DILANTIN Reviews (PHENYTOIN SODIUM)Average Rating: 3.5 (185 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare DILANTIN with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on DILANTIN: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR DILANTIN | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | Seizure Control | Slight drowsiness, bad constipation, & intermittent (last for a few minutes every few days) uneasy dizzy feeling. Mostly these side effects were only during the first few months of taking this medication then subsided or learned how to control. | Excellent medication that I am very grateful for as it has eliminated seizures for over 20 years. Very few side effects and this medication controls seizures for me even though my blood levels show that I am below the therapeutic level. I take 400mg of Phenytek (time released Dilantin) and my body must metabolize most of it as my blood levels are below theraputic....but it is still very effective and controls my seizures. No need for me to increase level and every time I had lowered my dose I have had a seizure. Early on I had some uneasy dizzy spells where it kind of felt like the earth was moving and I would get very anxious (sweaty palms, increase heart beat) but it wouldn't last very long. It was not so bad that it would affect my driving, walking, function or anything, just an uneasy feeling as I thought maybe it was a sign that I was going to have a seizure. Once I realized this feeling was from the medication and not a forewarning of a seizure then it didn't bother me. Mo | M | 42 | 22 years | 2/21/2009 | 4 | Grand Mal Nocturnal Seizures | Tiredness or drowsiness, My gums are a bit swollen, have had periods where my speach was a bit slurred, itching of the face and neck may be an allergic reaction from dilantin or something else and peripheral neuropathy in both feet and lower legs | Its good to have something that will control your seizures. The only thing I find a bit difficult to handle is the peripheral neuropathy, because I don't know how far it will advance. I am currently taking 600mg of dilantin one day and 500mg the following day. | M | 59 | 40 years | 2/20/2009 | 3 | Seizures | Fatique, memory loss, lack of concentration and can't even read a book, falling asleep sitting straight up or at the computer during the day and then cant sleep good at night, the most I sleep is 4 to 5 hours per night. Loss for words, blurred vision, raises blood sugar, depression, dizziness. The One thing that is bothering the most now is a loss of feeling in my toes, completely numb. Loss my balance because of it fell down the steps because of it. Seems like the doctors just blow me off. | DOES ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCE THIS NUMBNESS?? SO FAR I AM ON 4OOMG. OF DILANTIN, 5MG OF KLONIPIN , AND NOW 1,000 MG OF KEPPRA. THE DOCTOR WANTS TO ADD ANTHOER MEDICINE TO TRY AND GET ME OFF THE DILANTIN. I AM NOT SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION. . I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE DOCTOR HAD MY LICENSE SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF ALL THIS. NO JOB, HOME ( LIVING WITH DAUGHTER_ | F | 55 | 15 days | 2/16/2009 | 2 | Grand-Mals Since 31 yrs old | Massive backside headaches. Heart Flopping excessively. Feel heartbeats so strong up through the vessels in my high chest and neck & jaw. Feels like pressure wants to explode. Brain Fog/Memory Loss/Loss for words-embarrassing at work. Pain in chest and under left top arm. Severe weakness in muscles to where I drop things that are light or feel like a raggedy ann doll with no backbone to hold me up. Tingling fingers/feet. Breathe heavily. Sweats/Chills. Low grade fever. Eyes side to side. Dizzy. Not acceptable to work in. Seizures are better than working in these continuous side effects when job requires hard strong mind and body. | Every Body is Different. What works for one may not at all for another. This does not work for me. The few Grand-Mals a year would be better to live and work with than these daily side effects, but I must keep my driver's license to work and live and I guess I'll have to find strength to live through the side effects. Must follow the rules of the world even if it hurts my body to do it. | F | 46 | 3 months | 2/12/2009 | 5 | seizure disorder | I have taken 300 mg of Dilantin nightly for 36 years and been seizure free except for 1 seizure in the hospital after the birth of my first child; (I wasn't taking the Dilantin properly at the time because of my concerns about its possible effects on the baby...there were none.)I have had surgery on my upper gums twice in the past 12 years which was virtually painless thanks to my wonderful periodontist. I have short term memory problems and have recently started to have occasional tingling in my arms and hands. My neurologist