What is Dilantin used to treat?
Phenytoin is used to prevent and control seizures (also called an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug). It works by reducing the spread of seizure activity in the brain.
Is Dilantin still used for seizures?
Dilantin (phenytoin) and Keppra (levetiracetam) are anti-epileptic drugs (anticonvulsants) used to control seizures. Side effects of Dilantin and Keppra that are similar include dizziness, drowsiness, and nervousness.
What seizures does phenytoin treat?
Phenytoin is effective for treating generalized tonic-clonic seizures, partial seizures with or without generalization, and convulsive status epilepticus.
What does phenytoin do to the brain?
Phenytoin is used to control certain type of seizures, and to treat and prevent seizures that may begin during or after surgery to the brain or nervous system. Phenytoin is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Is phenytoin a high risk medication?
The high-alert medications were: amiodarone, digoxin, dopamine, epinephrine, fentanyl, gentamycin, heparine, insulin, morphine, norepinephrine, phenytoin, potassium, propofol and tacrolimus.
What are the top 5 high-alert medications?
The top five high-alert medications identified by the ISMP study are insulin; opiates and narcotics; injectable potassium chloride (or phosphate) concentrate (See Sentinel Event Alert, Issue 1); intravenous anticoagulants (heparin); and sodium chloride solutions above 0.9 percent.
What happens if Dilantin levels are too high?
Dilantin, or phenytoin, toxicity happens when you have high levels of Dilantin in your body that become harmful. Dilantin is a medicine that is used to prevent and treat seizures. Dilantin toxicity can lead to a coma.
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….The most common ones affect appearance:
- overgrowth of the gums.
- excessive hair on the face or body.
- acne.
- coarseness of facial features.
Does phenytoin affect the kidneys?
The protein binding of anionic acidic drugs, such as phenytoin and valproate, can be reduced significantly by renal failure, causing difficulties in the interpretation of total serum concentrations commonly used in clinical practice.
What organ is affected by Dilantin?
Dilantin (phenytoin) is an anti-epileptic drug, also called an anticonvulsant. It works by slowing down impulses in the brain that cause seizures.
What are side effects of long term use of Dilantin?
Side effects of phenytoin include sedation, a cerebellar syndrome, phenytoin encephalopathy, psychosis, locomotor dysfunction, hyperkinesia, megaloblastic anemia, decreased serum folate level, decreased bone mineral content, liver disease, IgA deficiency, gingival hyperplasia, and a lupus-like hypersensitivity syndrome …
Does Dilantin affect your immune system?
With respect to undesired effects of antiepileptic drugs, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin may induce hypersensitivity of immune system.
Does Dilantin affect your liver?
Dilantin (phenytoin) can cause liver damage shortly after you start taking it, which is why you will need regular lab tests to monitor your liver functioning. Carbamazepine and lamotrigine can also cause liver injury, which may show up after you’ve been taking either for weeks to months.
Does Dilantin cause memory loss?
All drugs that depress signaling in the CNS can cause memory loss. Alternatives: Many patients with seizures do well on phenytoin (Dilantin), which has little if any impact on memory.
What happens when you stop taking Dilantin?
Stopping DILANTIN suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly can cause you to have seizures more often or seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus). Like other antiepileptic drugs, DILANTIN may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.
Does Dilantin affect your teeth?
Gingival Overgrowth as a Side Effect of Dilantin (Phenytoin) Certain medications used to control seizures may cause an oral condition known as gingival enlargement or gingival overgrowth, increasing the risk of periodontal disease, tooth decay, and oral infections.
Can you take vitamin D with Dilantin?
phenytoin cholecalciferol Using phenytoin together with cholecalciferol may decrease the effects of cholecalciferol. Contact your doctor if your condition changes. If your doctor does prescribe these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment or special test to safely use both medications.
Can Dilantin cause heart problems?
Phenytoin is a frequently used antiepileptic medication for the treatment of seizure disorder. The common side effects include nausea, rash, gingival hypertrophy, osteomalacia, and confusion. The potential to cause cardiac rhythm disturbances, hypotension, and cardiac arrest is rarely recognized.