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me and auras

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 16:16

Hello...im very new at this and have a question thats been a subject here. i was diagnosed with seizures about 7 years ago not epilepsy..known undetermined,its been about five years that i havent had one and ive been taking the substitude for dilantin and take ikt about 5 times a day,but since oct of 2011 ive started having auras and have been getting stronger.I was wondering what should i do? if i should up my meds? or What??and the trip to the doc is expensive for me at this moment...what should i do? or what is causing these things to come back again...thank you

Comments

Re: me and auras

Submitted by tcameron on Fri, 2012-02-24 - 22:21

I would call my doctor's office.  They might be able to substitute the phenytoin for Dilantin.  The doctor needs to state "no substitutions" on the prescription, or by phone, or you will get the generic.

If you live in the U.S., the cause could be as simple as taking a different generic than the one you were previously used to.  The U.S. FDA allows a difference +/- 20% absorption rate between generics and brand name drugs.  This means, at the furthest point from each other, there could be close to a 40% difference in  absorption between these drugs.  How is that possible?  The drugs are the same, but the binding agents that hold the drugs together in the pills or capsules aren't the same; which is why some drugs can be absorbed into your body. 

Chances are pretty good that they'll call you in since you haven't seen your doctor in several years.  I know, it's expensive.  It's not easy, but perhaps you can pay a little each month until the bill has been paid off.  Either that, or get yourself some medical insurance now and keep yourself insured.  Having epilepsy is extremely expensive.

 

I would call my doctor's office.  They might be able to substitute the phenytoin for Dilantin.  The doctor needs to state "no substitutions" on the prescription, or by phone, or you will get the generic.

If you live in the U.S., the cause could be as simple as taking a different generic than the one you were previously used to.  The U.S. FDA allows a difference +/- 20% absorption rate between generics and brand name drugs.  This means, at the furthest point from each other, there could be close to a 40% difference in  absorption between these drugs.  How is that possible?  The drugs are the same, but the binding agents that hold the drugs together in the pills or capsules aren't the same; which is why some drugs can be absorbed into your body. 

Chances are pretty good that they'll call you in since you haven't seen your doctor in several years.  I know, it's expensive.  It's not easy, but perhaps you can pay a little each month until the bill has been paid off.  Either that, or get yourself some medical insurance now and keep yourself insured.  Having epilepsy is extremely expensive.

 

Re: me and auras

Submitted by Jimsun on Tue, 2012-03-06 - 03:57
Hi Chavez - Hope this finds you well. Part answer may lie with your meds. In UK just their gelatine coating has been known to contribute. Appreciate it's expensive @ Docs but they'll wait for their money - truly! They'll be more responsive to a willingness to pay over time via regular installments than nothing @ all & risk getting a bad reputation via local press!!! If its any use, I suffer all types of Sz as an unstable E with a brain injury - from mere absences to PS, PM, then GM right to Status Epilepticus (scares the shit outa me!). I look upon my auras as a personal early warning system giving me vital moments to get out of danger, away from traffic, sit/lie down ready to have the Sz in whatever it's form. Up to PS I see flashlights - like someone switches a torch on & off before my eyes. With a GM I get traffic lights - all colours of the spectrum. In all cases I hear a sound like helicopter rotars going round & I suffer 8-12 of these per month. However I refuse to let this interfere with work & still bounce around Europe a couple of times per month - although last week I suffered a GM @ Schipol Check In & folk were just stepping over me to be served - Bast###s!!! Take care; J. "Even monkeys fall from trees"!

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