toxic dilantin level

anniemarie, Hi 2 yrs ago I was put back on Dilatin due to returning Epilepsy Grand-mals. The ER Doctor put me back on Dilatin without telling me to only stay on high dose for 1 week.  The Dilatin I was started on a 300 MG Per Pill, Script read 300 Mgs 3 XS a a Day which i was suppose to take 3 Pills in Am 3 Pills afternoon and 3 Pills at Bedtime, So he wanted me to take 900 mGS per day.  Now that would be 63 Pills a Week and the total  of 900 mgs x 7 days a week 6,300 I believe.  Well after 3 weeks passed by I notice my Balance was really  severe at home and my Husband notice when I got out of the car I was Walking totally sideways with my Head tilted,  for a while I did not notice me walking that way  what really got me and made me call my Family Doctor was all of a sudden my Eyes started seeing funny like I was Watching a TV with Bad Vertical Problems like everything i was looking at was Flipping really fast with Lines in it. I went to the ER and the ER Doctor started me on Drinking Charcoal instead of Pumping My Stomahe because it was well in my system and Liqiud Charcoal  was the only thing that would get rid of the dangerous toxin levels .  I was admitted into the Hospital  put in a Regular room and later that Day I was put in ICU because they thought for sure I was going to go into a Coma later that night, so I refused to Sleep and take any  sleep Aids. I was Overdosed very  Badly and they told me i could have lost my life within a Couple more days in my skeep if I did not get to the ER. 

unfortunately with AEDs it can be a hit or miss with drugs, as everyone is different.  with taking into account weight, how the body metabolizes medications, and so on.  I am 51, and have been on dilantin for about 30 years.  The only time i was toxic was after i had my daughter, and i did not reduce my dose quickly enough in relation to my weight loss.  Theraputic being between 10 and 20.  I was at 26 then.  My God, so glad you are still with us!  I felt like I was on speed with that level!  When i almost croaked about five years ago, a smart neurologist put me on liquid dilantin.  i have not had a seizure in over five years.  The liquid is a quicker delivery into the body.  my level hovers at around 10 or 11.  More at the lower end of theraputic, which i prefer.  We have to be vigilant about our bodies, and with age comes wisdom and some good and not so good experiences.  In my early twenties i drank too much, (had a seizure) in my late twenties i thought i was super women and did not need meds, that experiment lasted 3 days - had a seizure!  So, getting that level checked regularly, without being paranoid makes good common sense.  The lesser of two evils is taking my meds.