Phenytoin Injection BP (DBL)

Generic Name: Phenytoin sodium
Product Name: Phenytoin Injection BP (DBL)

Indication

Phenytoin is used in the treatment of:

Epilepsy including status epilepticus, simple partial and complex seizures and generalised tonic-clonic seizures.
Prevention of seizures during and following neurosurgery
Treatment of certain abnormal heart rhythms (cardiac arrhythmias)

Action

Phenytoin reduces the spread of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that characteristically occurs in epileptic seizures.

Dose advice

Status epilepticus

Adults:

A loading dose of 10 to 15 mg/kg should be administered followed by maintenance doses of 100 mg orally or intravenously every six to eight hours.

Neonates, children:

A loading dose of 10 to 20 mg/kg intravenously will usually provide a plasma concentration of phenytoin within the therapeutic range of 10 to 20 microgram/ml.
In the treatment of status epilepticus, an intravenous benzodiazepine is usually given initially for the rapid control of seizures and is then followed by the slow intravenous administration of phenytoin.

Intramuscular administration of phenytoin is unsuitable for treatment of status epilepticus as there is slow and erratic absorption from the injection site.

Neurosurgery

For the prevention of seizures during or following neurosurgery 250 mg is given intravenously every six to twelve hours until oral administration is possible.

Cardiac arrhythmias

One intravenous injection of Phenytoin Injection BP 3 to 5 mg/kg bodyweight is given initially and is repeated if required.
ECG and blood pressure should be monitored continuously.