has mentioned other, newer drugs that I could switch to but my attitude has been "if its not broken, don't fix it!" I also have refused to switch to the generic form of Dilantin despite having to pay more for the brand name.I believe I've lived a completely normal life thanks to this drug. | F | 54 | 36 years | 1/30/2009 | 1 | Gran Mals | I had the side effect within 2 weeks of a rash all over my legs and arms. I was taken off it and given prednisone. That was awful. From what I remember about those 2 weeks, I was nervous, tired or just out of it. Was in a store calm and then had this overwhelming anxiety. I had to leave the store. | Obviously not for me. The rash and borderline Psychotic behavior was enough to convince. I am on Depakote and although tired at some times, no seizures. | M | 27 | 2 weeks | 1/10/2009 | 1 | bullet in brain grand mal seziours | sex drive whats that...is what i would say the first few years i was on it,memory loss,at times i cant sleep to save my life sometimes days at a time,for lack of a better way to put it my hands twitch out on me at random,i had all mt teeth pulled for two reasons 1 no more bloody toung and not eating for a week because of it and 2 pain, fall over for no reason people think im drunk at times, lets see i know theres more but the memory loss is kicking in | dont have as many seziours but for all the down sids im gitting off thees pills i shouldnt have any i still from time to time wake up in the E.R idk there has to be something else i can be taking if any1 has any info i would love to hear it btw i also heard it can make it harder to have kids i hope this is not the case we are trying to start a family with no luck so far like i said any info will help | M | 28 | 10 years | 12/20/2008 | 4 | Oligodendroglioma Tumor | I think it has caused me to have Erectile Dysfunction slowly over a period of 4 years | System seams to be able to tolerate all other side effects | M | 63 | 5 years | 12/17/2008 | 5 | skull fracture at age 10 | At age 66 I only have a very small amount of memory loss, names and this just may be old age. | At age 10 the specialist put me on 400 mg/day dialntin & 60 mg/ day phenobarbatol, 1/2 morning and 1/2 at bed time. He also told me that I would have to avoid cafine, nicotine,alcohol, & later I found aspertaine to be included. Very important. | M | 66 | 55 years | 11/22/2008 | 4 | Motorcycle wreck | Trouble focusing eyes, cloudy thoughts sometimes, serious loss of appetite, Hair growth on eyebrows and nose. | I didnt have a seizure until over a year after the wreck which happened to be a grandmal. I havnt had any problems unable to be over looked other than trouble focusing my eyes. I have hazy thoughts. I have to force myself to eat more than a bowl of cereal some days. My eyebrows are thicker and my nose hairs have grown in length. I had to read on the internet about possible bone problems from this and the generic version so even if I havent had a noticable seizure since taking this medication I will be looking into finding an alternative drug. I took Dilantin and had to switch to the generic, Phenytoin, for the cost. | M | 31 | 2 years | 11/11/2008 | 3 | I have had brain surgery for an avm | I experience many of the same things others have listed such as the tiredness, trouble expressing myself, vivid dreams etc. | I am unsure if it really works as from time to time i have had seizures while on the Dilantin. Thankfully, though I think I have been seizure free for a while now, although i recently awoke with my mouth and tongue bitten. I m curious to see if any one has rapid arm movements during there sleep. At times I m good while other times one of my arms moves rapidly back and forth almost waking me. Sometimes I think it s a dream while other times Im sure it occured. | M | 42 | 3 years | 11/1/2008 | 5 | Epilepsy | Memory loss,can't find the right word, tired in the afternoon, hair growth, Eye floaters. I am not sure but after 38 years of taking Dilantin I have progressively bad eye floaters, in the last 10 years I have develope atrial fibrillation an lately tremors. I wonder if these are connected with the extended use? | In talking to my doctor he has told me that dilantin was used to deal with A Fib for many years. I wonder if there is any connection with onset from prolong use in people who never had it? I will add that Dilantin has kept me seizure free for 38 years though I still get aors from time to time. I am greatful for the drug despite the after affects. | M | 53 | 38 years | 10/23/2008 | 4 | Seizure Condition | Fatigue or drowsiness (at times extreme) particularly in the early evening, increased difficulty finding the right words and/or remembering names, difficulty concentrating, irritability, sense of loss or feeling lost, lack of ambition, etc… I have listed my symptoms in order of prevalence