Anticonvulsants, Hydantoin (Systemic)

Category

• Antiarrhythmic—Phenytoin
• Anticonvulsant—Ethotoin; Fosphenytoin; Mephenytoin; Phenytoin
• Antineuralgic, trigeminal neuralgia—Phenytoin
• Skeletal muscle relaxant—Phenytoin

Description

Hydantoin anticonvulsants (hye-DAN-toyn an-tye-kon-VUL-sants) are used most often to control certain convulsions or seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. Phenytoin also may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

In seizure disorders, these medicines act on the central nervous system (CNS) to reduce the number and severity of seizures. Hydantoin anticonvulsants may also produce some unwanted effects. These depend on the patient's individual condition, the amount of medicine taken, and how long it has been taken. It is important that you know what the side effects are and when to call your doctor if they occur.

Hydantoin anticonvulsants are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Ethotoin
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Mephenytoin
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Phenytoin
  • Extended capsules (U.S. and Canada)
  • Prompt capsules (U.S.)
  • Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)
  • Chewable tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Parenteral
• Fosphenytoin
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Phenytoin
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Cerebyx ²
• Dilantin ⁴
• Dilantin-125 ⁴
• Dilantin Infatabs ⁴
• Dilantin Kapseals ⁴
• Mesantoin ³
• Peganone ¹
• Phenytek ⁴

In Canada—

• Cerebyx ²
• Dilantin ⁴
• Dilantin-30 ⁴
• Dilantin-125 ⁴
• Dilantin Infatabs ⁴

Another commonly used name for phenytoin is diphenylhydantoin .