Dialantin Question

[crazybarbie]

Hi Guys,

Been here before and had got some great info so though I'd pick your minds again.

Can anyone tell me if I should push on to my Neurologist or perhaps Family Doc? Was seizure free for a long period but started again. Neurologist tried upping my dosages of Trileptal but still had seizures. He added Dilantin to the cocktail. I was taking 450 mg Trileptal in the morning and 300 mg of Dilantin and 150 mg Trileptal at night. After seeing family doc about another issue and he asking and finding out I had another seizure he told me to add another 100 mg of Dilantin at night to my meds. I have been seizure free for almost a month now. BUT am having issues with balance (took a huge fall out of the shower), gait, hand and arm trembles and fatigue and even word slurring from time to time. I had called and left message with Neurlogist but when I didn't get a return call I just figured it must be side affects of a new med that will work it self out. It hasn't. It's been almost a month now. I don't see Dr. Lee until Sept 28th. Should I wait, should I trying calling again, should I call my family doc, should I lower by Dialantin by 100mg again?

[Endless]

It sounds like this drug cocktail isn't working for you.

If it were me, I'd call the neurologist AGAIN. And again, and again, and again until he provides an answer. In my opinion, these kinds of side effects should have warrented an immediate call back saying "come in during the next 2 days so we can talk about it."

If your neurologist isn't being responsive to calls about serious side effects, maybe it's time for a new doctor?

[Meetz1064]

agree with Endless about the non-responsiveness.

ALSO: ask for a blood level to be done. If you can't get one done by neurologist, ask your regular doc to do one. He/she SHOULD be capable of doing that, and of realizing whether or not there's a problem with the meds, until you get into the neurologist.

You can also ask your pharmacist about any possible interactions. It may be an interaction between those, and another med you're taking--or something that you're eating. An example of that is the med carbamazepine......(Carbatrol, Tegretol) can't be eaten with grapefruit for example.....it raises the med levels in the blood. That can become dangerous.

Take care!

Meetz

[crazybarbie]

Thanks guys. After thinking it over myself I decided it was ridiculous not to push this is my health. So I called neuroligist today and left a message. If I don't hear from him by tomorrow I call my Family Doc. This is all just so frustrating.