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Trying to get off Dilantin

Thu, 01/26/2006 - 11:28
I'm trying to replace Dilantin with some other med that will have less side effects. The doctor tried Lamictal and it didn't work. Then I found out it wasn't really indicated for grand mal seizures. !#%!! Now my doctor wants to try Depakote. Can anyone give me some insight on changing drugs? Should I just stick with Dilantin because all these drugs have side effects that are just as bad? Thanks

Comments

Re: Re: Trying to get off Dilantin

Submitted by CG on Wed, 2006-02-01 - 18:33
Hi: My then Neurologist took me off Dilantin when I was 18 and just beginning University. I never did drugs because of my epilepsy, but boy did I experience withdrawal. I was in such a panic for the longest time. I called my neurologist almost weekly, sometimes daily during that time. I have been off Dilantin for over 30 years. I took Dilantin as a teenager, my then Neurologist was concerned about the side effects it might have had on me. I do not know which was worse, Dilantin and its side effects or the withdrawal from Dilantin. CG

Re: Re: Trying to get off Dilantin

Submitted by Demon87 on Fri, 2006-02-17 - 07:56
I used to take dilantin and it didnt work very well so i switched over to tegretol. This is the best working medicine I have used so far.

Re: Trying to get off Dilantin

Submitted by junojoe on Fri, 2006-02-03 - 14:50
david, have you had any luck, great insights, results etc. on finding a new med ? i have been on dilantin, on and off for 30 years, and want to find something else too, if i can find something without the same side effects, etc. i have things mostly under control but occasionally, about every year or two, have a break through seisure, which you know ain't any fun. i'm also not as young as i used to be and would like to find something that keeps it under complete control, at least as long as i'm mediucated. my breakthroughs are beleived to be stress or lack of sleep induced according to the docs, but the thing is they seem to run in cycles which no one i've talked too has any comment on. like if i have one, or occasionally two in the same day, then i've never had another one for at least 9-10 months, sometimes years. it almost seems like something builds up that triggers the seisure and then once i have one its "releived" temporarily. all comments appreciated, on any of these issues.

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