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Recently Diagnosed with E - looking for advice on Dilantin and any alternative therapies

Tue, 05/16/2006 - 03:49
Hi all I had a brain injury in 2003 and since that time I have had three nocturnal seizures. I only went to see a Doctor about it last week and had an EEG - I was diagnosed with Epilepsy and prescribed Dilantin. I am very concerned about taking this drug for the rest of my life and wander if this is overkill to prevent the occasional seizure in my sleep. I don't sleep very well at present and feel washed out almost all the time - would love it it Dilantin fixes this but I am also interested in alternative therapies that might help. I have great faith in the body's ability to heal itself and wander if anyone knows of meditation classes that could be of benefit or other alternative therapies. Thanks in advance for your help. D

Comments

Re: Recently Diagnosed with E - looking for advice on Dilantin a

Submitted by angel_lts on Tue, 2006-05-16 - 06:07
Start my a very good diet, eating good fats. There are alternative therapies, Neurofeedback, massage therapies, chiropractor, omega three fatty acids, acupunture, ketogenic diet...check out my group for some of these alternative approaches. take care Lisa http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/epilepsyapproach/

I have been on Dilantin

Submitted by larrydr on Thu, 2006-05-18 - 23:30
I have been on Dilantin since 1979 and have found it to have the least side affects of all the drugs I have been perscribed . Talk to your pharmacist and your doctor and ask for some answers and do some re-search on line yourself . Sometimes the re-search that you do yourself can help you the most. No one person is the same as anyone else , and the side affects will vary from person to person . Some herbal or other diet supplements will affect how the perscription works when it gets to your blood stream . If a doctor wants to switch you from a perscription that does work most of the time , insist on blood tests and close medical supervision. Try to relax ,get plenty of rest and feel good about yourself . larrydr

Re: I have been on Dilantin

Submitted by Volvox on Fri, 2006-05-19 - 00:14
Thanks for the comments guys. I have done a lot of research and I am actually qualified as a biochemist - not that this helps much with toxicology and drug reactions. My feeling is that the doctors prescription is analogous to driving a thumbtack home with a sledgehammer. I have had three nocturnal seizures over the period of 2.5 years. Sure I feel horrible the day after the seizure and a bit sore for a few days - but I can live with this. Just seems that the cure (technically not even a cure - just a prophylactic) is worse than the condition it is treating. I have read that it is extremely uncommon to die from a seizure - I probably have more chance of getting hit by a car. I am nervous about this, but my decision at this stage is to ignore my doctors advice and live with the occaisonal seizure. I am being fatalistic about the small chance of death - if I die...then I die. Plus - I like going out and having a beer with my mates - no chance of this on dilantin. Thanks to Lisa - I visited your site. That is a great service you are running there - in addition to being a biochemist, I am also a fairly accomplished web designer - if you would like any assistance, I would be very happy to assist free of charge.

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