therapeutic dilantin level

I'm a 48 yr old black female who began having seizures 7-8 yrs ago. they have increased to about 1 time a week. I'm taking 750 mg of Keppra and Dilantin 100mg 2 x a day.

I did have the same problem a few years ago when I went to the ER for another problem. They checked my Dilantin level and it was low. They made me take 4 right there on the spot!! They never what could cause that. I was with another doctor until recently when he moved to another city and I had to find a new one. I have been seeing him since June and my serum level has been too low. Again, no suggestions on what could be causing this except me not taking my meds!!

trying to wean myself off Dilantin safely without having the status epilepticus from withdrawal because I never have had seizures before but had where I would go blank but still beable to function but not speak for a short time like 5-10secs doctors here did a EEG and find nothing out of the ordinary but prescribe Dilantin anyways which I have been taking 200mg daily for about 10yrs I hope it has not done any damage to where I can't make my own decision and wean myself off of it I am now at

My nurse practitioner ordered another Dilantin level check when I had another spell at their offices. My blood level was 17 at that time and I had taken 200 mg that morning. At my third appointment my neurologist put me on the name brand Dilantin and reduced the dosage to 400 mg. I am finally starting to feel better by degrees. My questions: 1. Could I have become toxic on the generic Dilantin even though I was within range? 2.

3 and they gave him a loading dose of 500mg. PO of dilantin, and 500mg. IV Dilantin. He is very regimented taking his Dilantin and does not miss doses. And told him to take 400mgs. today. I have a call in to our family Dr. and waiting for a return. We were being seen by a Neurologist, but she abruptly cancelled my husbands January appt. and said she was leaving town for a month, and did not refer us to any other Dr. so we saw the family Dr. who is prescribing.

He also ordered an increase in Visiting Nurse Services, because of the recent abdominal pain episode and weight loss, as well as, the episodes of Dilantin toxicity and non-therapeutic Dilantin level, right now it's therapeutic, but wants to watch it closely, to make sure it stays that way.

I have a neighbor that was on it too long and she started having seizures more frequently and was hospitalized.They took her Dilantin level and accused her of not taking her meds.But it had started leaking into other places.They found that out while she was still in the hospital. Now for my own experience.I wasn't always monitored properly;it was always easier to just dispense the med.

It may be the dilantin level. I'd have it checked. there have been cases of toxicity, myself included, with the new formulation from pzifer.

My EEG was normal, I had an MRI done the doctor wants to check it out. He did the dilantin test said the level were good. Dilantin does swell the gum, it causes weight gain, as do all the others I have taken. I am studying and realise my brain is now sluggish, I need to sleep.

Thank you for your guidance. I ran out of room on my post so I didn't get a chance to say that I had a Dilantin level check in 10/08 that was 19.9 and again 3 weeks ago that was 17. My normal is around 11-14. I do have sleep apnea and always use my machine. If I have narcolepsy in addition, that would be a new condition. Since my neurologist put me on the name brand and lowered the dosage by 50 mg I am starting to feel better.

i had a pituitary tumor and was told dilantin will mess with labs. im hoping to get off dilantin completly in a couple months.

Your husband's Dilantin level may be low due to the way his body is using it.The med is known to 'find it's way' to all the organs,the bones and teeth.I was recently talking to someone who yrs ago had the same problem with a low Dilantin count.Her Dr even accused her of not taking her medication! But when she ended up in the hospital and was being given the medicine,that arguement would no longer suffice!

t trying to **** me off but when I asked for any warning signals of toxicity (about the lithium) she started saying that NONE of my meds are even close to a therapeutic level. It kind of pissed me off! I just thought that was a pretty strong statement to make to someone, not being a doctor. But your right my pdoc knows what she's doing and I just need to trust her. To be completely honest I'm feeling extremely manic, jumpy, AND IRRITABLE!!!!!!!!!

My neurosurgeon has me changing from neurontin to dilantin and I think the dilantin may be helping; my pain level has decreased yesterday and today. I will see him again on July 7 and hopefully I will be able to report a good response to the dilantin. If the drugs do not work then he wants to try injection of glycerol. I will post again after my next visit with my neurosurgeon.

Hi, Thank you for your question. In medical terms involuntary muscle contraction called dystonia. This may be affected by nerve impingement, the position of the neck, and is often relieved when you are relaxed. It is difficult to find any specific cause for dystonia, however botox injections may be some help to prevent the contraction from occurring. I would recommend evaluation by a neurologist that may benefit you. I hope you find the information I have provided useful to you.

I have done some research and found that dilantin can lower folic acid levels, but I have also read that folic acid can interfere with dilantin, lowering the blood level, and setting one up for a possible breakthrough seizure. I recently purchased folic acid supplements because I thought it would be a good idea to take them, but now I am not so sure. The supplements I have are 800 mcg. Thank you for any help with this.

blood serum level--at least the medication level will stay within an acceptable range, but dilantin can have many unpleasant side effects, especially at 500mg. Neuroloigsts--better, epileptologists, or neurologists who specialize in epilepsy--know more about this jazz than internists. Dilantin is not prescribed as often as it used to be. SInce it has been around for many years, we have discovered that there are many side effects which are not worth risking.

She is on Dilantin for seizures and is not doing well. Very tired all the time. Her dilantin level came back at 21 so the doctor just lowered her dose. I'm just wondering if she should be taking the Free T3 test instead. My parents doctor is an older gentlemen and he never checked their thyroid levels until I asked him too. Thank you for any response.

Today, we got the result of Dilantin level which already reduce to 0.48 ug/ml. However the doctor has not yet told us the detail, we still waiting his comment. Would like to seek your opinions: 1. With that low level of Dilantin and already stop Dilantin since 1 month ago, will it still cause any side affect with above symptoms? 2.

(thats called cerebllar atrophy) So he took me off of dilantin and put me of KEPPRA, he had to experment with the levels but the level I'm on now is 500mg twice a day. And I'm also on diamox and tegertol..........Good Luck just don't go back on dilantin.

Can I expect to be taken off dilantin or will I have to wean off of it? Is there anything other then the meds that can cause the whole brain to seize like that?

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.

I started having seizures when I was 12 yrs. and they put me on dilantin and other meds. they never got under control so good until I went to a new doctor (because I moved) and at that time I was about 38, and the doctor did a MRI and other test. He then said to me the first thing we have to do is get you off of dilantin. He showed me that that pill was eating up half of my brain (it is called cerebellar atrophy). He slowly put me on different levels of Keppra and I haven't been better.

My lamictal was 2mg infantile and was working well until i had seizure with paxil. So each time i take a new drug i never reacvh what is called a therapeutic level. Why should i, if already my therapeutic level is so low instead of ruining my liver,... Could this apply to lithium as well, i.e. should i hope to shove swallow a 100mg say only or because the mechanism is different here that i should in any case reach at least 800 to start with.

i want to try to help my symptoms of crohn's by taking dilantin because even remekade is not helping , can that be good to try? thanks This discussion is related to <a href='http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/235008'>High GGT Level-Dylantin</a>.

Therapeutic dilantin level

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