Side Effects:

Common Nystagmus (involuntary eye movement), Double vision, Sleepiness, Anemia, Peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness of feet and hand), Gingival hyperplasia, Increased hair growth, Osteoporosis.

Expert advice for Dilantin Injection
Dilantin should be taken at the same time every day to maintain consistent levels in your body. Do not stop using Dilantin without talking to your doctor, even if you feel better. It causes sleepiness or drowsiness. If this happens to you, do not drive or use machinery. Avoid consuming alcohol when taking the Dilantin, as it may cause excessive sleepiness or drowsiness. It may increase blood sugar levels.Inform your doctor if you are taking any medicines to treat diabetes. Do not start any medicine including herbal or ayurvedic without telling your doctor. As it may significantly change the Dilantin levels. Inform your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed with kidney or liver problems. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive or breastfeeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does Dilantin work?
Dilantin is used to control seizures (fits) in epilepsy patients and it works by suppressing the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.

Q. Does Dilantin cause gingival hyperplasia?
Dilantin is known to cause gingival hyperplasia (enlarged gums). To avoid this, you must maintain a good dental hygiene (taking proper care of your teeth and gums). Please consult your doctor if you have enlarged gums after taking Dilantin.

Q. Does Dilantin cause osteomalacia?
Osteomalacia (softening of the bones) has been associated with long-term (>10 years) use of Dilantin by patients with chronic epilepsy. There have been reports of bone disorders including osteopenia (reduced protein and mineral content of bone tissue) and osteoporosis (thinning of the bone) and fractures with Dilantin. Please consult your doctor for further information.

Q. Can I take Dilantin with aspirin?
Dilantin can decrease the levels of aspirin by increasing its metabolism (breakdown) and hence decrease its effect. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Dilantin with ibuprofen?
Dilantin can be taken with ibuprofen. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Dilantin with paracetamol?
Dilantin decreases the level of paracetamol by increasing its metabolism (breakdown). Increased metabolism of paracetamol can increase the levels of substances that can cause liver damage. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Is Dilantin a narcotic?
Dilantin is not a narcotic substance. Dilantin belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-epileptic medicines, these medicines are used to treat epilepsy.

Q. Is Dilantin a controlled substance?
Dilantin is not a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA). A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession or use is regulated by a government.

Q. Is Dilantin dialyzable?
Dilantin is not dialyzable by a conventional hemodialysis machine but can be dialyzed by a high permeability type of hemodialysis. To know more about the different types of dialysis and dialysability of Dilantin, please consult your doctor.

Q. Is Dilantin teratogenic (cause birth defects)?
Dilantin is teratogenic. Based on human experience, Dilantin is suggested to cause congenital malformations (birth defects) when given during pregnancy. It can cause defects of the heart, brain, fingers and can decrease the growth of the unborn baby.

Q. Is Dilantin a cytochrome P450 (CYP450) inducer?
Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) is an enzyme which causes metabolism (breakdown) of many drugs. Dilantin is a CYP450 enzyme inducer (increases the working of CYP450) causing increased breakdown of some medicines given along with Dilantin (known as drug-drug interactions). Please consult your doctor before taking any medicines along with Dilantin as it may affect the metabolism of the medicines which are metabolized by CYP450 for example Vitamin D.

Q. Is Dilantin basic or acidic?
Dilantin is a weakly acidic drug.

Q. Is Dilantin addictive?
Dilantin has not been reported to have any addictive potential and it does not show any symptoms of dependence. However, it should be taken for the duration as advised by your doctor.

Q. Does Dilantin get you high?
Dilantin does not give you a high.

Q. Does Dilantin cause hyponatremia?
Dilantin does not cause hyponatremia (low sodium levels). However, Dilantin is known to cause hypernatremia (high serum sodium level >145 mmol/L).

Q. Does Dilantin cause QT prolongation?
Dilantin is not known to cause QT prolongation (abnormal heart rhythm). However, it can rarely cause abnormal heart rhythms. Please talk to your doctor if you have any abnormal heart rhythm (beats) while taking Dilantin.

Q. Does Dilantin affect thyroid?
Thyroid function may get affected while you are taking Dilantin, especially in children. Thyroid function should be monitored while taking Dilantin. Please consult your doctor if you have hypothyroidism or a history of hypothyroidism.

Q. Does Dilantin cause weight gain?
Dilantin has not been reported to cause weight gain. However, weight loss can occur with longer term use of a higher dose of Dilantin. Please consult your doctor if you experience weight gain after taking Dilantin.

Q. Does Dilantin make you sleepy (sedation)?
Dilantin can make you feel sleepy (sedation, somnolence, and drowsiness). Please consult your doctor if you feel very sleepy after taking Dilantin, especially during the first few weeks of treatment or following a dose increase. Talk to your doctor as you may be advised not to drive or use machines until it is established that your ability to perform such activities is not affected.

Q. Does Dilantin affect birth control?
Dilantin does affect birth control. Dilantin can decrease the effect of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) which can make the contraceptive (birth control) effect unreliable. Please talk to your doctor if you are asked to take the two medicines together as you may need to use extra protection for birth control.