Dilantin side effects?

Is anyone else taking this medication?

I was prescribed it for migraine prevention, but given how many drug interactions it has and the fact that it’s incredibly hard on the liver, I decided to ditch it.
I only took it for about five days before the constant ringing in my ears became too irritating to handle.
It’s actually a pretty risky medication; apparently, there are much better options out there for epilepsy that don't come with such a heavy side-effect profile.

I’ve been on it for about six months now... I also take herbal supplements for my liver while I'm on it... and man, it's making me put on weight like crazy. Anyone else dealing with this side effect?

wiredpuma5 said:I was actually prescribed it just to help prevent migraines.

Me too, honestly—back a long time ago. I don't think anything worked better than that, but man, the side effects were rough; I felt terrible and my hair was falling out like crazy.

I took it for over a year following mono, and I didn't suffer any side effects.

My aunt’s been on this stuff for years, pairing it with Phenergan, and honestly, the combo is solid... she hasn't dealt with any hair loss or weight gain, and it works like a charm for her.
Obviously, everyone’s body chemistry is different, so people aren't going to react to the same meds in the exact same way...🙂

I grew up on this stuff, and honestly, I’d probably have a serious word with any doctor today who’d try to prescribe it to my kid. It’s supposed to be for epilepsy, but doctors seem to throw it at everything under the sun lately. I never even had full-blown epilepsy myself, just some minor issues... but if you're stuck on something like this for years, it really messes with your head—your memory, your focus, all of it...
If a doctor has already put it on the prescription, maybe it’s worth getting a second opinion just to be safe.

It’s been about twenty years since I was on Dilantin, and I’m pretty sure there are much better options out there now.

Amy Hernandez20 said:I grew up taking this stuff, and honestly, I’d take a swing at any doctor trying to hand it out to my kid today. It’s supposed to be for epilepsy, yet doctors seem to prescribe it for every little thing under the sun. I never even had epilepsy, just some minor issues. If you're on this for years, it eventually wreaks havoc on your mental state, your memory, and your ability to focus...
If the doc already put it on the script, you might want to go grab a second opinion.

See, that's the thing... my aunt deals with epilepsy, and if she misses a dose, things get incredibly chaotic with her seizures.
And she hasn't even hit those memory or concentration walls yet...

It still blows my mind how freely they pass this stuff around...

I’m taking it specifically for epilepsy, but honestly, I feel better on this than I did on Dilantin. Sure, at first I was completely wiped out—just constant fatigue and sleepiness... and now I'm putting on weight. I usually try to avoid meds whenever possible, but I didn't really have a choice this time. I am trying to protect my liver by using some herbal supplements alongside it, though.

What really gets to me today is how nobody knew how to react back then, mostly because I didn't even have epilepsy at the time. I’d never had a full-blown seizure in my life, just these weird, lightheaded dizzy spells that eventually just... faded away.
It wasn't until much later that I found out just how incredibly heavy-duty that medication actually is, and here I was, taking it every single day without a second thought.
I'm sure it does wonders for people who actually deal with epilepsy, I really do, but I also can't help thinking that medicine has come such a long way in twenty years... there have to be better options out there now.
I don't know, maybe I'm just being cynical, but based on what I went through, I've developed a pretty bad taste in my mouth regarding that drug.

Look, it's pretty simple... when you try something and it just doesn't click, you aren't going to go around telling everyone it’s great. That’s just how people work. 🙂
Especially since you didn't even have epilepsy to begin with, yet they still put you on such an aggressive medication regimen.

Epilepsy is a heavy hitter, and there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to drug combinations. Even if the condition itself stays under control—which is a win in its own right—you're almost certainly going to deal with side effects. Maybe that weight gain could be managed better through more intentional meal planning?

My better half was prescribed this about three years ago to help prevent those brutal migraines. But honestly, once we actually looked into how it works and saw the list of side effects... we didn't even crack the seal on the bottle. She ended up crushing the migraines with acupuncture instead, so now this stuff is just sitting there waiting to be tossed in the medicine cabinet bin at the local CVS.

