1. Dilantin CAN become toxic: you have to have it tested regularly. I haven’t taken it in a number of years because: 1. it didn’t provide complete control (What? No miracles????) and 2. to get “better” control, I needed at least 450 mg per day. Toxic and it still didn’t provide absolute control. If your doc still likes Dilantin, stick with it, but

2. NO CAFFEINE PERIOD. CUT OUT SUGAR. (In fact, if you can cut out all stimulants after 3 - 4 PM, it will help you sleep better.)

3. GO TO BED AT A REGULAR HOUR EVERY NIGHT AND DO IT EARLY.

4. FORGET ALL THE GARBAGE IN LIFE THAT MANY OF US WORRY ABOUT AT 2:00 am. (Worrying got to me so much and so often that lack of sleep was causing seizures: I had to take Ambien to help with that one - on top of 3 central nervous system depressants. I like the Ambien: 15 minutes and I’m asleep; 4 hours sleep; no hangover. N.B.: I am not selling Ambien. I find that the fewer drugs one takes the better, but I personally feel that if it takes twice as many drugs as I currently take to control my seizures, then I take twice as many drugs.
a. DO REMEMBER: There is nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow to finish.
b. There is nothing you can do about “it” at 2 AM: forget it until tomorrow;
c. Most of the things we worry about don’t happen or, if they do, the consequences won’t be too serious;
d. Trying to cope with Life’s problems is harder after a seizure.

5. I regularly take a total of 9 tablets per day in 3 different amounts. To help get them straight, I use a plastic compartmentalized plastic box. This may seem unnecessary, but I have found that it helps.

6. There are lots of people who care about you.

Good luck. God bless.

5.