DILANTIN Reviews (PHENYTOIN SODIUM)Average Rating: 3.5 (185 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare DILANTIN with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
|
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 |
| 4 | Idiopathic Epilepsy | Years ago at age 39, I experienced 2 gran mal seizures while asleep - 30 days apart. I was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy and Dilantin was the best of the anti-convulsants I tried. I had petit mal seizures for a few years, but none after that. I've been taking 300 mg daily for 34 years. I had severe gum problems requiring sugery almost quarterly, which stopped completely after the first 10 years. I've had a slow developing neuropathy in my feet, and I know that Dilantin contributed to my osteoperosis (hip fracture 6 years ago). I was on Fosamax for 6 years with good results until recently. I was switched to Boniva with terrible side effecdts. My problem now is the possibility of coming off Dilantin to one of the newer drugs to better control the progress of the osteoperosis. Dilantin has been a great "work horse" drug for me despite the side effects. If changing causes me to lapse into a seizue, I may no longer be able to drive - or worse. | Younger women should clearly be aware of the need for conscientious dental health to control gum disease, as well as the risk for osteoperosis and drug-induced neuropathy with Dilantin. Otherwise, it's been a God-send for controlling seizures. | F | 63 | 34 years | 7/30/2008 | 1 | Epilepsy | My IQ managed to drop ten points and I found problems with abstract thinking. My reading comprehension fell and my word usage became confused. My teeth hurt, and my eyes were twitching constantly. | M | 20 | 2 years | 6/28/2008 | 3 | 1 unexplained grand mal seizure | On 300 mg daily. Just was reduced from 400 (2) 100 mg twice daily. Trouble finding words, shaky hands, unable to focus, reading was a joke, dizzy, stumbled and lost balance, headache and not sure if this is from it but a lot more gas! Also my tongue and gums are itchy. | I don't like it at all, but it stopped the seizure in the hospital. I passed out while driving and was in and out of it in the ER when I had a grand mal seizure. Was given Dilantin in the IV and it stopped it. Have my first appt with a neurologist next week and would like to switch. Still waiting on first blood levels to come back. | F | 33 | 2 weeks | 5/23/2008 | 4 | gran tonic mal clonic epilepsy | chronic and often severe constipation, short term/ long term memory loss, reduced ability to concentrate, and tingling in the extremeties. no more writhing around on floors biting my tongue to a bloody pulp and waking up, injured, to voices of EMS people asking, "who is the president of the united states?" who take me to the hospital and charge me $2000 for the ride. | i forgot what i was going to say. | M | 27 | 13 years | 5/10/2008 | 1 | epilepsy head injury from rta | poor memory, unsteady on feet, mood swings, low on patience, poor sleep patterns cant fall asleep. BAd gums, black and bleeding, poor concentration, skin rash, confusion at times, word finding difficulties, slow tired have to compensate with caffiene, constipated, reduced dexterity to fingers. | Dont take it! | M | 49 | 14 years | 4/24/2008 | 1 | Epilepsy | It is a good medicine for seizure control. BUT, I have been taking it for 40 years and stopped it three years ago because I had heard of dilantin related problems especially after long-term use. I switched to LAMICTAL, which is a 3rd generation seizure medication and which is keeping me seizure free. About ten years ago, I began to have issues with balance and my gait. This worsened and a few times I fell while teaching a class. Sometimes carrying chemicals, I felt unsteady and was fortunate not to have an accident. My balance issue has worsened considerably, falls much more frequently and 'almost' falls (where I fell against a wall or counter, etc). By October of this year, I was falling one to three times a day. Some very seious -fell backwards down our stairs, another time fell into our fish pond and was lucky not to drown. I have broken furniture. Apparently, long term dilantin use can damage the cerebellum (Which controls balance and arm use) and also can cause ext | I think Dilantin is a good short term drug but should never, ever be used long term. There are new, anti-seizure medications with fewer side-effects. | M | 60 | 40 years | 4/21/2008 | 5 | seizure | Level went up to 22.8 I normally have a level of 14.5 to 15. Supplier said there is not difference in the new DIlANTIN. But as you can see something may be different. | Although my supplier said that there is