Taper Dilantin when switching to Depakote?

[cheflarry]

About 18 years ago I had a seizure -- partial simple somethingorother, I always manage to forget the exact diagnosis. I was shipped off to the emergency room, where the doctor put me on Dilantin, which I have been using ever since. To date it is still the only seizure I have ever had and I have tried several times to go off meds. However, every time I do I begin having auras again within a month or two.

I have recently started seeing a new neurologist (I moved to another country, so I had no choice if I want to keep getting prescriptions). She is switching me to Depakote because of some contra-indications relating to other parts of my medical history. She has told me to begin taking 900 mg/day of Depakote and to stop the Dilantin completely -- no tapering. I asked her several times if I shouldn't be tapering and she said it was not necessary.

Is this a common way to make this switch? When I went Dilantin in the past I tapered over a period of weeks, though I wasn't going on another anti-seizure med. I have also read that there can be interactions between Dilantin and Depakote. Is this the reason the Dilantin is not tapered -- interactions combined with the fact that I'm going on a new anti-seizure med?

I have been impressed with the new doctor in every way so far, so I guess I probably just need a little reassurance. Thanks.

Larry