Dilantin - Medsafe Home Page

1 Dilantin phenytoin, phenytoin sodium Consumer Medicine Information What is in this leaflet doctor if you have any questions If it has expired or is damaged, about why Dilantin has been return it to your pharmacist for This leaflet answers some common prescribed for you. disposal. questions about Dilantin . There is no evidence that Dilantin is If you are not sure whether you It does not contain all the available addictive. should start taking Dilantin , talk to information. This medicine is available only with your doctor or pharmacist. It does not take the place of talking to a doctor's prescription. Before you start to take it your doctor or pharmacist. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if All medicines have risks and you have allergies to: benefits.

2 Your doctor has weighed Before you take any other medicines, especially the risks of you taking Dilantin against the benefits they expect it Dilantin barbiturates or any other will have for you. anticonvulsant medicines When you must not take it any other substances, such as If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your Do not take Dilantin if you have an foods, preservatives or dyes. doctor or pharmacist. allergy to: Tell your doctor if you have or Keep this leaflet with the medicine. phenytoin sodium or phenytoin, have had any medical conditions, the active ingredients in Dilantin , especially the following: You may need to read it again. or other hydantoin medicines or liver problems any of the ingredients listed at the diabetes end of this leaflet high blood sugar levels What Dilantin is used methylphenobarbitone or any lymphadenopathy, a condition of for other barbiturate medicines the lymph glands other medicines used to treat fits Dilantin is used to control epilepsy.

3 And convulsions. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Epilepsy is a condition where you porphyria, a rare blood pigment Symptoms of an allergic reaction to have repeated seizures (fits). There disorder Dilantin may include: are many different types of seizures, shortness of breath, wheezing or hypoalbuminaemia, a decrease in ranging from mild to severe. difficulty breathing serum albumin in the blood, Dilantin belongs to a group of causing water retention medicines called anticonvulsants. swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body hypersensitivity syndrome, which These drugs are thought to work by results in fever, rash, blood controlling brain chemicals which rash, itching or hives on the skin. disorders and hepatitis send signals to nerves so that seizures Do not take this medicine if you do not happen.

4 A severe skin disorder called are taking delavirdine, a medicine Stevens Johnson syndrome Dilantin is also used to help prevent used in the treatment of HIV. seizures occurring during or after infection. toxic epidermal necrolysis, a brain surgery. severe skin reaction with painful Do not take Dilantin after the red areas, which blister and peel. Dilantin may be used alone, or in expiry date (EXP) printed on the combination with other medicines, to pack. Tell your doctor if you are treat your condition. pregnant or intend to become Do not take Dilantin if the pregnant. Your doctor may have prescribed packaging is torn or shows signs of Dilantin for another reason. Ask your tampering. Dilantin 1. It is very important to control your medicines used to treat theophylline, a medicine used to fits while you are pregnant.

5 Your depression treat asthma doctor can help you decide if it is medicines used to lower estrogens, a hormone used in oral necessary for you to take Dilantin cholesterol contraceptives(birth control pills). during pregnancy. Dilantin has been and in hormone replacement corticosteroids such as cortisone known to cause abnormalities and therapy. and prednisolone malignancies in the newborns, delaying their growth and causing ciclosporin, a medicine used to Your doctor may advise you to other harmful side effects. prevent organ transplant rejection use an additional method of and to treat severe rheumatoid contraception while taking Tell your doctor if you are Dilantin . breastfeeding or intend to arthritis and some severe skin conditions These medicines may be affected by breastfeed.

6 Some medicines used to treat Dilantin , or may affect how well it It is not recommended to breastfeed works. Your doctor will tell you if cancer while taking Dilantin , as it may pass you need different amounts of your through breast milk and affect your some medicines used to treat medicine, or if you need to take baby. heart problems different medicines. If you do breastfeed, watch your some antibiotics and antifungal Your doctor and pharmacist may baby carefully. medicines used to treat infections have more information on medicines If your baby develops a skin rash, isoniazid, a medicine used to to be careful with or to avoid while becomes difficult to wake or has prevent and treat tuberculosis taking Dilantin . unusual symptoms, don't breastfeed (TB).

7 Again until you speak to your doctor. antiretrovirals, used in the If you have not told your doctor or treatment of HIV infection pharmacist about any of the above, medicines used to treat parasitic How to take Dilantin tell them before you start taking worm infections Dilantin . How much to take furosemide, a diuretic (fluid tablet), which is used to reduce Your doctor will tell you how much Taking other medicines water retention and high blood medicine to take each day. This may Tell your doctor or pharmacist if pressure depend on your age, your condition you are taking any other and whether or not you are taking some medicines used to treat medicines, including any that you any other medicines. stomach or duodenal ulcers, such buy without a prescription from as omeprazole, sucralfate and Your doctor may recommend that your pharmacy, supermarket or cimetidine you start with a low dose of Dilantin health food shop.

8 General anaesthetics and muscle and slowly increase the dose to the Some medicines and Dilantin may lowest amount needed to control relaxants, medicines used during interfere with each other. These an operation your epilepsy/convulsions. include: methadone, a medicine used to Follow all directions given to you disulfiram, a medicine used to by your doctor carefully. control severe pain and to treat treat alcoholism heroin addiction They may differ from the other medicines used to treat fits information contained in this leaflet. methylphenidate, a medicine used and convulsions to treat Attention Deficit Disorder If you do not understand the warfarin, a medicine used to instructions on the label, ask your St John's wort (Hypericum prevent blood clots doctor or pharmacist for help.)

9 Perforatum), an ingredient used in some pain relievers, such as herbal medicines to treat anxiety salicylates and tramadol and depression How to take it benzodiazepines, medicines used some medicines used to control Capsules: swallow whole with at as sleeping tablets, sedatives, diabetes, such as tolbutamide, least half a glass of water. tranquillisers, or to treat anxiety glibenclamide, chlorpropamide Infatabs: chew before swallowing. and panic attacks and diazoxide Suspension: shake the bottle well medicines used to treat mental some vitamins such as folic acid and accurately measure the dose illness such as clozapine, and Vitamin D with a medicine measure before phenothiazines taking it. Dilantin 2. Shaking the bottle and using a slowly reduce your dose before you thoughts or talk of death or medicine measure will make sure can stop taking it completely.

10 Suicide. that you get the correct dose. You thoughts or talk of self-harm or can get a medicine measure from If you take too much harm to others your pharmacist. (overdose). any recent attempts of self-harm Immediately telephone your doctor When to take it new or increase in aggressive or the Poisons Information Centre behaviour, irritability or agitation Take Dilantin at about the same (telephone in Australia - 13 11 26;. time each day. telephone in New Zealand - 0800 feelings of depression. Taking Dilantin at the same time POISON or 0800 764 766), or go to Mention of suicide or violence must each day will have the best effect. It Accident and Emergency at your be taken seriously. will also help you remember when to nearest hospital, if you think that If you or someone you know is take your medicine.