Trouble with Dilantin

[Jfpinell]

Not that I'm asking for legal advice here, but I need help in knowing where to go with this issue...
I was stuck on Dilantin for 15 years straight when I was a Jr. in high school. During those years I noticed many problems that I kind of connected to the drug, but, not being an M.D. or pharmacist, I had no "proof". Everything from my balance to memory to concentration and learning ability to mood was severely messed up. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that a neurologist finally told me; "yeah, long term use of Dilantin can do that stuff.". To this day it's got me in an uproar...the stuff has been around since the 1930's and this is the first anyone's told me this?! I don't believe for a minute they were telling me (and my parents) everything they knew!
i'm seriously considering if any legal matter can be brought up on this...15 years of the best years of my life taken, no chance anymore for a college degree (I've tried 6 or 7 majors in technical college trying to figure what was wrong with me -why I couldn't make a go of anything.) It's definitely more than just a coincidence that within about a week or 2 after being off that stuff, my memory and everything else started to improve! But now the chance for a decent degree and career are basically gone for me.
I'm not sure if this would be a major drug company suit, or a malpractice issue. I've talked to several lawyers (both local and on-line nationally), and I get either no response or "sorry we can't help" response. SOMEONE must be able to do SOMETHING...everyday it seems there are notices of national lawsuits against drug companies for covering up stuff. Not that I'm the "sue-happy" kind -don't get me wrong. But considering how this has unfolded for me, I feel someone knew something more than they were telling! If I would've known about all this in high school, I would never have taken that stuff for so long -if at all! Does anyone have any advice on where, if anywhere, to go with this?

[Meetz1064]

the problem is that you need to find someone that is willing to take on Big Pharma. And, there are not many out there willing to do that.......

[Jfpinell]

There must be some around with all the drug suit advertising you see on T.V. and in e-mail boxes. I just don't know where to look.

[Nakamova]

Hi Jfpinell --

It sucks that Dilantin has robbed you of so much. But I do think that a lawsuit would probably be pretty draining (financially, emotionally). It would be great to focus on educating others (including neurologists) on the importance of being up front about the side effects of the meds, and also the need for a more complete database of patient experiences. (This site and others function as informal databases, and are so much more informative and comprehensive than the official drug company info sheets).

Now that you are off Dilantin, and feeling some improvement, is there any chance at all that you could try the school thing one more time? I don't know your circumstances, but many folks go back to school late in life, and have second or third careers.

Best of luck to you,
Nakamova

[Jfpinell]

Yeah, trust me, I've long considered the red tape and work a lawsuit would encounter, but considering what's all happened, the work involved means almost nothing to me. I've tried further schooling and while I'm doing better to a point, age is another factor. I'm still curious how those class actions get started or by who or how many, and where you find someone willing to start.

[Bernard]

... Everything from my balance to memory to concentration and learning ability to mood was severely messed up. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that a neurologist finally told me; "yeah, long term use of Dilantin can do that stuff.". ...

Sounds like you failed to ask the docs about the potential side effects. These are all well known:

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/dilantin-si...ml#system_3209

I doubt you are going to be successful with a lawsuit against anyone except possibly your doctor if you did ask and they neglected to tell you. It would be tough to prove that in court of law though.

[Jfpinell]

Oh believe me, I asked them several times, and they made nothing of it! In fact, 1 of them actually got mad when I started asking those questions, and asked if I could try to back off it due to the fact I hadn't had a seizure for several years!
I did notice, when I typed in "dilantin lawsuits" on Altavista, there were several links of class action suits involving Steven Johnson Syndrome. So I wrote a few about if they handled, or would handle, any other conditions related to Dilantin, but never got a response. Again, I'm not the sue-happy type by far, but in a case that's wound me up now being able to basically just pump gas or flip burgers, if you will, the rest of my life, instead of a decent career, as I see it, well...
Even if I could complete anything in school now, the things I'm interested in (mainly public safety areas...police, fire, etc.), would not be possible I'm told due in part to age.

[Cint]

Yeah, trust me, I've long considered the red tape and work a lawsuit would encounter, but considering what's all happened, the work involved means almost nothing to me. I've tried further schooling and while I'm doing better to a point, age is another factor. I'm still curious how those class actions get started or by who or how many, and where you find someone willing to start.

Well...... You start by finding a lawyer who does class action lawsuits. Usually a person has a 2 year Statute of Limitations in these type of cases.

I was involved in a class action lawsuit due to a drug that was prescribed for depression (actually it is for bi-polar), but ended up with Type 1 diabetes from this damn drug, in addition to all my existing problems! I filed the lawsuit after I was taken off the drug and the diabetes did not dissipate after 6 months, knowing that it was the drug that had caused it because I did NOT have it BEFORE the drug was prescribed! And after 6 years off that drug, I have to take insulin shots 6 times a day, in addition to my epilepsy drugs.
I found the lawyer through lawyers.com and found out what type of lawsuits they handled. It took two years to settle it and I won, but the lawyer did get 1/3 of the winnings. Initially, they said I was going to need to testify, but that never happened and it was all settled out of court.

But a case like yours, I'm not sure a lawyer will want to handle it if you've been off the drug for a while.

[alivenwell]

Is it worth your energy, time and effort?

Some people can become entrepreneurs, have fantastic ideas and become wealthy. Look at how they sold pet rocks many years ago. Move forward, be creative and find a positive path.

I was also on dilantin. Osteoporosis is a known side effect. All I can do to combat it now is take calcium supplements and do weight bearing exercise. I got several degrees while taking the stuff. I had to work a little harder than others but nothing is impossible.

[Jfpinell]

As far as if it's worth it, I have to ask...What's your health worth? Perhaps this is a strange question, but I figure what better place to start:
Is there anyone else on this board that has had the same problems -or others that I've not had- that would be interested in coming together to look into this? I mean, I've read some things about (apparently) well-known big law firms taking on Dilantin for SJS...why not some other issues related to the same drug? I just don't think it's right to let someone steal the best years of someone else's life, their chance for a decent career. It seems now, because of this, the only jobs/careers I could have are unskilled, on the job training, maybe $10,000 a year at most. This doesn't give you much in the way of a decent life nowadays! Trust me -I've tried 7 programs in college -one heck of a lot more than most people would, several job assistance programs, independant job hunting and other ideas, and the answers are always the same: "sorry, we can't help", "we don't know what else to do for you", "we found someone more qualified", etc. Some I've told about my seizures, some I haven't, so I know that's not the issue. Mostly it all comes down to my inability (so as they all see it) to move fast enough, remember enough information to do the jobs, interaction problems, balance issues...all because of the damage years of being on that darn stuff has done to me! And no, the problems I mentioned were either nonexistant, or not as severe before I was on it.

[IMgood1]

I understand your desire for retribution. But, would it not be better just to go on from here? I was on a drug that had very negative side effects to me for 20 years before we found something better. When someone asked me if I would take on the drug company, I told them it wasn't worth my time. The question I had to ask myself was What's the point? I was better off for just picking up and moving forward. I believe I have fewer gray hairs and more money in my bank account because of my choice.
I have now been seizure free for over a year and have peace of mind.
Good luck with your choice.