Phenytoin hirsutism
Common Questions and Answers about Phenytoin hirsutism
dilantin
Excess hair on face in females is usually due to excess of male hormones called androgens and this is called hirsutism. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of hirsutism. Adrenal gland problems like adrenal tumors, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Addison’s disease or Cushing’s syndrome also result in excess hair. At times the hair follicles are very sensitive to androgens in blood. This results in excess hair.
Skin hyperpigmentation caused by an increase in melanin of the basal layer and dispersion of melanin granules has been seen and is more common in women than in men. Phenytoin can produce hypertrichosis or hirsutism (unusual growth of hair) in some patients. This reaction is generally confined to the extremities but can affect the trunk and face and may be irreversible. Severe dermatologic reactions to phenytoin are infrequent.
Hi everyone,
I'm new to this community.
My neurologist just informed me that Osteoporosis and shrinkage of the Cerebellum are very serious side effects for long term users of Dilantin. Does anyone know more about this?
I've been taking 500mg of Dilantin for over 30 years since I was a teenager, and now I'm terribly worried. Not one of the neurologists had mentioned anything about this over the years, and now at 46, I've learned that I may have severe osteoporosis.
Hello,
Hirsutism is usually caused by hormonal imbalance and in women PCOS is one of the leading causes of hirsutism and infertility. The methods of hair removal in hirsutism are shaving, chemical depilation by using depilatory creams, temporary epilation by plucking, tweezing, waxing and permanent epilation by electrolysis, thermolysis and laser hair removal.
Apart from these there are some medicines available for treating hirsutism in PCOS.
Hello,
These facial hair are due to hirsutism. Hirsutism is usually caused by hormonal imbalance and in women PCOS is one of the leading causes of hirsutism. The methods of hair removal in hirsutism are shaving, chemical depilation by using depilatory creams, temporary epilation by plucking, tweezing, waxing and permanent epilation by electrolysis, thermolysis and laser hair removal.
I wanted to ask all of you about your experience with hirsutism. I'm fair skinned and have a mild case - a smattering of dark hairs on my chin and upper lip, but tons--and I mean TONS of hair everywhere on my body, but it's not coarse and dark, it's more the soft, vellus kind. And it's not that real short, hardly noticeable peach fuzz everyone has. It's long, like several millimeters, and very noticeable.
But if there are excess body hair then hirsutism needs to be ruled out. Although hirsutism in not regularly found in males but it is not always so. Adrenal tumors and dysfunction are the commonest causes of hirsutism in males. Adrenocortical tumors are almost always malignant in patients who present with hirsutism. The other common cause is of Cushing’s syndrome. I suggest you to consult an endocrinologist in that case.
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.
The different methods of hair removal are shaving, chemical depilation by using depilatory creams, temporary epilation by plucking, tweezing, waxing and permanent epilation by electrolysis, thermolysis and laser hair removal. But if the hair growth is excessive then hirsutism has to be ruled out. Hirsutism is usually caused by hormonal imbalance and in women PCOS is one of the leading causes of hirsutism and infertility.
Moban® brand of molindone hydrochloride contains calcium ions which interfere with the absorption of phenytoin. Ingestion times of phenytoin and antacid preparations containing calcium should be staggered in patients with low serum phenytoin levels to prevent absorption problems”. Taken from http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/phenyt_od.htm
Our population is divided into 4 type of metabolizers ranging from rapid to slow metabolizers depending upon the speed of elimination of drug from body.
ve heard saw palmetto and licorice helps, but I wanted to know what you ladies use personally and what works best. I have hirsutism, terrible acne and I am overweight. I also believe I am prediabetic, as my grandmother on my father's side had diabetes and my mother, so it runs in both sides of the family. (I also believe my grandmother had pcos and my father has the male version if there is one. I thought I read that somewhere.
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.
Hello,
Too thick beard can be due to genetic causes and is considered normal. Other cause can be hirsutism. Hirsutism can be due to abnormally high levels of male hormones (called androgens) like in Cushing’s syndrome, tumour or overactivity of the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland and medicines like hormones and anabolic steroids.
Hello,
Your daughter seems to be having hirsutism. Hirsutism with weight gain is commonly found in hormonal imbalance, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperprolactinemia and polycystic ovarian disease. To confirm the diagnosis please get an evaluation done from an endocrinologist.
I hope it helps. Take care and regards.
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. Because i never know when these symptoms will come on too strong I have missed a lot of days at work during my probation period.
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