Dilantin User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Goofy
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 6, 2020

For Epilepsy "Been using Dilantin 48 years. Side effects (a)neuropathy in feet after 38 yrs of use. Can't drive. (b) various continual skin problems (nothing serious just irritating {pun not intended} and resolved with a cream. (c) Cost- since first taking it cost has gone up 156% On the upside no seizures for 48 years. At 82 years of age I am thankful for the control over seizures Dilantin has given me and would not change."

• Calli...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 20, 2016

For Epilepsy "Took Dilantin for several years, since the 1980's. Now it's apparent I have a secondary disability of Osteoporosis after seeing a endocrinologist and having a bone density test done. My doctor says it is likely due to the regular use of epileptic medicines with Dilantin being the most likely source."

• cindy...
• November 10, 2010

For Epilepsy "I was put on Dilantin a month ago after having a 30 minute Grand-mal seizure. I haven't had another seizure yet but can't stand the side effects. I'm so dizzy and light headed. I have a hard time walking and keeping my balance. I also am having a hard time concentrating and remembering things."

• Kenny...
• August 29, 2011

For Epilepsy "I have had grand mal seizures since I was 9 years old and was involved in a car accident. I have taken Dilantin for over 50 years, with good results. It has controlled my seizures pretty well until recently. I was diagnosed with COPD 2 years ago, and in that time, I have been having seizures every 3-6 months. My doctor switched me to Keppra 6 months ago, and in that time, I have had at least 1 seizure a month. I think it's time to switch back to what works."

• twitc...
• October 12, 2011

For Seizures "After about 8 days of being on Dilantin, I had a horrible allergic reaction. I woke up at like 4:30 with unbearably itchy hives that literally covered my whole body....face, shoulders, chest, stomach, back, buttocks & legs....even on the backs of my hands and feet, with a few spots on the palm of my hand. It sucked, needless to say. It also made me really tired all day, even though I'd take it at night. I'm now starting on KEPPRA. Hope it works."

• dlaman
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 21, 2016

For Seizures "I began having focal seizures in 2011, not knowing what was going on, I wasn't diagnosed until 2013 after my first Grand Mal. Began taking Dilantin 500 mg per day. Seizures were much better, but my memory is worse, and I have no libido and I am way more easily agitated. If I miss a dose I will generally have a focal seizure. Doctor wants to add Keppra, but I am a little scared because of the depression possibility. I have withdrawn from friends a little already and do not need to add to that. Plus when I took it last week I was in bed exhausted at 7:30 for no apparent reason."

• Rogr
• April 18, 2013

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 phenobarbatol 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."

• onelu...
• July 10, 2014

For Epilepsy "I have been on Dilantin for 20 yrs it has helped me from having seizure when I remembered to take it but the past 5 years I have taken it everyday like I'm suppose to I take 300mg everyday in the morning at the same time. There has been one time that I had a seizure while taking my medicine everyday it happen at night and I only know this because I woke my wife up in the middle of it . I do have problems remembering things that happened not even five minutes ago but its not all the time. I have the swollen gums and problems talking (Saying the wrong word at the end of a sentence). I have experienced dizzy spells but only if I took too much (Taking my meds and forgetting about taken it) Better safe than sorry."

• Ernesto...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 3, 2015

For Epilepsy "In 1981 I have had my first seizures. These were diagnosed as epilepsy. My neurologist put me on Dilantin. However, I got some side-effects dizziness, etc. Later on, I have no seizures for more than 8 years where another doctor decreased the dose to 2 tablets a day. After which, there were no more side-effects. I was seizure-free for more than 20 years now. Though I've got some backaches and I've developed osteoarthritis."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2010

For Seizures "My 6 year old son suffered seizures for over a year until Doctor gave him Dilantin in the hospital. No more seizures after the first dose. It's been 2 years now. Dilantin was a life changing medicine for us."

• cwydner
• August 15, 2009

For Epilepsy "I have had seizures for 40 years. I started on Dilantin and phenobarbital. I had breakthroughs with petit mal seizures, but my grand mals were controlled. When I became pregnant they stopped the phenobarbitol and started me on tegretol. I had more seizures, petit mal and partial complex. Finally a new doctor started me on phenobarbital again with the Dilantin and Tegretol and I rarely have any seizures. When I do they are only petit mal and last only a minute or so."

