I had a seizure when my Dilantin level was within the therapeutic range...the level was 15 when taken in the ER. My dr doesn't know why this happened when after years I have been seizure free. Has this happened to anyone else? I am now on a higher dose of Dilantin and also on Lamictal.

thanks!

I had to always keep my dilantin level to be about 19 to be in the safe range. Probably just depends on our bodies. Like any drug, I imagine our systems get used to it & needs more. Kinda like a fix. :o)

Hi Carolyn

Is there any chance that you were running a fever or taking an antibiotic at the time of the seizure? There are some antibiotics that can interact with Dilantin and hence exasserbate seizures. Although your level was in a theraputic range, there are still triggers that will cause one to seize whether or not you are in range. Sleep deprevation, stress, etc.
Just a thought.

R

I was told you can have break through seizures - like if you missed a certain amount of doses several days before or so. I'm not sure how much truth there is to that.
Mike

My seizures were best controlled with a sub-therapeutic dose of 8-9. At 14 or more the side effects were intolerable, and I began having seizures again after many years of control. In my case, more Dilantin was not better.

Individual response to meds seems to vary though. Maybe you are developing a tolerance to it and need more. Good luck

i was on dilantin but it made me have seizure after seizure so my doctor switched me to tegratol i had seizure after seizure with that one also so my doctor switched me to lamictol and that one works better for me then the other two did i was also on phenobarb and mycoline they either made me spacey or sick so i am now stuck with lamictol and for me thats a good a good thing it makes me feel so much better to be on lamictol then being on those other ones
Jackie

I have also had a seizure in theraputic range while on Dilantin. All these previous responses can be contributing factors, in my case getting at least 8 hours sleep per night is pretty important.

My levels now run consistantly in the middle 20's. Wish you success w/ new dosage..

I just had a seizure in my sleep on Saturday night/Sunday morn. I'm taking 300 Dilantin, 2000 Keppra and 500 Lamictal. I had been taking 360 Dilantin but I lost 50 lbs of weight and it put me into toxic range. On the Dilantin, that is. So maybe I'm a little low on the Dilantin? It's time to experiment again. Oh well.
-Bob