Phenytoin Injection

(fen' i toyn)

Brand Name(s): Dilantin^®¶; also available generically

IMPORTANT WARNING:

You may experience serious or life-threatening low blood pressure or irregular heart rhythms while you are receiving phenytoin injection or afterwards. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had irregular heart rhythms or heart block (condition in which electrical signals are not passed normally from the upper chambers of the heart to the lower chambers). Your doctor may not want you to receive phenytoin injection. Also, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart failure or low blood pressure. If you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor immediately: dizziness, tiredness, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain.

You will receive each dose of phenytoin injection in a medical facility, and a doctor or nurse will monitor you carefully while you are receiving the medication and afterwards.

WHY is this medicine prescribed?

Phenytoin injection is used to treat primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (formerly known as a grand mal seizure; seizure that involves the entire body) and to treat and prevent seizures that may begin during or after surgery to the brain or nervous system. Phenytoin injection may also be used to control certain types of seizures in people who cannot take oral phenytoin. Phenytoin is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Are there OTHER USES for this medicine?

Phenytoin injection is also used to control irregular heartbeat. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

HOW should this medicine be used?

Phenytoin injection comes as a solution (liquid) to be slowly injected intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility. It is usually injected once every 6 or 8 hours.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

What SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS should I follow?

Before receiving phenytoin injection,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to phenytoin, other hydantoin medications such as ethotoin (Peganone) or fosphenytoin (Cerebyx), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in phenytoin injection. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor if you are taking delavirdine (Rescriptor). Your doctor will probably not want you to receive phenytoin injection if you are taking this medication.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: albendazole (Albenza); amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); antifungal medications such as fluconazole (Diflucan), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox, Tolsura), miconazole (Oravig), posaconazole (Noxafil), and voriconazole (Vfend); certain antivirals such as efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir (in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), and saquinavir (Invirase); bleomycin; capecitabine (Xeloda); carboplatin; chloramphenicol; chlordiazepoxide (Librium, in Librax); cholesterol medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), and simvastatin (Zocor, in Vytorin); cisplatin; clozapine (Fazaclo, Versacloz); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); diazepam (Valium); diazoxide (Proglycem); digoxin (Lanoxin); disopyramide (Norpace); disulfiram (Antabuse); doxorubicin (Doxil); doxycycline (Acticlate, Doryx, Monodox, Oracea, Vibramycin); fluorouracil; fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax, others); fluvoxamine (Luvox); folic acid; fosamprenavir (Lexiva); furosemide (Lasix); H₂ antagonists such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), and ranitidine (Zantac); hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections); hormone replacement therapy (HRT); irinotecan (Camptosar); isoniazid (Laniazid, in Rifamate, in Rifater); medications for mental illness and nausea; other medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, others), ethosuximide (Zarontin), felbamate (Felbatol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), methsuximide (Celontin), oxcarbazepine (Trilepta, Oxtellar XR), phenobarbital, topiramate (Topamax), and valproic acid (Depakene); methadone (Dolophine, Methadose); methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Trexall, Xatmep); methylphenidate (Daytrana, Concerta, Metadate, Ritalin); mexiletine; nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), nimodipine (Nymalize), nisoldipine (Sular); omeprazole (Prilosec); oral steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone, and prednisone (Rayos); paclitaxel (Abraxane, Taxol); paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva); praziquantel (Biltricide); quetiapine (Seroquel); quinidine (in Nuedexta); reserpine; rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater); salicylate pain relievers such as aspirin, choline magnesium trisalicylate, choline salicylate, diflunisal, magnesium salicylate (Doan's, others), and salsalate; sertraline (Zoloft); sulfa antibiotics; teniposide; theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron); ticlopidine; tolbutamide; trazodone; verapamil (Calan, Verelan, in Tarka); vigabatrin (Sabril); and vitamin D. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you more carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
tell your doctor if you have ever developed a liver problem while taking phenytoin. Your doctor will probably not want you to receive phenytoin injection.
tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol. Tell your doctor if you have had laboratory testing that reported you have an inherited risk factor that makes it more likely that you could have an serious skin reaction to phenytoin. Also, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes, porphyria (condition in which certain natural substances build up in the body and may cause stomach pain, changes in thinking or behavior, or other symptoms), low levels of albumin in your blood, or kidney or liver disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. You should not become pregnant while you are receiving phenytoin. Talk to your doctor about effective birth control methods that you can use during your treatment. If you become pregnant while receiving phenytoin, call your doctor. Phenytoin may harm the fetus.
you should know that this medication may cause dizziness, drowsiness, and problems with coordination. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
talk to your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while you are taking this medication.
talk to your doctor about the best way to care for your teeth, gums, and mouth during your treatment with phenytoin. It is very important that you care for your mouth properly to decrease the risk of gum damage caused by phenytoin.

What SIDE EFFECTS can this medicine cause?

Phenytoin may cause an increase in your blood sugar. Talk to your doctor about the symptoms of high blood sugar and what to do if you experience these symptoms.

Phenytoin injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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
constipation
unwanted hair growth
coarsening of facial features
enlargement of lips
overgrowth of gums
pain or curving of the penis

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, call your doctor immediately:

swelling, discoloration, or pain at the injection site
rash
hives
itching
swelling of the eyes, face, throat, tongue, arms, hands, ankles, or lower legs
difficulty breathing or swallowing
hoarseness
swollen glands
nausea
vomiting
yellowing of the skin or eyes
pain in upper right part of the stomach
excessive tiredness
unusual bruising or bleeding
small red or purple spots on skin
loss of appetite
flu-like symptoms
fever, sore throat, rash, mouth ulcers, or easy bruising, or facial swelling

Phenytoin injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Taking phenytoin may increase the risk that you will develop problems with your lymph nodes including Hodgkin's disease (cancer that begins in the lymph system). Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication to treat your condition.

What should I do in case of OVERDOSE?

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

uncontrollable eye movements
loss of coordination
slow or slurred speech
fatigue
blurred vision
uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
nausea
vomiting

What OTHER INFORMATION should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your response to phenytoin injection.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are receiving phenytoin injection.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

^¶ This branded product is no longer on the market. Generic alternatives may be available.

This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.

AHFS^® Patient Medication Information™. © Copyright, 2024. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists^®, 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.

Selected Revisions: December 15, 2019.