How to Stop Taking Dilantin
Dilantin (phenytoin sodium) is the brand name for a prescription drug in pill form used to control seizures in patients with epilepsy. Withdrawal symptoms are known to occur sometimes when patients stop taking Dilantin. To prevent seizures from worsening, consult with your physician, who may recommend tapering off the dosage.Things You'll Need
- Dilantin prescription Instructions from a doctor
Instructions
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Follow your doctor's instructions when weaning yourself off Dilantin or any other antiepileptic drug. A physician will most likely either prescribe another antiepileptic or give you instructions for cutting back on the Dilantin dosage until you are off the medication. This tapering process could take a month or more, depending on the severity of your epilepsy and the dosage of Dilantin required to control it.
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Continue to take Dilantin per your doctor's instructions---do not suddenly stop taking Dilantin on your own. Abruptly stopping Dilantin can increase the risk of seizures, which may be severe and harder to control. Your doctor's recommendation for tapering off the drug will depend on the Dilantin dosage and the length of time you have been using the drug. The higher the dosage, the higher the potential for severe and frequent seizures.
It may be some time before an effective dosage of a new drug to control seizures is established. This also increases the risk of seizure while tapering off Dilantin, so it is important to continue using Dilantin in the decreasing dosages your doctor will recommend while you adjust to a new medication. Fine-tuning the dosage is not uncommon in epileptic patients. -
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Alert your doctor if you experience any side effects from Dilantin, withdrawal from the drug or possible reactions if taking Dilantin in tandem with another drug. Side effects of Dilantin include nausea and vomiting, constipation, dizziness, headache, mild agitation or nervousness and insomnia. In rare cases, adverse reactions may include difficulty breathing and skin rashes.
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