Phenytoin half life
Common Questions and Answers about Phenytoin half life
dilantin
I was recently diagnosed with epilepsy after 4 sycopal episodes two of which cause head and face injuries. During those times I had not yet been diagnosed and was able to go back to life like normal, however after the diagnosis and being on phenytoin and switching to oxcarbazepine i am feeling awful. Dizzy, nauseated, moody, extremely tired, severe headaches that come and go. All i get from my Neurologist is these are side effects that will eventually go away.
In a small study, phenytoin-induced seizures occurred most often in patients with serum phenytoin concentrations of 50 mcg/ml or higher.[393] Peripheral neuropathy, usually occurring weeks to months after drug initiation, has also been reported in patients receiving phenytoin. A single case report describes the onset of neuropathy within a few hours of drug administration.[9780]
Adverse GI effects of phenytoin therapy include nausea/vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, and anorexia.
Folic acid supplementation in folate-deficient patients with epilepsy changes the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin, usually leading to lower serum phenytoin concentrations and possible seizure breakthrough..."
It however says that initiation of Folic acid and phenytoin together is beneficial.
Since you can't go back and start all over again, you can take a small dose. It has been observed that as los as 1mg dose can perturb phenytoin’s levels, You may take doses lower than 1mg/day.
I was on Dilantin for about 30 years and I went to a new doctor because I moved. The first thing he said to me was "we have to get you off of Dilantin" he had taking xrays of my brain and he saw that half of my brain was shrinking. He slowly took me off of Dilantin and put me onto Keppra. Ever since I have been on Keppra things have be better. I still have small seizures but not many and they are under control...........Please get off of Dilantin and onto Keppra.
Thank you for your question, you are relatively fine with Phenytoin and the seizure episodes in a form of lack of speech are the residue of a generalized type seizure. I don’t have a full description of your consciousness during the lack of speech episodes to decide whether this start is a partial epilepsy which can continue in a generalized or it is a generalized one from the first moment..
Hello AB, welcome to the medhelp forum. Phenytoin can cause certain side effects like dizziness and mental confusion. Some people may also manifest incoordinate movements. Weight gain is not a documented side effect. It could be related to your alcohol consumption or wrong dietary habits and lack of exercise. An occasional one or two drink may be fine but moderate or large amount can cause significant increases in blood levels of phenytoin due to induction of hepatic enzymes.
I totally forgot to tell you that he is on Phenytoin 100mg once daily. Can this be continued and taken for a long period of time?
Thank you doctor once again for your immediate reply.
I have taken brand name dilantin most of my life. I was always afraid of switching to the generic but finally decided to try it a few months back. Sure enough, I had a full fledged grand mal for the first time in 18 years. My blood levels showed I was low (well below the desired 10 to 20). Can anyone tell me why the generic works different than the brand name? I've heard they use different bonding agents for the capsules as one possibility.
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