Phenytoin (PHT), sold under the brand name Dilantin among others,[1] is an anti-seizure medication.[3] It is useful for the prevention of tonic-clonic seizures (also known as grand mal seizures) and focal seizures, but not absence seizures.[3] The intravenous form, fosphenytoin, is used for status epilepticus that does not improve with benzodiazepines.[3] It may also be used for certain heart arrhythmias or neuropathic pain.[3] It can be taken intravenously or by mouth.[3] The intravenous form generally begins working within 30 minutes and is effective for roughly 24 hours.[4] Blood levels can be measured to determine the proper dose.[3]
Common side effects include nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, poor coordination, increased hair growth, and enlargement of the gums.[3] Potentially serious side effects include sleepiness, self harm, liver problems, bone marrow suppression, low blood pressure, and toxic epidermal necrolysis.[3] There is evidence that use during pregnancy results in abnormalities in the baby.[3] It appears to be safe to use when breastfeeding.[3] Alcohol may interfere with the medication's effects.[3]
Phenytoin was first made in 1908 by the German chemist Heinrich Biltz and found useful for seizures in 1936.[6][7] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[8] Phenytoin is available as a generic medication.[9] In 2020, it was the 260th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1million prescriptions.[10][11]
^ abCite error: The named reference genericnames was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Anvisa (2023-03-31). "RDC Nº 784 - Listas de Substâncias Entorpecentes, Psicotrópicas, Precursoras e Outras sob Controle Especial" [Collegiate Board Resolution No. 784 - Lists of Narcotic, Psychotropic, Precursor, and Other Substances under Special Control] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Oficial da União (published 2023-04-04). Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
^ abcdefghijklm"Phenytoin". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 2015-09-08. Retrieved Aug 22, 2015.
^ abcMarx JA (2010). Rosen's emergency medicine: concepts and clinical practice (7th ed.). Philadelphia: Mosby/Elsevier. p. 1352. ISBN 9780323054720.
^Parker KD, Elliott HW, Wright JA, Nomof N, Hine CH (March 1970). "Blood and urine concentrations of subjects receiving barbiturates, meprobamate, glutethimide, or diphenylhydantoin". Clinical Toxicology. 3 (1). Informa UK Limited: 131–145. doi:10.3109/15563657008990108. PMID 5520387.
^Aicardi J (2008). Epilepsy : a comprehensive textbook (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 1431. ISBN 9780781757775.
^Wolfson AB (2010). Harwood-Nuss' clinical practice of emergency medicine (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 1415. ISBN 9780781789431. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
^World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
^Hamilton RJ (2013). Tarascon pocket pharmacopoeia (14 ed.). Burlington, MA.: Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 294. ISBN 9781449673635.
^"The Top 300 of 2020". ClinCalc. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
^"Phenytoin - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
Phenytoin (PHT), sold under the brand name Dilantin among others, is an anti-seizure medication. It is useful for the prevention of tonic-clonic seizures...
water-soluble phenytoin prodrug that is administered intravenously to deliver phenytoin, potentially more safely than intravenous phenytoin. It is used...
second-line agent in bipolar disorder. Carbamazepine appears to work as well as phenytoin and valproate for focal and generalized seizures. It is not effective...
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cardiac arrest. Sodium channel blockers, like benzocaine, lidocaine, phenytoin, and tricaine methanesulfonate, are regularly used to produce rapid local...
fetus by exposure to teratogenic effects of phenytoin. Dilantin is the brand name of the drug phenytoin sodium in the United States, commonly used in...
Phenobarbital was the main anticonvulsant from 1912 until the development of phenytoin in 1938. Today, phenobarbital is rarely used to treat epilepsy in new...
recognized as the DRESS syndrome. For example, anticonvulsants in the 1930s, phenytoin in 1950, and other medications in the ensuing years were reported to do...
Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin or nails caused by increased melanin. Hyperpigmentation can be caused by sun damage, inflammation...
Benzodiazepines are the preferred initial treatment, after which typically phenytoin is given. Possible benzodiazepines include intravenous lorazepam as well...
a common side effect of phenytoin, termed "Phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth" (PIGO). anticonvulsants (such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, lamotrigine...
benefits, though, tended to be transient in many people, and the addition of phenytoin for lasting control was required in these patients. It is also approved...
number of medications available including phenytoin, carbamazepine and valproate. Evidence suggests that phenytoin, carbamazepine, and valproate may be equally...
ability to raise the blood levels of phenytoin, it was assumed that sultiame would only act in combination with phenytoin. This finding, together with the...
and antipsychotics, as well as anticonvulsants such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine. The euphoriant effects of opioids may be increased...
epilepsy drug phenytoin. Compartment syndrome is a complication of PGS. Purple glove syndrome is caused by the intravenous anticonvulsant phenytoin. This medication...
spectrum of action than other sodium channel antiepileptic drugs such as phenytoin and is effective in the treatment of the depressed phase of bipolar disorder...
It is taken alone, or in combination with complementary agents such as phenytoin, in commercial animal euthanasia injectable solutions. In the Netherlands...
effective in the treatment of epilepsy. Primidone has been compared to phenytoin, phenobarbital, mephobarbital, ethotoin, metharbital, and mephenytoin...
epilepticus. Lorazepam is more effective than diazepam and intravenous phenytoin in the treatment of status epilepticus and has a lower risk of continuing...
contraleteral one-sided asterixis. Some drugs, particularly phenytoin (when it is known as phenytoin flap). Other drugs implicated include benzodiazepines,...
Penis enlargement Phenylephrine, a common over-the-counter decongestant Phenytoin equivalent, used to measure doses of fosphenytoin Physical exercise Prolonged...
body, amounting to pharmacokinetic interactions such as: Rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine and other inducers of the liver enzyme CYP3A4 speed up...