I was taking 400mg per day of dilantin and my blood was coming back at 8.6
(that was the best yet). Mr Dr up'd me to 450mg per day to try to get to the 10 range. last week I had my blood drawn and today it came back at 8.1.
Why would that come back so low when my dilantin was up'd 50mg per day? I don't get it.
I can't talk to my Dr. till Monday but does anyone have a reason for this, that should have gone up for sure NOT down.
i dont have personal experience with dilantin however my mom took when she was on AEDs. i do know that it is one of the hardest meds to get at therapeutic level and then to stay there. it fluctuates often and that is why i dont think it is used that often anymore (that and it is one of the older AEDs). its weird that your level would have gone down. are you taking any other meds that could affect it.
i dont have personal experience with dilantin however my mom took when she was on AEDs. i do know that it is one of the hardest meds to get at therapeutic level and then to stay there. it fluctuates often and that is why i dont think it is used that often anymore (that and it is one of the older AEDs). its weird that your level would have gone down. are you taking any other meds that could affect it.
Just taking Zonamide for the sieizures. That it what a bummer I just can't figure it out why it dropped like that. Unless someless else is wrong and that is what puts fear in me.
i looked it up and it said that dilantin can lower the levels of zonegran...and also some meds can affect the levels of dilantin, however it wasnt specific. i would just talk to your neuro. im sure he knows more.
I have been taking Dilantin for over 30 years already. My dosage is 100 mg, 3-time a day. I think my count is higher than yours (I can't find the lab paper). It could be that I also taking Phenobarbital (another med for epilepsy, 30 mg, 3-time day).
My suggestion is to talk to your neurologist. He might be able to tell you the real reason for the low count.
I was taking 3x Dilantin per day, had blood tests taken and determined my level was high enough. Weeks later, I had another seizure and a hospital visit indicated my levels were 75% of what they were aiming for -- doctors raised my dosage to 4x per day, and I am experiencing much more severe side effects. Getting off these ASAP!
Not sure about dilantin,but,I was having the same problem
sometimes with my tegretol levels and it was because
sometimes I went to get my blood drawn say 3 hours after
taken it and other times only a half an hour.My doctor told
me to try and get the levels drawn at the same time of the
day.It seemed to work a little
Last edited by Sherri5186; 12-30-2008 at 03:50 PM.
I have been taking Dilantin for over 30 years already. My dosage is 100 mg, 3-time a day. I think my count is higher than yours (I can't find the lab paper). It could be that I also taking Phenobarbital (another med for epilepsy, 30 mg, 3-time day).
My suggestion is to talk to your neurologist. He might be able to tell you the real reason for the low count.
I was taking 3x Dilantin per day, had blood tests taken and determined my level was high enough. Weeks later, I had another seizure and a hospital visit indicated my levels were 75% of what they were aiming for -- doctors raised my dosage to 4x per day, and I am experiencing much more severe side effects. Getting off these ASAP!
Re: Epilepsy AND DILANTIN 
