Question 1

what causes dilantin levels to stay low if meds are being taking?

Accepted Answer

Metabolism: Some people metabolize medications differently, so levels will be tested for and the medications can be adjusted to confirm therapeutic levels are achievable for treatment.  Best wishes.

Question 2

what is blood levels for dilantin  mean ?  it was taken through blood work ...

Accepted Answer

Dilantin: Dilantin is a drug with a relatively narrow therapeutic index. Meaning, too little and it wont work, and too much can cause toxicity. Physician often will get blood levels of the drug to make sure its in the therapeutic but not toxic range.

Question 3

is the levels on dilantin tell about the kidneys ? if not what does levels mean ?

Accepted Answer

DILANTIN LEVELS: A Dilantin level is the amount of unbound Dilantin in your bloodstream.  There is a certain optimal level that your doctor is trying to achieve.  Also, if your Dilantin level is too high, it's a signal for your doctor to decrease your dose so you do not experience adverse effects.  It is important to monitor your Dilantin level on a regular basis, but this is not to measure your kidney function.

Question 4

how do i wean off dilantin if my levels have only been 3.1 for past 10 years and what causes levels to be low?

Accepted Answer

Slowly: Dilantin is a long acting drug, meaning that it takes time for levels to stabilize. How to do it depends on whether you are really free of seizures, the current dose and the chances of future seizures. A level of 3.1 may be therapeutic. Low levels depend on the dose, the Dilantin formulation and the ability of your body to absorb the drug.

Question 5

if you did not need dilantin for seizures wouldnt te levels be high all the time instead of low, i had 2 seizures 14 years ago and level always 3.4?

Accepted Answer

Complicated: Drugs used for seizure prevention are best used in sufficient dosages to put a patient into a therapeutic range to best protect against future seizures.  Your level seems too low, but the medicine, nonetheless, is likely helping.  Talk to your neurologist as to what should be done to optimize your treatment.

Question 6

what happens if i had 2 seizures when i was teen does that mean i'm epileptic on dilantin but levels never went higher than 3.6?

Accepted Answer

What does it mean?: Any person who has 2 or more unprovoked seizures has epilepsy.  It is possible a person may not have seizures for many years, even without treatment.

The level of Dilantin that is effective is whatever level is needed to prevent seizures.  That being said, a level of 3.6 is below what most would use to prevent seizures.

Hope that helps.

Question 7

no matter how much dilantin i take the level never goes past 3.8 i had one seizure 14 years ago does this mean i don't need it or my body is rejecting?

Accepted Answer

Get off it: Dilantin should be relegated to history.  It is an old drug of high toxicity and major problems with use.  Talk to your doctor about getting off or at least changing to a newer and safer seizure medication.

Question 8

i have been on dilantin since i was 16 when i had 2 seizures in my sleep now dr wants me to quit dilantin my level is always low 3.5 ?

Accepted Answer

Seizure medication : When your level is that low it is more likely that it is not doing much and it seems appropriate to take you off medication. Seizure thresholds are lower in sleep so good chance you won't need. Follow your doctor's advice.

Question 9

if someone is seizure free on a low level of dilantin 3.1 for 15 years since teen what are the chances of another seizure are chances low ?

Accepted Answer

Very low-unlikely: Your Dilantin level is known as a homeopathic dose-not likely to be preventing any seizure activity if you truly have an ongoing epilepsy.

Question 10

after being seizure free on low levels of dilantin for 15 years after just 2 what is the odds a seizure will return. everyone tells me 100 percent?

Accepted Answer

Hard to predict: The correct odds are 50/50.  If your Dilantin levels have been sub-therapeutic, and you have been totally sz-free, the odds are in your favor.  Since your last event was at age 15, this is also positive.  To help assess this, check with a board certified neurologist with epilepsy experience, get an updated eeg.  If appropriate, can slowly taper off, but under close obs by your neurologist.

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Doctor answers about:

What does it mean when your dilantin levels is too low

A member asked:

What causes dilantin levels to stay low if meds are being taking?

A member asked:

What is blood levels for dilantin mean ? it was taken through blood work ...

A member asked:

Is the levels on dilantin tell about the kidneys ? if not what does levels mean ?

A member asked:

How do i wean off dilantin if my levels have only been 3.1 for past 10 years and what causes levels to be low?

A member asked:

If you did not need dilantin for seizures wouldnt te levels be high all the time instead of low, i had 2 seizures 14 years ago and level always 3.4?

A member asked:

What happens if i had 2 seizures when i was teen does that mean i'm epileptic on dilantin but levels never went higher than 3.6?

A member asked:

No matter how much dilantin i take the level never goes past 3.8 i had one seizure 14 years ago does this mean i don't need it or my body is rejecting?

A member asked:

I have been on dilantin since i was 16 when i had 2 seizures in my sleep now dr wants me to quit dilantin my level is always low 3.5 ?

A member asked:

If someone is seizure free on a low level of dilantin 3.1 for 15 years since teen what are the chances of another seizure are chances low ?

A member asked:

After being seizure free on low levels of dilantin for 15 years after just 2 what is the odds a seizure will return. everyone tells me 100 percent?

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