Dilantin and insomnia

I have just been reading the list of, what I am considering to be "possible", side effects from Dilantin . Doesn't everyone, whether on Dilantin or no drugs at all experience headaches, nausea, stomach pains or depression from time to time?
After being on this medication for over 30 years there are some things which I've experienced. Just about everyone complains of hyperplasia but it has been my experience that if I maintain a clean healthy mouth, there is no hyperplasia. If, for one day, I do not brush my teeth, hyperplasia sets in immediately & it then takes a week or so to get it under control. So, brush, brush & brush your teeth.
As far as memory loss or difficulty learning, I suppose it happens to everyone at one time or another. However I have graduared from high school with honours & became a registered nurse (top 5 in my class of 56) all while I was on Dilantin.
The only true adverse side effect from taking Dilantin for over 30 years which I experience is that whenever I am tired, my speech can easily slur. I am very aware of this & it's become habit to pay close attention to my pronounciation & correct it so I may articulate normally. Not a big deal & a very small price to pay.
I'm not one for pity trips or blaming my seizures or medications for my downfalls in life. I am so grateful to have my seizures under control & hate to think where I would be today if not for Dilatin. Remember, if you look for it , you will likely find it. So try not to look for all these adverse side effects (crutches)& see the benifits. We have enough to handle keeping this under control & educating the sometimes ignorant world.
I took control of the epilepsy that attacked my system. I would never allow it to control me. Good luck to all of you. Sincerely :)

I have been on dilantin for 11 days, due to a grand mall seizuire at the grocery store. I also have MS and sleep apnea, I don't know if it is my fear of sleeping, or that I have insomnia. I can't go to sleep until 3:00 a.m. but I find myself very tired during the day. I have found that food turns me off, and I have to eat something I'm really hungry for or not eat at all. I had to go back to the ER because I was dehydrated and acute bronchitis and possible petite mall seizure. My dilantin level was 3 and was told it should be at least 10. I was on 200mg, now on 300mg. Anyone know what proper amount should be (is it according to weight and height) Does anyone else have MS with their seizures
Paula

I have been taking dilantin as a stabilizer for bipolar disorder. I was told that it would cause me to feel sleepy, which is fine with me because that really helpful with the whole insomnia thing. I just take it before bed. I noticed that at first I felt like I was walking through a perpetual fog. But that seems to have stopped now. It seems to be working ok. My problem is it seems to have increased my appetite and caused me to gain weight.
I was wondering if anyone else had noticed substantial weight gain (3-10 lbs in 2 weeks!! :( ) . I've read that a lot of people experience weight loss with dilantin, i was wondering if the opposite could be true as well.