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What Are The Withdrawal Symptoms When Weaning Off Dilantin?
Hi, I am twenty five years old and started having seizures 9 months ago. I have not only had recurrent seizures while on medication, but also very I ll from side effects. I was on keppra and lost 15 pounds due to severe nausea and am was switched to a combination of dilantin and lamictal. I am currently weaning off of the dilantin and have been experiencing dizzy spells, auras, shaking, nausea, and tingling in hands and feet. I keep feeling like I am going to have a seizure, but haven t actually had one. Is it possible that my body is trying to have a seizure, but it s being prevented by the medication? Are these feelings normal while weaning off of dilantin? I would appreciate your professional opinion! Lisa
posted on
Fri, 23 May 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 22 Feb 2017
Answered on
Thu, 23 Feb 2017
Last reviewed on
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I read carefully your question and would explain that your symptoms are not typical of weaning dilantin.
You should know that this drugs can be easily interrupted, differently from other anti-epileptic drugs.
That is why, I would recommend performing some blood lab tests to exclude other possible metabolic causes that would trigger your symptoms:
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance
- thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid dysfunction
- fasting glucose for possible hypoglycemia.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards, Dr. Aida
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I read carefully your question and would explain that your symptoms are not typical of weaning dilantin.
You should know that this drugs can be easily interrupted, differently from other anti-epileptic drugs.
That is why, I would recommend performing some blood lab tests to exclude other possible metabolic causes that would trigger your symptoms:
- complete blood count for anemia
- blood electrolytes for possible imbalance
- thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid dysfunction
- fasting glucose for possible hypoglycemia.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards, Dr. Aida
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