Posted by utopizen on February 24, 2004, at 11:10:18
In reply to Re: HELP! MY SON IS USING PHENYTOIN FOR OTHER PUPOSES » xanthophill, posted by Chairman_MAO on February 24, 2004, at 8:18:59
Okay, your son reads Jack Dreyfus books on the clinical efficacy of PHT for off-label uses.
It's called Dilantin, the trade name.
It's likely a farely okay drug when used without any other meds and blood tests every month with a doc, but um, I don't know, I brought it up with my psychiatrist, for my social anxiety disorder, and he didn't feel comfortable with it. If you ever read any of your med's info sheet from the pharmacy, chances are there's some potential interaction with Dilantin listed... so it needs to be monitored interaction wise.
I did read a study that found that the gum issue is likely related to hygiene problems, which is what I initially suspected-- it makes it worse, but if one is good with their dental hygiene, the risk is really really low. Makes sense, if you think of how many kids with epillepsy also happen to have more severe disorders that make hygiene difficult for them.
No, your son could be doing actual drugs... I'd be more concerned about the underlying reason why he's doing it. Kids with ADD fight their concentration problems, and resort to anything they can to simply focus on things most non-ADDers take for granted, like reading a book they really want to make sure gets read.
If your son didn't have ADD, he wouldn't resort to going to a website to buy DIlantin. I still despise my parents, as well intentioned they were (?) for seeing me get straight F's in high school early on and just thinking I was "lazy.' That's not something a kid as serious about the world does because they can help it.
In short, talk to your son about seeing a "doctor who might find something that may work even better at helping you focus."
poster:utopizen
thread:317063
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040223/msgs/317158.html