure? The FDA does warn that Metoprolol can cause nervousness as a side effect, along with nausea, dizziness, headache, hypotension, and increased urination. Have you and your husband considered consulting a different doctor for an...

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My son's nurse accidentally gave him an extra dose of his Dilantin... What should I do? ## I took an extra dilantin (100mg) for 3 days, but I usually take 4 a day. Did I take too much? Can I stop taking it tomorrow? I'm scared. Will I be ok?

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I am suffering from R.Arthritis,i am 30 and mother of 4 yr old boy.I am on DILANTIN SINCE JAN 2006.IN 2008 I HAD A VERY SEVERE attack of R.A.i was on PREDMET-4 DAILY+1ml folitrax+16mg predmet weekly,now i takePREDMET 8+tab.FOLITRAX 20mg,both once a week.My ESR is 5 now& i feel occasional pain in my right hand only.How long should i continue this treatment?Is it safe to conceive after this medicine+Dilantin is over? Please help me.THANKS ## Folitrax contains the active ingredient Methotrexate. " Possible side effects can include anemia, neutropenia, increased risk of bruising, nausea and vomiting, dermatitis and diarrhea. A small percentage of patients develop hepatitis, and there is an increased risk of pulmonary fibrosis. The higher doses of methotrexate often used in cancer ch...

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My husband had heart surgery and while still under the influence of anesthesia, had a couple of seizures. No history prior and ct scan shows nothing to suggest that there is any damage and no sign of epilepsy. He is currently in rehab and being given 400mg of Dilantin and can't stay awake to do any therapy. He is not eating. Why would he be on such a large dose? ## It is normal to be prescribed a medication to try to prevent further seizures. The typical side effects are listed as possibly including nausea, dizziness, mood changes, and weight changes. How is he doing? Has there been any change?

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If I wake up at 1pm and take my 1st pill, 2nd pill at 6pm, then 3rd pill at 1am... Then, I wake up at 10AM and take my 1st pill of the day, would that be me consuming 4 pills in 24 hours like an overdose or is it okay??? I do that alot. I'd wake up the next day and at 10AM take my 1st one then another at 5 then last one at 11pm. I'm not on a schedule with you medicine, I just take it when I wake up and throughout the day. Please let me know. ## You should be on a schedule. If you are supposed to take it 3 times a day, you should be taking one approximately every 8 hours. To maintain its full level of efficacy in the body, the FDA warns that it should be taken on a regular schedule. Its typical side effects are listed as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, mood swings...

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I have been taking 400 mg phenytoin for the past 5 years plus due to having two grand mal seizures. I have been dealing with a horrific skin problem (itch that never resolves, easy bruising and now have pruitis nodularis due to the severe itching). I have seen my GP, a dermatologist as well as a gastrointologist. I have had every blood test, ultrasounds a MRI and even a liver biopsy trying to cause the source of my itch. Every test has been normal. My neurologist doesn't seem to think it is caused from the phenytoin. I have read where it can cause some to itch uncontrollably. It has pretty much taken hold of my life and day to day activities are almost impossible. Anyone else out there with similar symptoms? And what would should I be doing moving forward? ## Wow, Pat! I am so very ...

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I've been on Dilantin for many yrs. Started out taking 300mgs daily. As Dilantin was helping to prevent a seizure. My life has been put on hold. Tried Tegartol, lamictol(put me in a Grandmal Seizure). Had to go back to Dilantin. Was given generic Dilantin. Life seemed to be fine until I was so weak in the hospital with no Dilantin in my blood stream. Also, my potassium and calcium very low. Now it's medically necessary I take brand naned Dilantin300mg also Keppra(1000mg)/ Dilantin400mg w/Keppra1000mg. Alternating days I'm taking med's as needed but, it's been a prob with levels to low or levels to high. I am back to just 300mg Dilantin w/1000mg Keppra. Have to get levels repeated in a week. Is it me, the med's and or both? Having a seizure 1st started in a foster ho

My 16 yr old has been so depressed and agitated, not normal for him. I read in a natural health MD newsletter that 100mg would help ease it. I had some and gave it to him(I had it for depression from my doc a couple years ago but never used it). It had virtually no effect--he seemed a bit better, for awhile. But I will not experiment like this any more. What should I watch for with him? It has been ten hours.

My mom was taking 100 mg of Dilantin 3 times a day. I complained to her dr that she was too tired so he changes the dosage to 3 100 mg at night all at once before bed. For 2 weeks she was more tired than before, almost a zombie. Can she go back to one pill 3 times per day? She was a lot better before!!! ## Hello, Suzy! How is your mom doing? Has anything changed? Yes, it should be fine to just go back to the prior dosing schedule, as long as her doctor approves. However, at this point, I'm wondering if it might be better for her to see a different doctor for a second opinion. As reported by the FDA, side effects, such as the drowsiness, are typically transient and should go away with time, once her body gets used to the medication, though that could take 4 to 5 weeks. If they do not...

