Recently Answered Questions
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What can be the cause of high Phenytoin level?
Query: Hi doctor, I am on Phenytoin (Dilantin) 300 mg or 350 mg every alternate days for 4 years and 250 mg and 500 mg Levetiracetam in the morning and evening respectively. I was diagnosed with generalized seizure before 8 years. Then, I had one seizure before 4 years. I am seizure free for up to 4 year... Read Full »
Dr. Hardik Nareshbhai Rajyaguru
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your question. Phenytoin level of 140 is really high. In our practice, in such a scenario, we do correlate the laboratory test result with the clinical picture.When the level is really 140, the patient cannot stand steady. He will have a severe imbalance whil... Read Full »
Will taking Phenytoin impact the first stage of pregnancy?
Query: Hello doctor, I am taking Phenytoin sodium 300 mg daily for the last 10 years. Will the medication impact on my first stage of pregnancy? If yes, should I take any alternative? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Are you pregnant already? Or planning for pregnancy? Phenytoin, especially in the first trimester (initial three months) of pregnancy, can affect the baby. It can increase the risk of congenital anomalies like fetal hydantoin syndrome or neural tube defects. If you are... Read Full »
Can taking Eptoin while breastfeeding affect the baby?
Query: Hello doctor, My wife is taking Eptoin 100 thrice in a day. Just 13 days back she delivered a baby girl. Should I be worried about this when she is feeding the baby? Read Full »
Answer: Hello,Welcome to icliniq.com.Eptoin during whole pregnancy can cause fetal hydantoin syndrome and also can cause neural tube defects. Phenytoin is secreted in breast milk but the most chance of baby getting affected are in the first three months of pregnancy. But in your case, she already delivered ... Read Full »
Please suggest a medicine for muscle stiffness, apart from Baclofen.
Query: Hi doctor, My dad is without ventilator support since 40 days and his tracheostomy has also removed five days back. Without any life support system, he is currently breathing by himself for last 7-8 days with saturation level 100% on air. Past four days he is able to keep his eyes open for few minu... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for the detailed information. I am happy to see your father improve gradually. Here is what I suggest. There is no other medicine for stiffness. However, physiotherapy should be carried out aggressively to prevent worsening of stiffness. One should ru... Read Full »
Is one tablet of Septra daily, enough for my dad who has AIDS?
Query: Hello doctor, My father is 58 years old and weighs 49 kg and 5.8 feet tall. He is on ART medicine since the last 13 years. He has AIDS. He had seizures last year, so he is also taking Ecosprin 75 mg, Septran, and Eptoin daily. I have two questions. Many doctors are surprised that he is only having... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Septran (Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim) is an antibiotic used in AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patient to prevent PCP (pneumocystis pneumonia) infection. It is prevention dose, that is, prophylaxis (treatment dose, which is two tablets three times a da... Read Full »
Even after taking Phenytoin, my daughter is getting seizures. What can I do?
Query: Hi doctor, My daughter is suffering from cerebral palsy of right side since birth. It is also called seizure, hemiplegic type. Now she is 24 years old. Her right side of the body, right leg and right hand are not working properly. She walks with staggers with raised heel part of the right leg and ri... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your daughter seems to have right hemiplegia and seizures. The way of walking with raised heel and right arm twisted is increased tone in right-sided limbs suggestive of spasticity and contracture. As you told that she is already on Tablet Eptoin (Phenytoin)... Read Full »
Are there epilepsies that do not cause physical seizures?
Query: Hello doctor, I have been suffering from a wide array of mental symptoms for around nine years. Some years ago, I went to see a neurologist. He took an EEG, and found "epileptiform activity", I think in temporal lobes. So he said I have epilepsy and prescribed Valproate. He said my depersonalisation... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. EEG (electroencephalogram)is not a diagnostic tool in itself. EEG can show abnormality in a normal person and also can be normal in epilepsy patients. Few EEG changes can be seen in normal and abnormal conditions. As you mentioned that your symptom is psychotic like, t... Read Full »
Will taking Dilantin mistakenly cause any serious problem?
Query: Hello doctor, I want to know that if someone (who is not suffering from any epilepsy or seizure disorder) has mistakenly taken Dilantin 300 mg daily (sometimes 100 mg) for 15 to 30 days, what will happen? Is he going to suffer from seizure disorder or other health issues? What has to be done to sto... Read Full »
Answer: Hi. Welcome to icliniq.com. Usually, no side effects would happen in such case. It is not that the person would develop seizure disorder on stopping the medicines. However, medicine should not be abruptly withdrawn. It should be slowly tapered and stopped under the guidance of your physician. In c... Read Full »
The doctor changed my wife's seizure medications. Is it safe?
Query: Hello doctor, My wife aged 43 years had fits (seizures) five years back. At that time, the blood reports, MRI, and EEG were normal and the doctor advised Epilex Chrono 300 mg twice a day. She used it for three years and then there was no episode of seizures during the last three years. So, on doctor... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. She had a recurrence of seizures after stopping the medications. Usually, it is continued for five years after the second episode. If the previous MRI was normal and if it was a 3T MRI, then there is no need for any further investigations. If it was a 1.5T (Tesl... Read Full »
Can Eptoin taken before eight years cause fertility problems now?
Query: Hi doctor, I have taken Eptoin medicine 8 years before. Now, I am fine and not taking any medicines. I got married before three months. Now, I am planning to have a baby. Will I face any fertility problem due to Eptoin? Can I get pregnant? Read Full »
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Bhattacharyya
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. As such Eptoin (Phenytoin) does not have any effect over the fertility profile of women and they conceive even while on Eptoin. You have stopped taking Eptoin eight years back and thus, there is no issue to worry. Read Full »