Dilantin, 300mg, Day 1 »
I woke up about 1am with a splitting headache, perhaps because Percy (our second-youngest of the canine variety, and smallest at just six pounds) was shaking his head incessantly. So after a quick ear bath - his, not mine - and a nice cold rag - mine, not his - I went back to bed.
I made it safely until about 4am, when I started tossing and turning quite a bit, as the headache had returned, though not with quite the same strength as before. Unfortunately, my cold rag had turned somewhat luke warm. So I refreshed it, and tried again, only to get into some fitful dreams.
This itself is interesting, as I rarely dream - rather, I rarely dream so that I remember it. Yet over the last two weeks or so, I've had at least three instances where I've woken to be able to recall my dream. This is the only one that I can remember even now, several hours after I've been up and about.
So I'm wondering if the reduction in Dilantin is a: causing a headache somehow (this is the first time I've been below a daily dose of 400mg in quite some time) and b: leading to an increased recall of dream activity.
Because Dilantin (phenytoin, specifically, the generic name, and likely most drugs designed for seizure control) affects the neural activity, it wouldn't seem out of the realm of possibility that either is true.
Physically, I'm feeling pretty good, but I'm a bit woozy. I did some raking of mulch and some pruning of a rose bush - both highly unusual, but they needed to be done. That could certainly explain it as well. I'm going to get a bite to eat and see how that affects things. More later, if necessary.
Comments (4)
Hi Chad. I found your blog via a google search on DILANTIN and HEADACHES. I've been wandering around in here and reading all the Dilantin stuff and still can't determine WHY you're taking it? I was diagnosed with EPILEPSY 11 days ago after a SINGLE seizure. They started me out on 300mg which they've now upped to 400mg. I've had non-stop headaches and wacky dreams like someone from Jer 29:8!!! ;o) I was wondering why your dosage was being decreased? Did your June decrease seem to bring back the headaches?
Posted by Cheri on June 19, 2006 9:18 PM
Hi Cheri. I took Dilantin for roughly 20 years because of Epilepsy. When I was in high school, I had three seizures over the course of about a year. After the second one, I was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Your case sounds odd to me, but please keep in mind that I am by no means an expert. I was always under the impression that epilepsy is simply a banner that means "someone with recurring seizures".
In fact, if you read the definitions at Answers.com, you'll see that recurrence is a, well, recurring theme. So I'd be surprised to know that you have been so diagnosed after just one seizure. But perhaps your doctors know something that I don't.
To your question - Dilantin actually never caused me headaches until I started reducing my dosage. The reason I was reducing it was because my neurolgist determined that I should switch drugs (to Zonegran).
My personal theory is that the neural effect of these drugs is such that when they "let loose" of the brain, that causes a certain amount of stress, resulting in headaches. But that's just my own opinion.
As to my own headaches, I still have them. But they come and go. They are definitely not related to Dilantin, as I haven't had any since April 4. They could be related to the Zonegran or they could be related to allergies, as I've been pretty congested since then as well.
Hope this helps. :)
Posted by Chad Everett on June 20, 2006 8:26 AM
Hi Chad, I am also decreasing my dosage of Dilantin to change (back) onto Tegretol. I have been having the oddest sensations throughout the day and night since I've starting decreasing; I'm now down to 200mg/day, down from 400mg when then wanted me to take 500mg! (the whole reason im switching - dilantin can only let me drive if i can say my own name still!) I too am having dreams (apparently we always do, bt until now i havent remembered any), and i have periods of about 30min/day where i am totally confused in my surroundings. Did you expereince this too? Are you still decreasing or are you "off" now? I'm hoping that this will all stop when my dilantin is gone!
Posted by Angela on June 27, 2006 4:51 PM
Hi Angela. As mentioned, I took Dilantin for quite a while, so my experience may differ from yours.
I rarely had bouts of confusion, but I did have them occasionally. Mine usually lasted only a few seconds (and I still have them now, so they may not be related to Dilantin).
I am completely off of Dilantin now, and have been since early April.
Posted by Chad Everett on June 29, 2006 11:15 AM