Which clinical manifestation is a typical reaction to long term phenytoin sodium therapy?
Highlights for phenytoin Show
Phenytoin is a prescription drug. It comes in three oral forms: extended-release capsule, chewable tablet, and suspension. It also comes as an injectable medication that’s given by a healthcare provider. Phenytoin oral capsule is available as the brand-name drugs Phenytek and Dilantin. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name drug. Phenytoin may be taken as part of a combination therapy with other seizure medications. Why it’s usedPhenytoin oral capsule is used to treat tonic-clonic and complex partial seizures in people with epilepsy. It can be used alone or in combination with other anti-seizure or antiepileptic drugs. It is also used to treat and prevent seizures during and after brain surgery. How it worksPhenytoin belongs to a class of drugs called antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. Phenytoin works by blocking the spread of seizure activity in the brain. It also helps keep the neurons in your brain from becoming too active. This reduces how often you have seizures. Phenytoin oral capsule may cause drowsiness. This can slow your thinking and motor skills. You shouldn’t drive, use machinery, or do other tasks that require alertness until you know how this drug affects you. Phenytoin can also cause other side effects. More common side effectsThe more common side effects that can occur with phenytoin include:
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effectsCall your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history. Phenytoin oral capsule can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with phenytoin are listed below. Heart or cardiovascular drugsTaking these drugs with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Cholesterol drugUsing fluvastatin with phenytoin can increase the levels of both drugs in your body. This can lead to more side effects. Anti-seizure drugsTaking these anti-seizure drugs with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Taking these anti-seizure drugs with phenytoin can lower the level of phenytoin in your body. This means that it may not work as well to control your seizures. Examples of these drugs include:
Taking these anti-seizure drugs with phenytoin can increase or decrease the levels of phenytoin in your body. This means that you may have more side effects, or that phenytoin may not work as well. Examples of these drugs include:
Antifungal drugsTaking certain antifungal drugs with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This can lead to more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Taking fluconazole with phenytoin can lower the level of phenytoin in your body. This can keep phenytoin from working well. AntibioticsTaking certain antibiotics with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Cancer drugsTaking certain cancer drugs with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Taking other cancer drugs with phenytoin can lower the level of phenytoin in your body. This means that it may not work as well to control your seizures. Examples of these drugs include:
Diabetes drugsTaking certain diabetes drugs with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Oral birth control pillsTaking phenytoin with oral birth control pills that contain estrogen can make those pills less effective. This means they won’t work as well to prevent pregnancy. You should use a backup form of birth control if taking these drugs together. Menopause drugsTaking phenytoin with oral pills that contain estrogen can make those pills less effective. This means they won’t work as well to prevent symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes. Stomach acid drugsTaking certain stomach acid drugs with phenytoin can affect the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects, or make the phenytoin not work as well. Examples of these drugs include:
Tuberculosis drugTaking isoniazid with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects. Mental health drugsTaking certain mental health drugs with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Taking diazepam with phenytoin can lower the level of phenytoin in your body. This means that it may not work as well to control your seizures. Blood thinnerTaking warfarin with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects. Also, phenytoin can affect how the body handles warfarin in several ways. Your doctor will monitor you closely when starting, stopping, or adjusting your phenytoin treatment if you also take warfarin. SulfonamidesTaking these drugs with phenytoin can increase the level of phenytoin in your body. This may lead to more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:
Respiratory drugTaking theophylline with phenytoin can lower the levels of both drugs in your body. This means that both drugs may not work as well. HIV drugsTaking certain HIV drugs with phenytoin can lower the level of phenytoin in your body. This means that it may not work as well to control your seizures. Examples of these drugs include:
Do not take delavirdine together with phenytoin. Taking these medications together will prevent delavirdine from working and treating HIV. Herbal supplementTaking St. John’s wort with phenytoin can lower the level of phenytoin in your body. This means it may not work as well to control your seizures. Antacids or certain supplementsTaking certain antacids or supplements with phenytoin can decrease how well your body absorbs phenytoin. This can keep it from working well to control your seizures. To prevent this, try to take these supplements at a different time of day than when you take phenytoin. Examples of these drugs include supplements containing:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. This drug comes with several warnings. Allergy warningThis drug can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:
