Uses

This medication is used to treat seizures and epilepsy.

How To Take This Medication

Take with food or milk if stomach upset occurs. Capsules should be swallowed whole unless otherwise directed. The tablets must be chewed thoroughly before swallowing. The suspension must be shaken well before measuring each dose. This medication must be taken as prescribed. Do not stop taking this drug suddenly without consulting your doctor as seizures may occur. It is important to take all doses on time to keep the level of medication in your blood constant. Do this by taking doses at the same time(s) each day. Do not skip doses. While taking this medication, lab tests may be done, especially in the first few months, to check if the drug is working properly.

Side Effects

May cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Use caution performing tasks that require alertness.

Other side effects include stomach upset, headache, muscle twitching or sleep disturbances. These should subside as your body adjusts to the medication.

Notify your doctor if seizures occur or if you develop severe nausea and vomiting, joint pain, swollen or tender gums, sore throat, uncoordinated movements, unusual bleeding or bruising, uncontrolled side-to-side eye movements or skin rash while taking this medication.

May cause enlargement of the gums. This can be minimized by maintaining good oral hygiene with regular brushing, flossing and massaging of the gums.

Precautions

This drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Small amounts of phenytoin appear in breast milk. Consult with your doctor before breast-feeding. Use of alcohol and other sedative type medications can lead to extreme drowsiness. Try to limit their usage. This medication may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Consult your pharmacist or doctor about other methods of birth control. Be sure your doctor knows your complete medical history.

Drug Interactions

Inform your doctor about all the medicine you use (both prescription and non-prescription) especially if you take "blood thinners" (Coumadin), cimetidine (Tagamet) for stomach problems, disulfiram (Antabuse) for alcoholism, oral antifungal medication or xanthine drugs (theophylline) to treat asthma as your dose may need to be adjusted. Limit your caffeine usage.

Notes

It is recommended to wear or carry medication identification indicating you are taking this drug. Do not change from one brand of this product to another without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. Products made by different companies may not be equally effective.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose and take 1 dose daily: take as soon as remembered unless you do not remember until the next day. In that case, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule the following day. If you take several doses daily and should miss a dose: take as soon as remembered unless it is within 4 hours of the next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and resume your usual schedule. Check with your doctor if you miss doses for more than 2 days in a row. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom.