Weaning off of Extended Release Dilantin

I have a 15-year old son who is ready to be weaned off of a 200mg dose of dilantin  (extended release capsules).  How do I do this  (i don't want advice from the prescribing doctor, as I do not value his opinion).  My thought is to crush the contents of the capsules and reduce the dosage from 100% to 0% over a one-week period, in line with monograph information I've read on the drug.  What do you recommend?

[1002]

Hi dogmeat, A few years after I started with seizures suddenly the medication failed and I started to have almost a continuous shaking. At that time I was under a specialist and he could not answer my wif's questions about this as the failure was not known to him. He sent me to a neurologist for whom I gained great respect who wanted to slowly change the medication while under observation in hospital. The trial meds did not seem to help and he then said that he could slowly try another or if I would prefer he could do it quickly but will have to be watched as I could then have a serious and bad seizure. I opted for the latter and did in fact have that and another seizure through the night, ( they had to move me into a private ward for the night).

I could not continue to see him as he moved to a clinic on the other side of Gauteng about 150 to 200 km away. I was refered to another neurologist for whom I did not have total confidence because she kept speaking to my wife as if I am also mentally retarded as were some of her other patients. Recently I went to another doctor as he is much closer to us as it was I who had moved further away. My experience with him made me feel more comfortable with the second doctor.

What I am trying to say is that you will not always feel comfortable with any one doctor but look around for one with whom you are comfotable as this is very important. The othe piece of advice is please do not take your son off medication without correct med supervision with someone that you feel comfortable with or else it could be catastrofic. Find him first. I pray that you will find such a doc and that the process will be successful. I will be happy to have you look me up and request as a friend.