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Seeking help for my Mom
Thu, 11/02/2006 - 14:27Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
Hello,
I was curious how serious the side effects could be of getting off Dilantin (abruptly) after 30 years. I am asking for my mother, who took it for 30 years, then stopped abruptly about 5 years ago. She had a hip replacement surgery, and was recovering at home when some sort of drug combination (perhaps the dilantin) and pain killers caused her to have a total phychotic episode. Hallucinations, extreme paranoia, etc. She was sent to a treatment facility to "detox" for a week, and was never diagnosed with anything "mental". Ever since (5 years now), she has refused to take the Dilantin, and continues to have mental health issues (extreme paranoia, talking to herself, hostility, suicidal, for which we are now trying to get serious help with). She has not had any seizures in this time that I am aware of. She also refuses to admit she has any sort of problem, or does not realize she has one.
Just wondering if there is any serious connection here?? We are trying so hard to understand what has brought on all these mental health issues so late in her life, she is now 59. She was about 54 when all this first happened.
Thanks so much!!!
Tracy
Comments
Re: Re: Seeking help for my Mom
Submitted by tdj50 on Thu, 2006-11-02 - 19:47
Thanks for your reply, this is interesting information. I assume all of these things occur to people who are medicated? Not sure, sorry, am also learning more about this disease now. As far as I know when I was growing up, she never had any problems, but was on the dilantin. I am also wondering if now she is having the petit mal seizures and not telling us, and this is where the pyschosis is coming in? Or a result of them. My stepfather (who is the only person who lives with her), says some days are better than others, etc. Thanks so much again.
Re: Seeking help for my Mom
Submitted by wldhrt13 on Thu, 2006-11-02 - 15:26
An abrupt withdrawal of Dilantin (Phenytoin) in epileptic patients may precipitate status epilepticus, so withdrawal of this medicine could certainly cause seizure activity in and of itself. When you throw into the mix that she took narcotic medicines which also are known to lower the seizure threshold it doesn't sound like a good outcome. There is also inter-ictal and peri-ictal psychosis which can happen to folks with Epilepsy to be considered as a possible cause to her new onset of mental health symptoms. Here is a link you can find more information about. You need to scroll down a bit til you see PSYCHOSIS. http://www.e-epilepsy.org.uk/pages/articles/show_article.cfm?id=69 But truly, she should be seen by her neurologist for re-evaluation.