I wouldn't even touch that medication for migraines... I'd toss it out immediately.
And this food stuff you're talking about... it's not that simple. Your body just hits a wall so fast; you have to eat, you need the energy. I know I'm supposed to watch what I eat, but honestly, it doesn't seem to be doing me any good anyway.😎

Sandra Reyes said:I wouldn't even touch that medication for a migraine... I'd toss it out the window immediately..
And man, what are you even talking about with the whole diet thing? It's not that simple, okay? Your body just hits a wall so fast and you need to eat just to stay upright—you need actual energy to function! I know, I know, I'm supposed to be careful with what I eat, but honestly, none of this stuff seems to be doing squat for me anyway.😎

I took that stuff maybe 15 years ago. Honestly, I’d think twice before taking it for anything that isn't a massive, life-altering issue. In my case, it was a total medical screw-up by my doctor. Even now, all those nasty side effects are still messing with me.

So, this woman is taking Dilantin for epilepsy, if I'm reading this right.
If I got that wrong—my bad. 🙂

Look, if people think epilepsy isn't a serious condition, then they’ve clearly lost the plot... maybe there's a thread somewhere about catching a common cold instead.😛 😁

Sandra Reyes said:I wouldn't even touch that med for a migraine... I'd toss it straight in the trash the second it hit my hands.
And what are you even talking about when it comes to food? It’s not that simple, man. Your body just hits a wall so fast that you have to eat just to stay upright; you need the fuel to actually function. I get that I’m supposed to watch what I'm putting in my system, but honestly, following all those rules doesn't do me any good.😎

Yeah, I get it. Believe me, I hear you loud and clear. 🙂

Look, even this casual stuff I say about watching what I eat is basically just me talking myself in circles. It’s like that old saying—you know, when people start pointing fingers at each other while they're both standing in the exact same mess. It's all just self-reflection, really. 😁

Amy Hernandez20 said:I don't know—maybe I’m just seeing things wrong—but based on my own experience, I have a really negative outlook on that medication.

No, you aren't wrong. Calling Dilantin a fix for "slight dizziness" is an incredibly poor assessment by your doctor.

Thomas Thomas82, which herbal liver supplements are you using? I really hope you mentioned them to your physician—because even "natural" stuff can be dangerous, especially when you're already dealing with heavy-duty prescriptions. And please, watch out for essential oils like eucalyptus or rosemary...
For your liver, I'd suggest artichoke juice; it's fantastic, though if you can find organic, go for that.

I’m trying out those new supplements for my migraines—Sauron from milk thistle. My doctor gave me the green light to take them. A few years back, I had my first seizure, and they prescribed me Dilantin at the hospital. I decided to stop taking it on my own, and well, the seizures came right back. I know that medication can be hard on other organs, but honestly, I think doctors are making a mistake when they prescribe it for migraines specifically.

Sandra Reyes said:I'm trying these new supplements—they supposedly help with the dizziness—specifically Sauron from milk thistle... I asked my doctor and she said it's fine to take. Honestly, I had my first seizure a few years back and they prescribed me Dilantin in the hospital at the time, but I decided to stop taking it on my own initiative—and well, here we are, the seizures are back. I know that medication can be hard on other organs, but I really feel like doctors make a mistake when they prescribe it for migraines..

First off, I'm no doctor nor am a pharmacist, but I do know a bit about Dilantin—and frankly, I find it baffling why anyone would use Dilantin for vertigo when there are so many better options out there today.
As for you, Thomas Thomas82, someone in my family was on Dilantin for over twenty years. They didn't deal with weight gain or hair loss—not at all—just a slight, lingering sense of being "spaced out." And regarding the liver concerns? If you drink some artichoke juice, it completely regenerates. I'll put money on it. Though, of course, I assume you already know the importance of staying away from alcohol and illegal drugs.....

Gregory Lewis37 said:First off, I'm no doctor or pharmacist, but I know enough about Tegretol to say it makes zero sense using it for dizziness when there are way better options out there.
As for you, Thomas Thomas82, someone in my family was on Tegretol 200 mg for over twenty years. They didn't deal with weight gain or hair loss—just a slight feeling of being high. And regarding the liver, a little artichoke juice will get it back to normal. I guarantee it. Plus, I assume you know you need to stay away from alcohol and illegal drugs...

Look, those pills don't give me that "slightly high" feeling... but then again, everyone's body is different and reacts to medication differently.