If you develop these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). Alcohol interaction warningYou shouldn’t drink alcohol while taking phenytoin. Alcohol may change the amount of phenytoin in your body, which could cause serious problems. Warnings for people with certain health conditionsFor people with liver problems: This drug is processed by your liver. If your liver isn’t working well, more of the drug may stay in your body longer. This puts you at risk for toxicity and side effects. For people with diabetes: This drug may increase your blood sugar levels. For people with kidney problems: If you have severe kidney disease, your dosage may need to be adjusted or monitored more closely. For people with thyroid disease: This drug can affect your thyroid hormone levels. Discuss your thyroid condition with your doctor before you take phenytoin. Warnings for other groupsFor pregnant women: Phenytoin may cause serious birth defects. You should use effective birth control while taking this medication. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. If you become pregnant while taking this drug, talk to your doctor about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of anti-seizure medications used during pregnancy. For women who are breastfeeding: This drug may pass into breast milk and cause serious effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this drug while breastfeeding your child. For seniors: As you get older, your body is unable to clear this drug as well, so more of the drug may stay in your body longer. This may cause the amount of this drug in your body to be higher than normal. This can lead to more side effects. People with thyroid disease: This drug can affect your thyroid hormone levels. If you have thyroid disease, discuss this condition with your doctor before taking phenytoin. People of Asian ancestry: People who are Asian or of Asian ancestry with a genetic risk factor have a higher chance of developing SJS and TEN. Your doctor may test you to see if you have the HLA-B*1502 allele. If your results are positive, you may have a higher risk of these serious and sometimes fatal skin reactions. On the other hand, you can still have these reactions without the genetic risk factor. All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:
Drug forms and strengthsGeneric: Phenytoin
Brand: Dilantin
Brand: Phenytek
Dosage for seizures (epilepsy)Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years) Extended-release capsule (Generic phenytoin, Dilantin)
Extended-release capsule (Phenytek)
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years) Extended-release capsule
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older) Older adults may process drugs more slowly. A normal adult dosage may cause levels of phenytoin to be higher than normal in your body. If you’re a senior, you may need a lower dosage or you may need a different treatment schedule. Special dosage considerationsFor people with liver or kidney disease: Phenytoin is processed by your liver and kidneys. If your liver or kidneys aren’t working well, more of this drug may stay in your body longer. This puts you at risk for side effects. Your doctor may check your phenytoin blood levels to make sure it’s safe for you to take and to check if your dosage needs to be adjusted. Dosage warningsPhenytoin tablets, capsules, and oral suspension contain different formulas of the drug. So, you cannot suddenly switch from one form to another. Your doctor would need to adjust your dosage and monitor your body’s response to the change. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Phenytoin oral capsule is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. If you don’t take it at all or stop taking it: Stopping this drug suddenly or not taking it at all may cause serious problems, including having more seizures or seizures that don’t stop. If you skip or miss doses: If you skip or miss a dose of this drug, you increase your risk of having seizures. If you take too much: If you take too much of this drug, you may have the following symptoms:
You may end up in a coma or have dangerously low blood pressure. If you take too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If the symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. How to tell this drug is working: You should have fewer seizures. Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes phenytoin for you. General
Storage
RefillsA prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. TravelWhen traveling with your medication:
Clinical monitoringBefore starting and during treatment with phenytoin, your doctor may check your:
Your doctor may also monitor you for the following:
AvailabilityMost pharmacies stock the generic form of this drug, but not all pharmacies may have stock of other formulations or brand names. When filling your prescription, be sure to call ahead to make sure your pharmacy carries the form your doctor prescribed for you. Prior authorizationMany insurance companies require a prior authorization for this drug. This means your doctor will need to get approval from your insurance company before your insurance company will pay for the prescription. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be more suitable for you than others. Talk to your doctor about possible alternatives. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. What are the long term side effects of phenytoin?Long-term use of phenytoin also has been found to cause weakening of the bones. Bone disease is even more likely if a combination of seizure medicines is used.. overgrowth of the gums.. excessive hair on the face or body.. coarseness of facial features.. Which of these clinical signs is a common side effect of phenytoin?you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin. you get tightness in the chest or throat. your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling.
What are the adverse effects associated with phenytoin therapy?Phenytoin may cause side effects.. difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.. uncontrollable eye movements.. abnormal body movements.. loss of coordination.. confusion.. slurred speech.. headache.. changes in your sense of taste.. What are the signs and symptoms of chronic phenytoin toxicity?Symptoms of a phenytoin overdose may include:. Confusion.. Seizures (occasionally). Dizziness.. Fever.. Low blood pressure.. Muscle rigidity or spasms.. Sleepiness.. |