Phenytoin

[JoeP]

I was diagnosed with Epilepsy when I was 13 (now 42) have had very good luck with the Dilantin was seizure free for about 20yrs, switched to Keppra about 2 1/2 years ago and had a seizure after about 3 weeks on it. My question is I am on the generic -Phenytoin and have just as good results as Dilantin, upon my last refill of my prescription, my pharmacist told me they switched "suppliers". I have noticed, so have my wife and kids, that since this time I have become more irritable and grouchy since then. I called my pharmacist and insisted that they get my meds from the original supplier, I am picking this up tonite. Has anyone had this issue or is it just me? Have to get this fixed ASAP as I had my wife bring up the "D" word if I do not get this handled.

I have noticed that I forget things that were said, by me and by others, and wondering also if this could be a result of the supplier change. Please let me know. THANKS!

 

[N Sperlo]

Hey Joe.

I have not experienced differences when changing suppliers. Not that I recall. Others, from what I hear, have. There is a good chance the change back to the original supplier could even things out. You'll have togive it a little while to work the levels of the new in and the old out. This is all from my general knowledge of how these drugs work and I'm certainly no pharmacist, so take it for whatit's worth.

In short, you're not the only one to have problems with a change in supplier.

Good luck.

 

[JoeP]

Thanks. Good to hear I am not the only one. I am hopeful that changing back will help.

 

[Tez_20]

The only thing I can say about Phenytoin is they caused me weight loss and helped my seizures and before long I saw a neuro I hadn't seen before and he pulled me straight off them in my early 20s...saying they destroy the teeth and gums.

http://dentistry.about.com/od/issuesandemergencies/a/dilantin.htm

 

[Dolores]

I've taken Dilantin (brand name Phenytoin) ever since my first seizure over 40 years ago. My dentist keeps a watch on my gums & teeth - had surgery once for overgrown gums 30 years ago and no problem since especially using an electric toothbrush. My GP watches for all other potential problems - so far so good.

The consensus is that since Dilantin controls my seizures & I'm not showing signs of other potential problems there is no overwhelming reason to switch to another drug especially since they all have potential nasty side-effects. Everyone reacts differently so no matter what drug you are on you need to monitor how it affects you.

The one thing my doctor insists on is that I stay with Dilantin rather than generic Phenytoin because of the variability in bio-equivalency that is a potential in generics. What I had been told was that if you are on a generic it is best to stay with the same supplier. The Controversy over Generic Antiepileptic Drugs

Hope you can get back to the same supplier and everything gets back to your usual normal!

 

[Tez_20]

I've taken Dilantin (brand name Phenytoin) ever since my first seizure over 40 years ago. My dentist keeps a watch on my gums & teeth - had surgery once for overgrown gums 30 years ago and no problem since especially using an electric toothbrush. My GP watches for all other potential problems - so far so good.

The consensus is that since Dilantin controls my seizures & I'm not showing signs of other potential problems there is no overwhelming reason to switch to another drug especially since they all have potential nasty side-effects. Everyone reacts differently so no matter what drug you are on you need to monitor how it affects you.

The one thing my doctor insists on is that I stay with Dilantin rather than generic Phenytoin because of the variability in bio-equivalency that is a potential in generics. What I had been told was that if you are on a generic it is best to stay with the same supplier. The Controversy over Generic Antiepileptic Drugs

Hope you can get back to the same supplier and everything gets back to your usual normal!

Hi Dolores,

Nice to hear your dentist keeps ontop of you like mine does...not for any meds with my seizures but for my sjogren's, makes we feel more confident in ourselves

 

[valeriedl]

I take generic of all of my meds and I've used the same pharmacy for as long as I can remember. They have changed suppliers a few times with some of my meds and the pharmacist will tell me that they have when I pick up my meds. I've never had a problem with meds coming from different suppliers.

Once when I was in the hospital and they brought me my meds they all looked different than the ones that I take. The nurse told me it is because the hospital gets their meds from different suppliers than some pharmacies so that's why they look different.

This is just a guess but if your pharmacy switched suppliers there may be a chance that they will not be able to get them from the previous supplier. You may have to do some searching around to different pharmacies to find one that does.

I've never had a problems switching from name brand to generic either but I know there are people who do. On some meds I started taking name brands but was switched to generic because that's what my insurance pays for. I know that if my neuro states on the prescription form that I MUST have name brand then my insurance has to pay for it.