• Kim
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 5, 2020

For Seizures "I used to have seizures several times a day I was glad that I went on it. If I have side effects I have not noticed them. My husband also has seizures his medication makes him sleepy, dizzy, and he has chills. He has asked about my medication several times and they keep telling him they are going to discontinue it."

• Anonymous
• September 15, 2008

For Seizures "Been taking Dilantin for 36 yrs. Had a gran mal seizure. As long as I take medicine things are good. Side effects are eyes sensitive to bright sunshine, gums swell, get tired quicker. Has improved quality of life."

• Fit...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 11, 2021

For Epilepsy "I have been on 330 mgs of Dilantin since 1986 with very few side effects. Swollen gums sometimes but seems to have improved over the years after my dose rate was settled on. Also do have a lever function test taken every 6 months but no major issues there. Over all never had any seizures in 1990."

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

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

• mentot
• June 7, 2008

For Seizures "I have tried several anti-convulsant medicines, even, had combinations before. Dilantin provides better result for me among all. There were few false side effects like rashes, constipations, nausea and dizziness but it really depends on what you have eaten. Just make sure that you get a regular dilantin assay for your safety. I think, it really depends on what kind of seizure and how your body reacts to medicines. "

• Dr CK
• June 8, 2016

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 gram of phenytoin was still having problems. Since then, have been returned to Dilantin and reduction to 300mg 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, was put on strattera, years ago. The combination of Dilantin and straterra 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."

• Cherry...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2018

For Seizures "I had my first seizure at the beginning of April. I was in the hospital for weeks as I had kidney failure as well. Only two weeks after I got out I was in my car when the second seizure struck causing me to crash. I wrote off my car and have my license suspended. I was put on Tegretol CR but the side effects were terrible so now I'm on 300mg of dilantin and haven't had a seizure since. Unfortunately since my first one my sleep has been terrible."

• Mrs...
• March 12, 2009

For Epilepsy "I have been using dilantin for my epilesy for about 38 years now, it has been an excellent drug that has been used other than the swelling of the gums. I have also had 3 children, which our doctors in our town freaked out about while being on medicine. I think they were very happy when the pregnancy ended. But my babies were all healthy babies and I did breast feed."

• PDG
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 21, 2020

For Seizures "I've been using Dilantin for 23 years and I've been seizure free. Unfortunately, my insurance company has decided that they don't want to cover it, so I'm paying all out of pocket. I've tried generic versions, they don't work for me, so I'm thinking of changing. But I've been very pleased with Dilantin, to this point."

• mscam...
• April 19, 2010

For Epilepsy "I have had good but not great response with Dilantin. The medicine helps to reduce my seizures significantly but the side effects are not fun. I experience shaking hands, anxiety, and being very klutzy and forgetful. I have been on the medication for just over nine years and the seizures have slowed, but even on the treatment I'll still experience grand mals that are significant; but not as bad as they used to be. I was just wondering what the real long term effects are, and what to look out for."

• Anonymous
• March 14, 2010

For Seizures "I have been taking Dilantin for a few months now for both Petit-mal and Grand-mal seizures. I have experience all of the side effects from the medication. My lymph nodes are swollen and very painful. It is making it difficult to talk. my whole face and neck are swollen as well. I have had painful headaches since two weeks after I started taking the medication. I have also had a fever for the past month around 99 degrees to 100 degrees. This medication works for other members of my family, but it does not work for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 15, 2012

For Epilepsy "I have been on dilantion and phenobarbitone both taken at night. I haven't had any gramdmals in two years. I've notice some type of rash on my side that doesn't seem to ever go away and feel a lot more stress and some weight gain but with the two mixed together it works great. I sleep well and have a lot of energy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 17, 2021

For Seizures "I was reading your article above you mentioned hair loss while taking Dilantin. Try 500 mcg of biotin once a day. You want to protect your bones to with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. Always talk to your neurologist first. Good Luck"

• Sanos...
• October 13, 2009

For Seizures "This medication was prescribed to me as a 37 year old cancer patient due to having suffered 3 seizures over the summer all of them grand mal seizures. Presently taking this medication without side effects (aside from being a bit slow in action)."