Hi everyone
When I was in the hospital due to a grand mal seizure on June 11 the neuro
doctor that was on call put me on the generic for dilantin - phenytoin. Now in
the past dilantin has never been the best for me due to side effects. But I
have never taken the generic phenytoin before. The neuro the I originally see
does not like generic meds. so he always makes sure the meds are brand name
only.
After taken the med for a few days the side effects were really bothering me.
So I called my originally neuro and told him. He told me to try taken the
generic and if I start having stronger side effect then he will put me on the
brand name.
The side effects were so strong and just warring me out. I was always tired and
dizzy. I would take one pill 3 times a day - the pills were 100 mg. each. Then
last friday it really hit me hard. I could hardly walk strait due to being so
tired and I was very dizzy and clumsy. That evening I was still the same but I
also started having trouble with my speech. It was like stuttering when I would
try to talk. So my fiancee looked over the side effects and noticed all of what
I was having was listed as side effects. It was around 8:30 pm when this
started. He called the hospital that I go to and spoke with the neuro. on call.
The doctor wanted me to go to a hospital were I live and have a level done on
the phenytoin and also stay there for an hour for observation. This doctor felt
it me be an allergic reaction and with it being a generic med I was taken, that
could be the cause.
We went to the emergency room around 9:00 pm or so and had all this done. The
level was low and after about an hour and a half I was able to speak correctly.
We were able to finally go home around 3:00 a.m. UGH!!

All the times I have been on dilantin I have never gone through this
(slurred/sturring speech and being this tired and dizzy/clumsy). Has anyone
else experienced something like this before with being on phenytoin or dilantin?
Really I believe it was the generic brand that caused the problems with speech.

I go see my doctor on Monday and see what he thinks. I did call him tuesday and
he is slowly reducing the phenytoin (i took one 100 mg. pill tuesday and take
another one 100 mg on this coming sunday).

Thanks

Ashley




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