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Took Excedrin PM. Every night for a month but took 4 instead of typical 2. Woke up in hospital. Dr. Said seizure but I say reaction to too much Excedrin P.M. Dr. put me on dilantin and I've never had one before or after. Was taking 4 a day but have cut it down too two and now ready to take only 1 before completely stop all together. No funny feelings or abnormal reactions. ## It could be due to either, or, it's hard to say from just the information in this post. Was a scan done by a neurologist? Usually a scan of the brain is used to determine epilepsy. I understand the doctor's concern, some medications can lower you seizure threshold, which could signify that you have a condition putting you at risk of seizures, anyway. But the opposite could also be true, it might have on...

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My boyfriend has only had 2 episodes. They weren't bad, but he's been taking dilantin since. If he stops taking them will he start having them again? ## Very definatley, no one should stop any seizure meds without drs. knowledge. Also, going off all at once can cause a seizure. ## When I first started dilantin at age 17 , I'm 30 now I was'nt use to taking medication all the time , and I forgot doses, and ended up back in the hospital because of another seizure, the doctor told like Sherry said to not stop taking , he said if you stop real sudden it could cause a massive seizure that could kill me. ## In the case of these types of medications and seizures, you really need to follow your doctor's instructions! ## Hi, I am experiencing unusual dots on my body and I was ...

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How long does Dilantin and Naproxen remain in your urine if stopped 3 days before passing away undetermined? And should those 2 meds be given together? My son died at a prison his 15th day there. It's been a year and no one is helping me. I need a time line on those meds please. ## I am so very sorry about your loss and I'll gladly help you with any information I can. For Dilantin it takes anywhere from 110 to 132 hours, or longer in some individuals that may have liver or kidney damage, as reported by the U.S. FDA. (These numbers are overall removal from the body, to be undetectable, except in hair.) Naproxen is approximately 60 to 102 hours, with the same details applying for those with chronic kidney or liver conditions. There are no known interactions or contraindications li...

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dear sir , i m using levera 500 from 3 years to now. i am using this medicine for the solution of brain hammeage. i am a victime of brain hammerage. i have done surgical operation of it. my doctor prescribe me this medicine. what are the side effect of this medicine. some of my problem while using this medicine are as follow 1.low thinking capicity 2.felling lazy every time 3.forgeting things 4.feel like hungerless 5.want to sit alone 6.body aches 7. ## my 20 years son taking levera XR 500 daily morning and evening with dilantin as per doctor's instruction since last three years. Let us know any bad side efffects on this tablet to continue.

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I've been taking 300 mg of Dilantin for about 20 years for a single seizure episode. About 10 years ago I was experiencing low energy, bouts of depression, problems with ED and basically feeling like I was 40 years older than I was. I tried MDs, psychiatrists, therapy, vitamins with no success. Then I found a few studies that showed that long term Dilantin use effected the production and metabolism of testosterone in men. This was before docs were prescribing or making testosterone treatments for many things so there wasn't much out there about this. I pushed my doc and an endocrinologist for a blood work up and my t levels came back as low normal but the docs weren't convinced of the correlation but agreed to let me try a testosterone med as a trial. In one - two weeks many...

Is it safe to combine Kapanol, Dilantin and Stilnox? Ta. ## Hello, Michelle! How are you? They can be taken together, as long as your doctor approves. The FDA classifies Kapanol as a narcotic analgesic, so it has the potential to be habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation. Dilantin may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, mood swings and weight gain. Stilnox may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, hallucinations, sleep actions and next day hangover-like effects. Is there anything else I can help with?

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What effects do these two drugs have on the body when taken together? ## Hello, Mike! How are you? I didn't find any problems or interactions listed between these medications, but it's always best to double check to be sure. The FDA lists the typical side effects of Diclofenac as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, increased risk of bleeding and stomach irritation. Dilantin may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, weight changes and mood swings. Is there anything else I can help with?

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I have taken 300 mg daily for 30 years.Blood level run 3 days ago,Dilantin too high..Dr. Has dropped me to 200 mg a day for 1 month...how will this affect me? Presently I thought my synthroid was acting up because I was loopy,dizzy,trouble w/ balance etc .Leaving town for holiday and don't want to end up in ER...help! ## Hello, Patti! How are you? Did you encounter any problems with the lowered dosage? Usually, if the dose is just lowered then any issues are mitigated and should not be serious enough to land you in the ER. It is a full abrupt stop that would normally create problematic issues. How high was your level? The FDA lists the typical side effects of this medication as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, mood swings and weight gain.

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