Phenytoin and Nerve Pain: What Users Say

• nod...
• July 15, 2007

Phenytoin for Seizures "I took Dilantin to control grand mal seizures for close to forty years. It worked fairly well for me, but it caused peripheral neuropathy in my feet, and I had to change to Neurontin, which has worked just as well. This adverse reaction was not mentioned to me until it was too late, and the nerve damage is irreversible."

• LJW...
• August 14, 2017

Phenytoin for Epilepsy "I started Dilantin in 1974. About 25 years of taking it has given me peripheral neuropathy. No doctor in all those years told me that it might do this to me. I am changing over to Keppra, but the damage is done. My balance is off, and for pain, I take Lyrica. If Dilantin works for, that's great, but we should be informed that neuropathy might happen."

• Rog...
• April 18, 2013

Phenytoin for Peripheral Neuropathy "I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 8 years old, I was put on Dilantin. When I was 65, my neurologist changed my meds 3 or 4 times, and I am now on Keppra twice a day with phenobarbital at night. I haven't had a problem in 6 years, but I developed neuropathy, which is a real pain. It makes me have balance problems."

• Rac...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 27, 2021

For Seizures "I was given phenytoin 300 mg daily after my first seizure at 11 years old. I am now 68 and have been more or less seizure-free for most of my life. However, recently, I have been suffering badly from neuropathic pain and numbness in my feet. I am going to have to find a good replacement drug as sadly the medication is now giving me very nasty side effects. Watch out if you take this for a long time, but for years, it’s been a very effective medication."