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Dilantin side effects
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 13:30My husband has been taking Dilantin for about 13 years now(for grand mal seizures which have been totally controlled on Dilantin) and has had a myriad of symptoms that we suspect are related to Dilantin; however, the docs always minimize his symptoms and give us no answers. From time to time he suffers from extreme (and I mean EXTREME) anxiety with no easily explainable cause, in addition he suffers from terrible insomnia. A few years ago he developed an odd pink rash on his back. When we asked the doctor about this he said it was vitiligo and would go away in six months to a year. Well, three years later it is still present and spreading. He has also had gum overgrowth and cognitive difficulties (foggy thinking). His Dilantin levels have also begun to swing up from a constant 9 for the past 5-6 years to an 18 in the space of the last year. He has lost 25 pounds and we are wondering if this will cause an uptick like this.
Dilantin is used to treat anxiety, so I am confused whether his increasing Dilantin levels could actually be causing the anxiety/insomnia. We cannot get a straight answer from our family doc and have not yet been referred to a neurologist.
Thanks in advance for any comments you may have.
Comments
Re: Dilantin side effects
Submitted by wonderwoman on Thu, 2009-05-07 - 03:12
Re: Dilantin side effects
Submitted by mkfarnam SB Cal on Mon, 2009-07-13 - 23:20
I had false teeth @ the age of 14. 6 years after I started Dilantin. 39 years later I still take dilantin, mainly because it has kept my(grand mal) seizures completely controled for over 20 years. If I miss one dose I will have a seizure within the next 3 days.
I have found through the years that some of the side effects that dilantin is known for, will not occur until another medication is taken with it.
I can give examples if anyone would like.
Mike
I had false teeth @ the age of 14. 6 years after I started Dilantin. 39 years later I still take dilantin, mainly because it has kept my(grand mal) seizures completely controled for over 20 years. If I miss one dose I will have a seizure within the next 3 days.
I have found through the years that some of the side effects that dilantin is known for, will not occur until another medication is taken with it.
I can give examples if anyone would like.
Mike
Re: Dilantin side effects
Submitted by wiglebot on Sat, 2009-05-02 - 15:45
Dilantin usually cause fatigue or tiredness and I sleep OK and feel sluggish during the day. But every once in a while, like now, I get insomnia and high anxiety. I go to bed so exhausted and wake up wanting to rip my pillow in half. But then It turns into misplaced anxiety and I can't get back to sleep.
These are signs of Dilantin Toxicity for me. Dilantin builds in my system (plus I get more sensitive to it) every 6 months or so and that extra amount reaches a threshold and causes serious problems. I have to lower the dose and take a benzo at night. If I take an Ativan for a few nights, I will sleep very well and there is no way I am having a seizure on Ativan. But It is very risky (for me) to lower Dilantin and I need to get at least 700mg in my system every 48 hours. I also take the meds twice a day and don't have anything in my system that will alter the metabolizing -- no alcohol, no tums.... It is a big event to get it right and can take a month.
Also the above formula changes year to year. 8 years ago 300mg of Dilantin seemed a large amount and controled my seizures. But Benzos only work short term and Dilantin is the only thing that consistently stops my seizures.
Dilantin usually cause fatigue or tiredness and I sleep OK and feel sluggish during the day. But every once in a while, like now, I get insomnia and high anxiety. I go to bed so exhausted and wake up wanting to rip my pillow in half. But then It turns into misplaced anxiety and I can't get back to sleep.
These are signs of Dilantin Toxicity for me. Dilantin builds in my system (plus I get more sensitive to it) every 6 months or so and that extra amount reaches a threshold and causes serious problems. I have to lower the dose and take a benzo at night. If I take an Ativan for a few nights, I will sleep very well and there is no way I am having a seizure on Ativan. But It is very risky (for me) to lower Dilantin and I need to get at least 700mg in my system every 48 hours. I also take the meds twice a day and don't have anything in my system that will alter the metabolizing -- no alcohol, no tums.... It is a big event to get it right and can take a month.
Also the above formula changes year to year. 8 years ago 300mg of Dilantin seemed a large amount and controled my seizures. But Benzos only work short term and Dilantin is the only thing that consistently stops my seizures.