Tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal epilepsy), partial seizures

Active Ingredient: Phenytoin

Indication for Phenytoin

Population group: only adults (18 years old or older)

Control of tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal epilepsy), partial seizures (focal including temporal lobe) or a combination of these, and for the prevention and treatment of seizures occurring during or following neurosurgery and/or severe head injury.

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:

3-4 mg/kg in 2 divided doses daily

Route of admnistration

Oral

Defined daily dose

3 - 4 mg per kg of body weight

Dosage regimen

From 1.5 To 2 mg per kg of body weight 2 time(s) per day every day

Detailed description

Dosage should be individualised as there may be wide interpatient variability in phenytoin serum levels with equivalent dosage. Epanutin should be introduced in small dosages with gradual increments until control is achieved or until toxic effects appear. In some cases serum level determinations may be necessary for optimal dosage adjustments – the clinically effective level is usually 10 mcg/mL – 20 mcg/mL (40-80 micromoles/l) although some cases of tonic-clonic seizures may be controlled with lower serum levels of phenytoin. With recommended dosage a period of 7 to 10 days may be required to achieve steady state serum levels with Epanutin and changes in dosage should not be carried out at intervals shorter than 7 to 10 days. Maintenance of treatment should be the lowest dose of anticonvulsant consistent with control of seizures.

Initially 3 to 4 mg/kg/day with subsequent dosage adjustment if necessary. For most adults a satisfactory maintenance dose will be 200 mg to 500 mg daily in single or divided doses. Exceptionally, a daily dose outside this range may be indicated. Dosage should normally be adjusted according to serum levels where assay facilities exist.

Active ingredient

Phenytoin

Phenytoin is effective in various animal models of generalised convulsive disorders, reasonably effective in models of partial seizures but relatively ineffective in models of myoclonic seizures. It appears to stabilise rather than raise the seizure threshold and prevents spread of seizure activity rather than abolish the primary focus of seizure discharge.

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