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Adding Lamictal while taking Dilantin
Sat, 09/23/2006 - 09:41Topic: Medication Issues
I have been on Dilantin for 33+ years. My seizures have greatly increased in frequency. I am thankful, based on what many of you share on this site, that my seizures have been relatively infrequent. I have gone as long as 10 years without one. However, since turning 52, they have increased to one every three to four months.
I went to a seizure specialist for the first time in my life. He is putting me on Lamictal with the plan of getting it regulated and then gradually removing the Dilantin. Has anyone gone through this before? If so, how was the transition. My research indicates it can be tricky.
Thanks,
Woody
Comments
Re: Re: Re: Adding Lamictal while taking Dilantin
Submitted by scorpio on Tue, 2006-10-03 - 11:04
Bad luck about the tumour but good that you have found the likely cause for the epi. Hopefully the removal of one will remove the other too, or at least ameliorate it. As for Dilantin, I never took any generic form of it - though the standard form of Phenytoin in the UK is known as Epanutin.
The doctor you spoke to on the subject of generics is correct about their having varying absorption rates: changing from one generic to another would have similar effects to just changing the dosage of the first, and all that implies, if I understand correctly.
Good luck with the surgery.
Chris
Re: Re: Adding Lamictal while taking Dilantin
Submitted by woodycoggin on Fri, 2006-09-29 - 06:16
Chris, I really appreciate your sharing with me in detail. I found out Monday that I have a lesion or benign tumor in my right temporal lobe that may be the cause of all of this stuff. Either way, I am now in the process of working through things to see if the seizures can be eliminated as well. The surgery is scary but since I have to have surgery anyway, that helps. I know you can easily understand how quick any of us would be to go for a chance to be seizure free. Thanks for your help with the Lamictal. I look forward to being off of Dilantin. By the way, did you ever take the generic form of Dilantin? A doctor told me several years ago that the generic had a widely varying absorption rate and to not mess with it. Thanks, Woody