@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member , My Dad also had seizures but he had bad grand mal seizures & he took Dilantin & my Mom said it messed up his gums really bad. I’ve read several others on this site have said they also had similar gum & teeth issues with the Dilantin. Meds can effect everyone differently but the Dilantin & Keppra are 2 meds that many have similar issues with. So be careful if you take Dilantin. If you begin taking it & feel you don’t like the side effects then don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor & let them know & ask if you can change to a different medication if you wish to do that. Your friend in Texas, Becky

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A MyEpile...

@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member
Dilantin was no different for me than any other seizure pill. None of them worked.

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A MyEpile...

For a good portion of my life I couldn't fully relax and I didn't know why. What I found out recently, was that what I was suffering from was something called Nystagmus.
From a very young age my medications was 400mg of Dilantin, Mysoline 500mg, Phenobarbital 50mg daily. The seizures during this time were very rare. The amount of Dilantin was, as it turns out, was excessive , but it wasn't bothering me until I had changed doctors in the early 1980's
The next doctor dropped my Mysoline, Phenobarbital, and something called Dexatrin and added something called Lamictal to go with my 400mg of Dilantin. The side effects began over a period of months, and never having suffered from side effects before I had no idea why I couldn't relax. And was too embarrassed to say anything.
Over the last few years I've read that anything over 100mg of Dilantin is excessive. And having had laser surgery 20 years ago, I've been able to cut back on it. My life is so much more at peace. Thank you Jesus.

I was on Dilantin for many, many years when I was young. I also experienced gum problems and dizziness. I was weaned off it though when I was about 35.

I was placed on Dilantin medication at approximately 1 or 2 then had been taking it until the age or 13 or 14 when I could begin Tegretol as it had more strength and could manage the Gran Mals taking place.