New - Lamictal vs. Keppra long term effects
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I went and got a routine blood test for my dilantin levels. I just started this dose 400mg a week ago and have been feeling sick since I started the med change from lamictal to dilantin... so a month, I was on dilantin previous to the lamictal and was fairly confident I knew that my levels were going to be very high.
My heart felt like it was being squeezed, and my pulse was higher than usual and I had a slight fever (usually a few hours after i took my meds) Turns out my levels were just below the high mark of the normal range. our range is 40-80 and i was at 75. AND it turns out the heart racing/shortness of breath are not toxic symptoms from dilantin. If anything the heart rate slows down.... ok? the dr said well you do have a bladder infection, how have you been feeling?
where do you draw the line between side effect and something else? How do you guys tell the difference.
I think i now have a kidney infection.. (flank pain, shortness of breath, fatigue) but i don't really know! I could try to suck it up... bc it may be a side effevt, but I really don't know!!
have you been in a similar situation?
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Recent Comments on this Discussion
Hello
I have been having extreme paradoxical seizures with chorea, facial contortions and ataxia (doctor's words, not mine). My Dilantin blood levels taken yesterday were 113. Feeling ill, 'fuzzy', etc. 500mg per day. Doing sit ups with head pain and facial contortions for three days, settled down now to feeling tired, off-balance, losing words. Seizing and tics in sleep.
If 75 is too high, why am I being treated like a crazy person with levels of 113 (I am a small person). Have TLE, partial seizures (de ja vu).
Trying to figure this out. Dr is OK, Neuro says no.
Wow, I'm really confused here. All my records indicates that the therapeutic level for Dilantin is between 10 and 20 so I went online to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me and it all says the same. Are you sure these numbers weren't reflecting other bloodwork results?
Some people cannot tolerate a higher level of a medication even thought it may be in the therapeutic range. If you don't feel well, especially with what appears to be an increase in seizure activity, etc, it could very well be too high of a medication.
Dilantin is one of those drugs where levels can greatly fluctuate and sometimes this is based on what you eat. Your pharmacist is a good source of information in regard to how the metabolism of the drug can be affected by what and when you eat in regards not only to Dilantin but to other medications.
~Karen
hey wonder,
it turned out my levels were 100.. I was re tested 5 days after that 75 result. I found that as much as you might not like it.. sometimes you have to be a pain in the butt when it coms to your meds. go back to your dr and tell him something is off and you KNOW your own body.
i did that and as much as i'm confused why 400mg was fine for me for ten years and now it is WAY to much i just go with the flow. i'm on 300mg od dilantin and hoping that that is better
no more heart pain for me!
my daughter which is now 6 has uncontrolled epilepsy and she has been on topamax for about 4 years she was taking 100miligrams 2 times a day than back in septrmber she went in the hospital for testing for 2 weeks and they weened her off or her medicine for 2 weeks to try and make her have seizures well any how when they tried putting her back on that dose slowly when she got to 50 and 50 she wouldn't wake and shewould be out of it for days so they lowered it and it got fine but months later she went back to 50 and 50 and she's fine.she' on 4 epilepsymedices 1 adhd and 1 sleepping pill.she also has a vns stimulator alsowhich that goes off 15 seconds out of every minute.my name is brenda and my e-mail adderess is sbtn1260@aol.com
hi, first guess would be medication change. it is true that dilantin has the effect to slow the heart down. it has been used to do the very thing in the past. I would ask the doc to do the blood tests for both the low and high levels. One of the reasons that dilantin is not one of the more commonly prescribed drugs as first choice. The side effects can be different when you restart a medicine that you have been on before. I, like you are confused by all of the things going on. it may take a couple of tests to sort things out. i guess the end will be to talk to your family doc. to look at the other stuff. neuros tend to deal with just the neuro stuff. i wish you well in the hunt. rikk
hey Rikk, it turns oout my dilantin levels are too high!
I'm SO confused!!! how could 400mg/day work fine for ten years and suddendly its too high?
does/can your body change that much in two years?
Sorry new to forum meant to put comment about high level of 113 as reply to you.
Thanks
WW
When my daughter was on Dilantin her levels were so erratic. Neither her neuro or I could figure it out. That was years ago. This morning I did a search online under "effect of food on absorption of Dilantin". Instead of me including links, do a search yourself and read about how levels can change dramatically based on when you take your medicaiton. It's amazing.
~Karen
I'm def going to look that up. to be honest my food intake was a HUGE change from when i was on dilantn before and now. My lovely eating disorder resufaced when i was on lamictal because i gained weight on that drug.. hence the eating disorder resurfacing and so that mentality is hard to get away from . I may just need to eat more.
It's funny you mention that because my mom is constantly telling me to eat a burger. lol.
now that i'm on 300mg/day i have to be careful in monitoring levels.
hi, don't fell like you are alone with the confusion. if you are taking any other medication. i am thinking of anti-biotics, but it could be others. the doc may not be aware of the problem with AED metabolism changes. it is more common with other mixed AED, and psyc medications. depression, anxiety, etc... I actually have a person locally that i help with that had the same problem with medication mix problems. Keeping close watch on the levels with medications is pretty important. It is done more with the newer medications. If the medication works for you when the level is right. The dosage may need to be changed. the medication may not be effective. i hope it works that you can take the medication that you are comfortable with. Monitor the level and see if it works. I hope it helps. rikk
It's hard to tell the difference. I think I, too, would have assumed that it was the change in medications. I'll assume that if you were diagnosed with a bladder infection that your doctor put you on an antibiotic. I don't know how long you've been treated for the infection but your suspicion that you have a kidney infection could just be some of the symptoms of the bladder infection.
If this has been going on for some time, I'd contact your family physician about the bladder infection and your concerns and see if a different treatment is in order.
~Karen
thanks karen. it's tricky businss eh!