no difference. How do you account for the raised level? I have been taking Dilantin for 8 years and as additional information I believe my seizure in 2000 was a direct result of having a flu shot. I had a flu shot at 10.00a.m and 12 hours later I was being taken to local hospital because of a seizure. Kind of makes you wonder about FLU shots!!!! | M | 62 | 8 years | 4/15/2008 | 4 | at the age of 52 I had a grand mal. | I am glad this stops the seizures because during my grand mal I was in our cabin, fell off the the bed injured both shoulders, but cut off my air and came close to brain damage or death. My wife woke up and noticed something wrong and really saved me. but sometimes I have a very short (20-60 seconds) confusion, hot flash where my face gets red, and then I have a headache for a while. I have been taking this for about 18 months. my doctor is considering an additional med to help this. currently he doing more testing. | I read a lot about the drug and seizures to learn all I can. My doctor seems good but, like with most doc's is very busy. I want to go to Mayo for a complete physical. | M | 53 | 18 months | 4/15/2008 | 4 | unexplained Grand Mal seizure | "in a fog"; extreme short term memory loss very often; takes longer to recall long term memories; excess hair growth and darkening of body hair!!!; sleep up to 10 hours at night; coming out of sleep is very hard as if I am drunk; jitters; can't find the word; headaches if I take a few sips of alcohol | I take 100 mg 3 times a day. I have been on it for 4 1/2 months. No seizures although the one I had is still unexplained. My doc says it may have just been a "once in a lifetime event." I think it was caused by months of anxiety, stress, and insomnia before my seizure. By 3 months, I have gotten used to the side effects although if I am very tired or become upset, they intensify. I brought up switching meds to my doc to Trileptal but after reading the side effects for that drug I think I will stick with Dilantin. | F | 23 | 4 months | 4/13/2008 | 3 | Temporal Lobe Seizures | Memory Loss (both long-term and short-term), I don't remember entire events, if I do remember an event, I don't remember any details, it's like my past is 95% a mystery, I also have a hard time remembering conversations I just had, if I don't write it down...it's gone, I have a hard time thinking, sometimes my mind goes completely blank in the middle of a conversation, and I can't remember the next word I wanted to say, I'm having a hard time concentrating, I get anxious, I have no more patience, sometimes I sleep like a rock, and sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep anymore, and I toss and turn until morning | Dilantin has helped to control some of my seizure activity, however, it has robbed me of my mind and my memories. I'm even off work right now on disability, because the side effects won't let me function right. | F | 43 | 14 years | 4/13/2008 | 1 | temporal lobe epilepsy | Very spongy, horribly swollen gums, in a matter of two months. Grew to cover half my teeth. Skin thickened and became pebbly and rough. Thick black hair grew on lip, chin, throat and limbs. Utterly terrifying and disgusting. Depression, suicidal thoughts, lack of dreams, edema. Massive weight gain, caused in part by the lethargy. Muscle weakness, often unable to bend over or stand up. Worse of all, became incapable of concentrating on reading, working math and physics problems and now forget from one second to the next what I am doing. Became the complete opposite of what I was physically and creatively before drug use. | This drug is a favorite of neurologists where I lived. Yes, it controlled my seizures for a while and I turned into a physical and emotional monster that I can't bear to look at. When I voiced my concerns of my appearance and physical deterioration, I was promptly told off and the drug increased. Bad drug, bad. Destroys the body and mind. | F | 45 | 9 years | 4/11/2008 | 4 | Removal of benign brain tumor. | Loss of short term memory. Loss of balance. Fatigue. Moody. | 300mg/day for one year after the first post-operation seizure prevented reoccurrence of seizure during the one year span. Reduction of dosage to 250mg/day may have caused one additional seizure. | M | 50 | 26 months | 3/27/2008 | 4 | cycle accident 1972 2 brain surger | at times comfused, short term memmory not so good. that is about it for side effects. If I drink a beer or two I get tired. | I have been taking dilantin for 37 years. 