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Phenytoin magically disappeared

Tue, 02/10/2015 - 16:23

Hello all. I have seizures due to the fact that I had a hemmoragic stroke due to eclampsia at 21. They missed the seizures at first because they mimicked the side effects of the stroke (absent seizures) until, long story short, I have partial, absent, and some other kind I can't remember the name of. I have not been seizure free since May 3, 2011. 

I hit 11 months this January. On the 11th, I had my first one, and I have had 8 more since then. 9 in 3 weeks is awesome. I called my neuro, and he ordered bloodwork. He ordered lab work that showed my phenytoin was at a 6, and it is supposed to be between 10 and 20. That's y I'm having "breakthrough seizures."  My neuro upped my phenytoin, which I have a history of going toxic on at the mg's I am now on.  When I asked my neuro where the phenytoin went, he said he didn't know, just take more phenytoin. "If u have symptoms of going toxic again, call me. You know the signs." I'm not kidding. That's what I was told. 

Here's my questions:

Has anyone taken phenytoin(Dilantin) and it left your blood stream? If so, y? I take mine, I don't drink, and I sleep the best I can. I do have a little bit of sleep issues. 

Does anyone know any good neurologists in the StL. Area?  Not necessarily downtown, but surrounding areas. My neuro is a very, very nice man, but I need to know why my meds are just leaving my body when he says that's not normal at all. 

Comments

Meds leaving your body. Well

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2015-02-10 - 17:24
Meds leaving your body. Well anything can leave your body. how does one lose weight??? I mean it is there one week and the next you are lighter. Yes medication levels can change while in the body. BEEN THERE DONE THAT. I say that because levels need to be looked at as the body changes the levels can go up or down. I took dilantin for years, I also needed my dosages increased from time to time. The increases wer due to my body changing. Wheither the change is a growth or hormonial they both will affect your medications and levels. When I was chaning from a kid to a teen I had to have my dosages changed 4-5 times in about 9-10 months. Due to the increased weight hormonial and growth in heigthIf you like your neuro then you should stay with him. But if you want to get another neuro then by all means this site can bring up neurologist in your area. Just go to the find a doctor in the get help section.  I hope this helps Joe

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