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phenytoin

File:Phenytoin_structure.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ410400· pop 43· linked from 2,098 articles

Also known as 5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione, 5,5-diphenyltetrahydro-1H-2,4-imidazoledione, diphenylhydantoin, 5,5-diphenyl-imidazolidine-2,4-dione

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 (also known as grand mal seizures) and focal seizures, but not absence seizures. The intravenous form, fosphenytoin, is used for status epilepticus that does not improve with benzodiazepines. It may also be used for certain heart arrhythmias or neuropathic pain. It can be taken intravenously or by mouth. The intravenous form generally begins working within 30 minutes and is effective for roughly 24 hours. Blood levels can be measured to deter

Key facts

Drug.Verifiedfields
changed
Drug.Watchedfields
changed
Drug.verifiedrevid
457457901
Drug.image
Phenytoin structure.svg
Drug.image_class
skin-invert-image
Drug.alt
Structural formula of phenytoin
Drug.width
150
Drug.image2
Phenytoin 3D ball.png
Drug.image_class2
bg-transparent
Drug.alt2
Ball-and-stick model of the phenytoin molecule
Drug.width2
160
Drug.tradename
Dilantin, others
Drug.MedlinePlus
a682022
Drug.DailyMedID
Phenytoin
Drug.pregnancy_AU
D
Drug.pregnancy_category
Toxic to reproduction
Drug.routes_of_administration
By mouth, intravenous
Drug.class
Anticonvulsant

via Wikipedia infobox

Chemical data

Formula
C15H12N2O2
Molecular weight
252.27 g/mol
IUPAC name
5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)C2(C(=O)NC(=O)N2)C3=CC=CC=C3
InChIKey
CXOFVDLJLONNDW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP
2.5
Polar surface area
58.2 Ų
H-bond donors
2
H-bond acceptors
2
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

Research

19,745 papers

via PubMed

~18 min read

Encyclopedic overview

27 sections
Contents
  • Medical uses
  • Seizures
  • Other
  • Special considerations
  • Side effects
  • Heart and blood vessels
  • Neurological
  • Blood
  • Pregnancy
  • Cancer
  • Mouth
  • Skin
  • Immune system
  • Psychological
  • Bones
  • Interactions
  • Pharmacology
  • Mechanism of action
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • History
  • Society and culture
  • Economics
  • Brand names
  • Research
  • References
  • Further reading
  • External links

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 (also known as grand mal seizures) and focal seizures, but not absence seizures. The intravenous form, fosphenytoin, is used for status epilepticus that does not improve with benzodiazepines. It may also be used for certain heart arrhythmias or neuropathic pain. It can be taken intravenously or by mouth. The intravenous form generally begins working within 30 minutes and is effective for roughly 24 hours. Blood levels can be measured to determine the proper dose.

Common side effects include nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, poor coordination, increased hair growth, and enlargement of the gums. Potentially serious side effects include sleepiness, self harm, liver problems, bone marrow suppression, low blood pressure, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and atrophy of the cerebellum. There is evidence that use during pregnancy results in abnormalities in the baby. It appears to be safe to use when breastfeeding. Alcohol may interfere with the medication's effects.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “phenytoin” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (6)