Phenytoin osteoporosis
Common Questions and Answers about Phenytoin osteoporosis
dilantin
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
My doctor told me that I have Osteoporosis and wants me to try Forteo an injection for two years. Has anyone tried this drug and what were your side effects, if any. I don't want to make my stomach problems worse than there already are.
can anyone help me out with some information on what is going on here, her osteoporosis does not seam to be getting any worse, as she is on meds and really diets well to help herself, but the pain is what i am worried about, pain killers do not work at all, she can't have anti inflams for some reason, either heart or ulcer or something...
what can she do for the pain??
I just had my frist Bone scan and the office called me and said I had osteoporosis and that they called in RX for Atelvia..
I picked up the RX and was reading the information and I am concerned about the side effect of this medication.
Is this the only way to help with osteoporosis? Is there anything elso another way?
I am a 59 year old female.The reading on my bone density test is minus 4.1 for my spine and minus 2.6 for my legs and hip. However, my doctor isn't prescribing any medication for me but tells me to continue taking calcium supplement and Vitamin D and come back in a year to do another test. Since I am obviously having osteoporosis, shouldn't I be taking any prescription drug? I am worried sick over the reading and need some expert opinion to go back and talk to my doctor again.
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.
Addition of other antiepileptic drugs like phenytoin,lamotrigene and sedatives will be helpful for controll of his night symptoms.
A few weeks ago I woke up with yellow crust on the corner of my lips and it went away in 2 days, and today I woke up and it's in the exact same spot again except a little more then before. It doesn't hurt or itch, it feels like my lips are very very dry. I don't smoke, I have grandmal seizures and my medication is phenytoin and kepra but I didn't read anywhere that would be a side effect so I'm worried this could be a STD or something.
drugs like gabapentin, phenytoin are used for hemifacial spasm. Other options are botulinum injections and microvascular decompression surgery. Hope this helps. Take care.
Some professionals think that it is a precursor to the development of osteoporosis, a type of bone disease. Despite this, not all cases of osteopenia lead to that condition.
Causes
Various factors can be behind the development of osteopenia. As mentioned, people with hypothyroidism may have this issue show up. Due to the loss of estrogen, it is relatively common in post-menopausal females. Certain lifestyle factors can also worsen the condition.
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