In addition to the commonly known side effects of all long-term-use of Dilantin(diphenylhydantoin), are First, loss of calcium and secondly, shrinkage of a vital part of your brain. The loss of bone density is due to Dilantin's blockage of your body's iability to use Vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium. If you must take Dilantin, be certain to take any calcium + D (cholcalciform) 2 hours before or 2 hours after your medicin. Never take them at the same time as you take the medicine. The shrinkage of your brain, known of as atrophy of the cerebellum,causes balance problems. (The cerebellum fine-tunes reflexes). This damage shows up on an MRI . Often , if the MRI is too late, no one attends to these symptoms in time so the damage becomes permanent. The balance problems can lead to falls, and bones break more easily because of low bone density issue. These problems have been reported in people who've taken Dilantin for twenty or fewer years..though in many cases, if Dilantin is taken for thirty or so years, the balance problems may be temporary.
There have been studies showing that taking Dilantin for even short periods of time causes osteoporosis.


Linnie
Atlanta, GA