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Taking Generic Medication For Dilantin And Depakote. Body Shaking And Chills. Taking Phenytoin And Valproic Acid
Question: I'm taking a generic medication for Dilantin and Depakote ( phenytoin and valproic acid ). I had to go to the hospital yesterday. my body was shaking with chills, headache and body was stiff like a board. Anyway they took a test and found the blood level was at 100. The level on the phenytoin was a little high, at 22. Is there anything can do to control this level? the dosage on my meds are: Phenytoin 100mg 6x a day, Valproic acid 250mg 12x a day.
Brief Answer:
Reduce the dose or switch over to other drugs.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your query and understand your concern.
Both the drugs (Phenytoin and Valproic acid) can cause toxic symptoms at high levels. The symptoms you had seems to be due to toxic levels.
Your blood levels of both the drugs are just above the usual therapeutic level. This can explain shaking and stiffness. Thus it is essential keep the blood levels of these drugs in prescribed therapeutic levels.
There are usual two ways to reduce the toxic levels.
1. Reduce the dose till the drug levels reach Therapeutic range from toxic levels.
2. Switching over to other Anticonvulsants.
In your case, it is better to reduce the dose of both the drugs till your blood levels reduces to therapeutic range. Your treating doctor would be the right person to do the necessary change.
Hope this helps. Please reply for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Reduce the dose or switch over to other drugs.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your query and understand your concern.
Both the drugs (Phenytoin and Valproic acid) can cause toxic symptoms at high levels. The symptoms you had seems to be due to toxic levels.
Your blood levels of both the drugs are just above the usual therapeutic level. This can explain shaking and stiffness. Thus it is essential keep the blood levels of these drugs in prescribed therapeutic levels.
There are usual two ways to reduce the toxic levels.
1. Reduce the dose till the drug levels reach Therapeutic range from toxic levels.
2. Switching over to other Anticonvulsants.
In your case, it is better to reduce the dose of both the drugs till your blood levels reduces to therapeutic range. Your treating doctor would be the right person to do the necessary change.
Hope this helps. Please reply for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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