300 mil a day. The company should send them to me free by now. | M | 53 | 37 years | 3/26/2008 | 4 | Seizures, venous malformation | Very tired/drowsy, difficulty with word finding & loss of memory - though I thought these may be from my condition? Increased liver enzymes, but dr. doesn't want to take me off at this time due to my potentially having future medical procedures. | When I was in the hospital after my second seizure in four days, they started me on Dilantin and had a REALLY difficult time getting my levels "therapuetic." Dilantin IV was incredibly painful. I was originally placed on 400 mg/day, but level was still not therapuetic. Since bumping me to 500 mg a day, finally reached therapuetic. Have been on Dilantin now for 4 months and it has worked to control my seizure activity. | F | 35 | 4 months | 3/8/2008 | 5 | epilesy from car accident | some motor skill loss(but that could be due to the brain injury and breakage of middle ear), memory loss - short term (or head injury related?), bleeding gums(just bad dental practices occasionally or bad diet?). Hard to tell which does what. But get anger spurts which are uncalled for and unexplainable. | Heard that dialantin would slow me down. Compensated by drinking coffee. Was more of a manic normal worker. Take 300mg/day Blood count as low as 40 and as high as 150. What is considered high for "toxic liver"? | M | 52 | 34 years | 12/27/2007 | 4 | epilepsy | reduced mental acuity, reduced memory, fatigue, hand tremors, reduced libido and eventually impotence, disturbing dreams, odd sleep patterns, lots of unwanted coarse hair growth on torso front and back and elsewhere, nerve damage to feet and hands, balance problems, sick feeling at times, fuzzier eye focus, constipation, reduced dexterity of fingers, swollen gums, bone density problems | IF you are sensitive to siezure control medications like I am, Dilantin is a bad drug to take over the long term. Unfortunately, it's the only one that works (I've tried them all). It is mentally and physically debilitating, to the point where I had to give up my law practice permanentaly. I am gradually suffering permanent numb feet and hands, and am told I will experience permanent balance problems and osteoperois. As noted in a Univ. of WA seminar, the drug does not work as well after you return to it after an unsuccessful attempt to switch, so be cautious when your neurologist casually suggests trying yet another drug. Dilantin is the oldest and probably least sophisticated of the siezure control medications, and is very toxic to those who are sensitive. | M | 56 | 13 years | 12/21/2007 | 1 | seizures | mouth decay and seirus mouth pain can't eat regurly | we should be compasated for pain and suffering | M | 22 | 1 days | 8/18/2007 | 3 | "Focus" for seizures in brain | After taking Dilantin now for my fourth week, I feel safe in regards to my seizure prevention, yet have many concerns towards my Dilantin medication. Since being on the medication - 400mg at bed time - I have experienced extreme mood swings including frustration, impatience and anti-social feelings towards my friends and family, even towards my girlfriend. I also find myself at times very dizzy for a minute or two at a time to the point where I feel I have to sit down in order to continue walking or even standing. I have also felt a major loss of appetite complete with almost daily headaches. My final symptom since beginning Dilantin is a very ugly rash beginning on my feet and hands and spreading upwards towards my legs and arms. The rash is similar to a Measles rash - and I have had my shots for that - with tiny red spots not very raised that itch on occasion, complete with shakiness and tingling of these extremities. | Has anyone else near my age with a seizure issue had the same sort of side effects to Dilantin or possibly have any advice? Is this something like an allergic reaction to the medication or the standard side effects for it? Are there any substitute prescriptions anyone knows of that I may be able to ask my Doctor about? Thank you for your time. | M | 24 | 1 months | 7/10/2007 | 3 | Brain Tumor | I have had a frontal lobe brain tumor that is basicaly inoperatable. Lack of concentration, dizziness, unable to spell words, loss of words, mood swings, swollen gums. I am in the process of taking Lamictal (300mgs a day) and Keppra (2000mg a day) with Dilantin (500mgs per day). With all this medication i still have a seizure every two weeks which are considered grand mal seizures. | Any suggestions of another medication that can help? | F | 30 | 9 months | 6/6/2007 | 3 | seizure | Moody, memory loss, bleed gums. dizzyness, felt lost, depressed, yawned all day nd slept more than was a wake. | I was cut down from 3 pills to 2 1/2 pills (half pill was chewable) The mix of pill and chewable made it worse symptoms. | M | 21 | 2.5 months | 5/16/2007 |