and while I’m not certain all are side effects of Dilantin, they seem to be shared by many. The fact that I suffer from Sleep Apnea seems to amplify the drowsiness to the point that I often find it nearly impossible to watch a TV program or movie in the evening without falling asleep. Once I have passed out cold on the couch (around 8:00 p.m.), my wife finds it nearly impossible to wake me and I often feel that “coming out of sleep is very hard as if I’m drunk”, as one writer states below. Once I finally wake up (around 11:00 p.m.), I find myself wide awake soon afterwards and unable to sleep again until the wee hours of the morning. This frustrates my wife to no end | I have read all of the comments on this page and I understand, to some degree, how difficult many of your experiences have been. I am grateful to have a fairly normal, seizure free life and realize that things could be much worse than having to deal with the side-effects of Dilantin. Nonetheless, I know that it can be challenging and I try to take comfort in the hope that someday soon progress will be made towards understanding, preventing and perhaps even curing seizure disorders currently regarded as “idiopathic”. In the meantime, I recommend that you send those near to you to this webpage so that they may read and gain a better understanding of what you’re experiencing. Good luck to all. | M | 45 | 7 years | 10/3/2008 | 4 | seizures | Only been taking drug three weeks, some slowing of my thought process. 3 seizures in sleep. Crushed my L1 vertebrea during seizure. Anyone ever heard of that? | Only seems to be slowing my thought process at this point. Does that get better with time? | M | 46 | 3 weeks | 9/29/2008 | 5 | grand-mal seizure | Totally lost my sense of balance, slow growths in mouth may eventually take over where my tongue is supposed to be, bone density is "compromised." | Only had two break-through seizures -- once when I forgot medicine for three days (teenager!) and once during reduced dose after pregnancy. Yes, I went through two pregnancies and nursing for months afterward while on 2mg of dilantin. Hard to attribute some things to side-effect of medicine -- but very easy to note that seizures are gone! | F | 60 | 43 years | 9/14/2008 | 4 | Temporal lobe epilepsy head injury | Fatigue in the afternoons and concentration loss. Twitchiness as I am about to fall asleep. Drink coffee to counteract this. I sleep like a baby at night. I have been taking 300mg every night for the last 15 years and have not had a single seizure during this time. I am competative skydiver and have done long distance swimming too. I battle with conversations at times and as I often forget what I wanted to say. I have very vivid dreams. I wondering if it is time reduce the dosage or experiment with other anti-epileptic drugs? | Been using dilantin for 15 years. | M | 31 | | 9/14/2008 | 4 | Complex partial seizures | Swelling of the gums, fatigue | While having video monitor EEG done prior to temporal lobectomy, it was cut back. Frequency/severity of seizures increased. After surgery, seizures were controlled. Pharmacist switched to generic and THE GENERIC VERSION FAILED. Went back on brand and it is working. | M | 46 | 40 days | 8/27/2008 | 3 | Sleep Seizures | I have taken what seems like em all. Dilantin, Keppra, tegretol, trileptal, the list goes on on and on. Dilantin is the only one that seems to work. But only when its at a good level. For some reason my levels go way up and down we think it was because of a couple thing DO NOT DRINK DIET POP while taking this medicine. It will cause your levels to drop. Side effects definately get the memory loss and dizzyness. I also have very VIVID dreams anyone else get that? I got some nasty teeth too | Like I said the only one that works for me too bad the side effects suck | M | 29 | 17 years | 8/22/2008 | 5 | seizures | Only side effect seems to be growths on my skin especially on my face. I have been on Dilantin for 32 years! Tried others but others caused bad side effects. | F | 50 | 32 years | 8/16/2008 | 4 | Bad accident - seizure | I do get tired in the afternoons and usually take a nap. I have been that way ever since the accident. I was put on Dilantin about 2 months after the accident when I had a grand mal. I have been on it for about 3 years. The only other side effect is that my gums swell, which sucks lots because the accident bought me some braces and it looks funny. No big deal when I was originally a write off but things have gone amazingly well anyway. | I'm 27 and don't have any kids. I guess Dilantin is one of the best seizure medications to be on if you are pregnant, so I'll stay on it. Very few side effects on unborn babies. Side effects on me aren't too bad but my gums are quite swollen. I haven't had surgury to fix that yet. | F | 27 | 3 years | 8/10/2008 |