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Doctor wants him to switch from Dilantin to Lamictal
Tue, 05/06/2008 - 21:53Comments
Re: Doctor wants him to switch from Dilantin to Lamictal
Submitted by jmd2007 on Sun, 2009-09-20 - 13:47
I had my first seizure about 4 years ago. I switched from Dilantin to Lamictal about three years ago. My neuro was concerned about the long term effects of Dilantin (although, what medication doesn't have long term effects?). Anyway, we made the switch. I don't remember how we did it, but I know we stepped down from the Dilantin while stepping up to the Lamictal. Once I was off the Dilantin, I was on 300 mg daily of Lamictal. I ended up having another seizure (my 2nd) shortly thereafter, which we attributed to the transition. A year later, I had another seizure (my 3rd), so we increased the dosage to 400 mg daily. A few months later, I had another seizure (my 4th), so we increased the dosage to 500 mg daily.
So far, I've had the four seizures, and my last one was a year and a half ago. It took a while to get the dosage to the right level (I'm hoping 500 mg is the right level), so you will have to be careful when your husband makes the switch. He could have seizures again because of the transition or because the new drug will require a higher dosage than you needed before, although he may not have any seizures. It is, I'm sorry to say, a bit of trial and error. But hopefully you'll get to the point where his seizures are controlled. It unfortuately takes some time, so you'll have to adjust and make sure you're prepared. People need to know about the switch and the possibility of seizures, especially his boss and your kids, so they won't be caught off guard. As long as you're prepared, you should be okay.
All the best.
I had my first seizure about 4 years ago. I switched from Dilantin to Lamictal about three years ago. My neuro was concerned about the long term effects of Dilantin (although, what medication doesn't have long term effects?). Anyway, we made the switch. I don't remember how we did it, but I know we stepped down from the Dilantin while stepping up to the Lamictal. Once I was off the Dilantin, I was on 300 mg daily of Lamictal. I ended up having another seizure (my 2nd) shortly thereafter, which we attributed to the transition. A year later, I had another seizure (my 3rd), so we increased the dosage to 400 mg daily. A few months later, I had another seizure (my 4th), so we increased the dosage to 500 mg daily.
So far, I've had the four seizures, and my last one was a year and a half ago. It took a while to get the dosage to the right level (I'm hoping 500 mg is the right level), so you will have to be careful when your husband makes the switch. He could have seizures again because of the transition or because the new drug will require a higher dosage than you needed before, although he may not have any seizures. It is, I'm sorry to say, a bit of trial and error. But hopefully you'll get to the point where his seizures are controlled. It unfortuately takes some time, so you'll have to adjust and make sure you're prepared. People need to know about the switch and the possibility of seizures, especially his boss and your kids, so they won't be caught off guard. As long as you're prepared, you should be okay.
All the best.
Re: Doctor wants him to switch from Dilantin to Lamictal
Submitted by eaglefan30 on Sun, 2009-09-20 - 12:35
i was change for Dilantin to Lamictal and felt 100% better in like just a few days... i do know that over time that Dilantin does stop working so it might be a good thing to change so that the meds do stop sorking and then u will have more prombles. so that might be why the dr want to change the meds... good luck on it and let us know how he does