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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Epilepsy / February 2006Switching from Dilantin to Phenytek?
I'm new to this group but I was diagnosed with epilepsy back in '83 and I've been taking Dilantin since then. 300mg daily seems to be the magic dose for me over all those years. I'm wondering how problematic it would be to switch from a daily dose of three 100mg capsules of Dilantin to only one 300mg capsule of Phenytek. Does anyone have first hand experience making this change? What do I need to be concerned about? Do I need to wean myself off of the Dilantin or can I make an abrupt change? Thanks > I'm new to this group but I was diagnosed with epilepsy back in '83 and > I've been taking Dilantin since then. 300mg daily seems to be the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > the Dilantin or can I make an abrupt change? > Thanks In general your neurologist should tell you what is best in your case? I assume an abrupt change should not be the best course of action, but hey I am not a neurologist. > In general your neurologist should tell you what is best in your case? I > assume an abrupt change should not be the best course of action, but hey I > am not a neurologist. I've never, ever known a neurologist to tell me that an abrupt change is the best one. I've seen many specialists over the years, and they all gave me a chart telling me the correct way to wean myself off my meds, all written out for me, complete with what I was taking now, and how I should slowly wean myself onto my new meds over several weeks. I'm not a neurologist either, but I've weaned myself on and off all sorts of different mixtures of meds over the years, but if I ever met a neuro who told me anything else, I'd tell him/her to go back to school again! All the best Sofie  SignaturePlease visit my deviantART page: http://sofen.deviantart.com/ I too have been on Dilantin since the mid 1980s; 3-100mgs/da. About a year ago, the doc had me switch to Phenytek (phenytoin) at one 300 mg cap/da. I just stopped taking the Dilantin one night and began the Phenytek instead. Everything seemed fine - or better than fine - until I had the level checked. Come to find out it had dropped from 12-14 to 4! He immediately had me switch back to the Dilantin. I went to see him yesterday and now I'm going to try Trileptal. I guess we'll see how that goes! > I'm new to this group but I was diagnosed with epilepsy back in '83 and > I've been taking Dilantin since then. 300mg daily seems to be the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > the Dilantin or can I make an abrupt change? > Thanks >I too have been on Dilantin since the mid 1980s; 3-100mgs/da. About a year >ago, the doc had me switch to Phenytek (phenytoin) at one 300 mg cap/da. I [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >had me switch back to the Dilantin. I went to see him yesterday and now I'm >going to try Trileptal. I guess we'll see how that goes! "Phenytek" appears to be a generic version of Dilantin. In the case of this drug, the generics may not have as reliable a potency as does the trade-named Dilantin. Why does your doctor want to take you off Dilantin (Phenytoin)? Unless you are having some problem with the drug, why change? Trileptal is a long-acting (and more expensive) version of Tegretol (Carmabazepine) and has its own set of side-effects. Talk it over with your doctor. If he is not a specialist (neurologist or neurosurgeon), ask for a specialist's opinion. Best, Bob Robert A. Fink, M. D. Neurological Surgery 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA 510-849-2555 ********************************** NOTE: The material above is not "medical advice". Medical advice can only be given after an in-person contact between doctor and patient. ********************************** The doctor is a neurologist and the idea of switching is mine and not his. I asked him about an alternative to Dilantin that could possibly reduce the brain fog and loss of emotional feelings. In response he suggested Trileptal as an alternative. I have not for sure made the decision to switch. I remember the hell I went through getting use to Dilantin and I don't want to have that happen again! Thanks for your input. Charlie >>I too have been on Dilantin since the mid 1980s; 3-100mgs/da. About a >>year [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > doctor and patient. > ********************************** I'm new to this group I use to be on Dilantin when I was younger but then i found out about A medication called DEPAKOTE ER my doctor put me on this about 8 years ago and i have been doing fine ever scence . David >I too have been on Dilantin since the mid 1980s; 3-100mgs/da. About a year >ago, the doc had me switch to Phenytek (phenytoin) at one 300 mg cap/da. I [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> the Dilantin or can I make an abrupt change? >> Thanks
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