Hello everyone,
This is my 3rd or 4th post so I apologize in advance that I have so many questions. I am currently taking Dilantin (anti-seizure medication) and have been on it since my bleed September 13th 2009. Ive been reading that Dilantin can have some nasty side affects in the long run and was wondering if anyone out there has been perscribed a different drug that has less side affects in the long run and if so how long have you been on it.
Thank you in advance for your responses and God be with you.
As you may have discovered, Dilantin is pretty much “the old standby,” it has been around quite some time, it’s much less expensive than most anti-seizure meds, and it works. It is usually the first thing given to a seizure patient as they enter the ER, and is often the first prescription written after leaving the hospital. That being said, yes, it DOES have plenty of side-effects that tend to cause problems in the long-run, which is one of the reasons that your doctor will likely send you in for blood tests on a regular basis while you are taking Dilantin. I was on and off of Dilantin for almost all of 2005 and it caused problems with my teeth, intestines, etc. My neuro weened me off of the Dilantin a few months after my craniotomy, but I was placed back on it immediately after having a grand mal seizure in December 2005. Within a week after the trip to the ER, my neuro placed me on a different medication (can’t recall what it was), but that ended up causing even more negative side effects. He switched me to another for a month… Same thing. I think it was after trying 4 different medications that I finally ended up settling on Keppra, which fortunately now has generic equivalents. I have been on Keppra for the better part of 4 years and, aside from having to take it all the time, I have no complaints. I do have to warn you, however, that it has a way of really wearing you out physically for quite a while before finally getting used to it. It took me at least a couple of months to get beyond the exhaustion, but it eventually passed.
While I have had good luck with Keppra, there is no guarantee that it will works best for you, so be willing to try out a few different types if need be.
i was on dilantin and my local nuro doc told me about those side effect and change me to kepra 500mg i was on kepra for about a month until i whent and got my angio and my nuro from the hospital told me i was in the clear from taking those meds but while i was on kepra it was good did not have those terrible mood swine
good luck
I was allergic to dilantin and taken off of it with in days. So i can’t say much for it. I was on tegertol for a year and then was put onto keppra. I was told keppra is a good one for women and the side effects are not bad. I actually don’t have much more than being tired. Which goes for all seizure medicines. Good luck to you!
I was on Dilantin for 18 months and had a hard time keeping levels right. I had a seizure then they change my meds to tegretol and I love it. However I just had another seizure last night don’t know what caused it yet, Anyway no side efficts at all for me.
My husband has been taking various strengths of Keppra for about 2 years. He takes 750mg 4x a day. That alone has not stopped the seizures. In addition to the Keppra he was on Trileptol for a while but he was still having seizures. So now he is trying Vimpat in addition to the Keppra. He is not doing well on that either. Long story short…after two years of meds for seizures they are still adjusting them.
I also had the side effects from Dilantin (took it for many years when I was young and it destroyed my gums) plus it did not control my seizures. I now take tegertol and keppra and my seizures are better controlled.
After my 1st seizure I was put on Dilatin (phenytoin) I think this is the 1st option the doctors use to treat epilepsy, then I had to change as my gums bled a lot. Went onto Epilem then Lamical which is the best for me. I have been on the same dose now for about 8 years with no problems.
Different combinations work for different people, Kevin
Hi! I was on dilantin for a couple of months… also familiar with side effects of dilantin…I was having headaches, hot patches around my face …My neuro decided to change my meds…I been on lamictral 300 mg…Is been okay since then…Good luck