Phenytoin and Seizures: What Users Say

• Rog...
• March 3, 2019

Phenytoin for Seizures "Been using Dilantin since a TBI in 1967 at 10 years old with grand mals. It’s now been 52 years I have taken Dilantin. The grand mals are history, and it’s been years since I’ve had a seizure. I take 200 mg Dilantin B.I.D. along with Phenobarbital 64.8 mg B.I.D. I am good to go! Brand name Dilantin has greatly improved my quality of life. ****NOTE FYI: The only seizures I’ve had in the last 12 years is when the hospitals gave me phenytoin generic in place of Dilantin. This also happened at a Mayo Clinic hospital, and the pharmacist told me to keep using name brand Dilantin unless I want another seizure. The price has risen, yet it’s worth every penny to me. Yes, it would be outstanding if the price can be reduced so other less fortunate individuals can have access to this great drug."

• Pep...
• August 28, 2015

Phenytoin for Seizures "I had my dosage increased 100 mg last year to 400 mg/day and noticed an increase in side effects. My short-term memory is awful, especially with names. I've also noticed mood swings, weight gain, and sensitivity have increased, and I'm still having seizures. It appears it's not the drug for me."

• Jan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 20, 2018

Phenytoin for Seizures "I've been on Dilantin for about 4 years now. I'm taking 900 mg per day. I experience tingling/numbness in hands and fingers. I get many more ingrown hairs on my face and in the public area, vertigo, but not as bad as the first 6 months of taking. I continue to have seizures, but the frequency is an average of 1 every couple of months. I'm taking Dilantin in combination with other drugs for seizures, which have changed. Dilantin has been the one that stays constant."

• Dr ...
• June 8, 2016

Phenytoin for Epilepsy "After back-to-back tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures in 1989, I was put on Dilantin. With differing insurance programs, many times generic forms of it had to be used. A year back, although on 400 mg of phenytoin, I was still having problems. Since then, I have been returned to Dilantin and reduced to 300 mg per day. With this reduction, the blood tests are running high. However, some seizures still exist, but no massive seizures or complete blackouts are present. To handle mental recall problems, I was put on Strattera years ago. The combination of Dilantin and Strattera has improved my communication abilities. The original difficulties were courtesy of brain damage due to an auto accident. The brain damage created the epilepsy and aphasia."

• Dil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 17, 2021

For Seizures "Pharmacy changed my client's Dilantin to the Aurobindo brand, and it has really messed up his health bad with seizures and unable to stabilize Dilantin levels to normal limits for 8 months now! Bad company making bad medicine!"

• wiy...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 2, 2013

Phenytoin for Epilepsy "It does do a good job, but I also take Depakote (4,000 mg) with Dilantin (500 mg), and I still have seizures. The less active I am, the fewer seizures (grand mal)."